Bulldogs to visit the Mustangs in cross county rivalry game

• 

  Contributed photos/ Stennis Shotts Marble Falls junior running back Joaquin Aguilar leads the ground attack with an unwillingness

  Contributed photos/ Stennis Shotts Marble Falls junior running back Joaquin Aguilar leads the ground attack with an unwillingness
• 

  Marble Falls junior defensive lineman Kaleb Bielfeldt is the team's sack leader.

  Marble Falls junior defensive lineman Kaleb Bielfeldt is the team's sack leader.
• 

  Marble Falls defensive lineman Noah Lyon's sixth sense for the ball makes him an important part of the defense.

  Marble Falls defensive lineman Noah Lyon's sixth sense for the ball makes him an important part of the defense.

The Burnet County clash between the Bulldogs and the Mustangs is always big for residents, alumni and students.

The 110th edition isn’t any different except that because it’s also the District 4-4A opener, it simply might mean more.

“The reality is it’s a five-team district," Marble Falls head coach Keri Timmerman said. “You win one, you’re in. When we set our goals, we want to be 100 percent academically and we want to make the playoffs. All of those opportunities are before us.”

“Whoever wins has the best chance to make the playoffs,” Burnet head coach Ben Speer said. “To them, it would be a very successful season and so it would with us.”

Both are new head coaches this year. Timmerman accepted the position of head coach and athletic director at Marble Falls Independent School District in December, while Speer, who served as the defensive coordinator on former head coach Bryan Wood’s staff for three years, was named the head coach of the Bulldogs a month later.

Throughout the course of 2024, both have had front row seats in observing each other. Speer served as the Burnet boys head track coach during the spring when Timmerman was assembling his staff and assisting anywhere he was needed. He was constant figure at Marble Falls spring sport-

to ing events for month. Both saw the other’s skill players through Burnet’s 7-on-7 summer May league and now during the season.

“Coach Timmerman is doing a great job of getting kids out there and getting the community interested,” Speer said. “The number (of players) are up there. We’re both getting our numbers back . He’s starting over from top to bottom. I’m pleasantly surprised of how quickly they’ve come in a short amount of time. He wants to be further along. That’s normal as coaches. When you step out, it’s pretty good for them.”

The Mustangs (2-4) are operating Timmerman’s version of the spread offense that includes a quarterback, a running back, three receivers and a tight end. Senior quarterback Colton Minor has completed 62 of 102 passes for 863 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions and has 36 carries for 70 yards and a score. Junior running back Joaquin Aguilar has 77 rushes for 484 yards and six touchdowns and six catches for 130 yards and two scores. Senior receiver Kole Becker has 38 receptions for 509 yards and four touchdowns and senior tight end Noah Lyon has 12 catches for 177 yards and a touchdown.

“You can feel the excitement in them on what they’re doing,” Speer said. “Coach Timmerman does a good job of using what they have and who they’re putting in. He’s good at knowing his guys and the personnel and what they can and can’t do. You have to adapt. He’s put them in the best opportunity to be successful.”

Burnet (4-2) will counter with Khris Kassner, who has 50 tackles, senior Alejandro Ochoa, who has 42 tackles and two fumble recoveries, and Noah Billick, who has 36 tackles. All are seniors.

“They have a defensive- minded head coach,” Timmerman said. “They’re smart, they’re sound. They know their roles and play them well.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by senior quarterback Rhett Murray, who is in his second year as the starter. He has completed 85 of 153 passes for 962 yards, 10 touchdowns and five in terceptions. His top targets are junior receiver Matthew Williams who has 16 receptions for 211 yards and a score, senior Colt Stanford, who has 17 receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown, senior athlete Marcus Pimentel, who has 11 catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns, and junior Riley Howell, who has 10 receptions for 142 yards and three scores.

“They’re well coached, they a physical team,” Timmerman said. “They’re trying to get the ball to a bunch of people. They have done a good job. We know we have to play good defense. We can’t let them control the edges.”

Marble Falls will counter with defensive lineman Lyon, who has 84 total tackles, 4 sacks, an interception and caused two fumbles. Junior defensive back Gregory Lemon has 65 tackles, and junior linebacker Brody Graham, has 35 tackles. Junior defensive linemen Kaleb Bielfeldt leads with seven sacks, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

Burnet is entering this game on a four-game winning streak, while Marble Falls is looking to snap a two-game losing skid. The two Mustangs’ wins are at home.

The Mustangs’ 2827 loss to Devine Oct. 4 was highlighted by two War Horse drives that were about eight minutes each. Both resulted in touchdowns.

“Our kids played really good football for four quarters,” Timmerman said. “We had a penalty that took six points off the board -- one touchdown called back on a hold. That’s the difference in the game. I feel like we’re one of the better 2-4 teams in the area. I’m excited. We’ve grown.”

Jennifer Fierro publishes reports about area youth athletic events on her website TexasChalk-Talk.com. To send her a note, email fierrojenni fer@yahoo.com