Marble Falls Mustangs

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

The Marble Falls High School sports teams will face several new opponents in 2020-22 after the UIL realigned districts on Monday, Feb. 3.

The Mustangs football team moved to 5A Division 2 Region 4 District 14 with six teams not on their district schedule last season.

Liberty Hill joins Marble Falls after a bump up to 5A. The two teams will play five Austin teams – Crockett, McCallum, Northeast, Travis and Navarro. …

By Nathan Hendrix

Sports Editor

Marble Falls High School senior Josh Whitecotton played the hero on Tuesday, Jan. 28 with his steal and layup at the buzzer to give the boys basketball team a 45-43 win over Rouse in Leander.

The win gives the Mustangs their second district victory and keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs, albeit a long shot. Head Coach Travis Crain said their 2-5 district record is not indicative of how the boys have played this season.

Find the rest of this story and additional results, including MFHS girls basketball, MFHS boys soccer and Faith Academy boys and girls basketball, in the sports section of the Friday, Jan. 31 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email nathan@highlandernews.com. To subscribe, call 830-693-4367.

By Nathan Hendrix

Sports Editor

The Marble Falls football team sent the class of 2020 out with a 28-21 victory on Friday night over Cedar Creek in Bastrop.

The Mustangs (2-8, 2-5) picked off the Eagles quarterback three times and used some trickery to secure their second win of the season.

With under five minutes remaining in the game, Head Coach Brian Herman called a fake quick punt, and sophomore quarterback Jake Becker delivered a 38-yard touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Warren Cuplin.

The Mustang D forced a punt, and the Mustangs' running game sealed the victory.

On the 43-man roster, 21 players are graduating seniors, but several key role players, including Becker, will be potentially returning to the team next season with a year of Slot-T knowledge under their belt.

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

The Marble Falls Mustangs return to Mustang Stadium tonight for their final home game of the season against the Pflugerville Weiss Wolves.

The Mustangs (1-7, 1-4) seniors will be suiting up for the final time as high school football players and will be honored with the Senior Walk at the game.

Weiss (7-1, 5-0) enters the match with an undefeated district record and a chance to clinch the District 13-5A regular season title. Brenham and Glenn are tied for second place and face each other this week. . . .

By Nathan Hendrix

Sports Editor

An interception by junior defensive back Keaton Rodriguez in the final minute sealed the Marble Falls Mustangs' first victory of the season 45-37 over Bastrop on Friday, Oct. 18 at Mustang Stadium.

The Mustangs (1-6, 1-3) entered the final quarter with a 39-21 lead and scored in the first two minutes to extend the lead to 24 points.

“Our kids have a growing belief in what we're doing and themselves,” Mustangs Head Coach Brian Herman said. “The kids are busting their tails in practice, and they keep fighting . . . We exploded onto the scene tonight, and I'm proud of them for that.”

See the full story including stats in the Tuesday, Oct. 22 issue of The Highlander.

By Nathan Hendrix

Sports Editor

The Marble Falls Mustangs' (0-6, 0-3) defense allowed touchdowns on the first three drives in a 41-13 loss against Brenham on the road on Friday, Oct. 11.

Mustangs Head Coach Brian Herman summed up the difference in the game in one word: “speed.”

The Cubs' (5-1, 3-0) speed advantage was shown in the quarterback scramble, halfback sweep to outside and play action pass that all went for scores.

The Mustangs return home this week to face the Bastrop Bears (3-3, 0-3) at Mustang Stadium for Max Copeland Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

See the full story in the Oct. 15 issue of The Highlander.

For more on the Mustangs' 2019 campaign, subscribe to our e-Edition here.

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

The Marble Falls Mustangs football team turned the ball over six times on Friday, Sept. 6 in a 41-6 loss against the cross-county rival Bulldogs in Burnet.

The Mustangs (0-2) gave the ball away on three lost fumbles, three interceptions, a turnover on downs and also allowed the recovery on an onside kick.

Despite numbers that show improved offensive production, the Mustangs' turnovers allowed the Bulldogs to score twice on defense and gave the Burnet offense several short fields.

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

A defensive lapse on a single drive proved to be the difference for the Mustangs in a 7-0 loss against Canyon Lake on Friday, Aug. 31 at Mustang Stadium.

Canyon Lake's opening drive of the second half never saw a second down as they scored the game's only touchdown in four plays. The Hawks strung together three first-down runs, one of which added 15 yards with a facemask penalty, before throwing a 13-yard touchdown to take the lead.

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor
The Mustangs football teams played their first of two scrimmages prior to the start of the 2019 season on Friday in Lampasas against a talented Badgers squad.
All of the highs and lows of an opening scrimmage were on display as the Mustangs scored a pair of touchdowns but also allowed some big plays on defense.
“I was happy we scored; I was really hoping we would,” Head Coach Brian Herman said with a laugh. “We knew we had a challenge (with Lampasas), and it was really good for us to pick this scrimmage up to see a good spread attack.”
The Mustangs scored on their third possession of the scrimmage as the newly-implemented Slot-T offense started to warm up. . . .