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Ducks beat the Mustangs for first district win
MARBLE FALLS — The Taylor High School football team defeated Marble Falls 46-22 Oct. 20 for its first win in District 13-4A Division I.
“We were just trying to get a win,” head coach Earven Flowers said. “We did some better things in the second half.”
The Ducks (4-4, 1-2) led the Mustangs 10-7 at the half thanks to scoring on their last two drives.
After the Mustangs took a 7-0 lead on an 89-yard run by senior fullback Jaime Castillo, Taylor answered with a 10-play scoring drive. Isaac Castro scored on a 31-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 10-3 with 7:59 left in the half.
Marble Falls turned the ball over on downs on its ensuing drive allowing Taylor to take the lead.
This time the Ducks marched 61 yards in eight plays on a drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown run by Marcus Jackson. The drive took 2:20 to finish for the 10-7 advantage at the intermission.
Marble Falls scored on the opening possession of the third quarter to take a 14-10 lead. But it was shortlived.
Taylor scored on its next five drives beginning with its first possession of the second half. The Ducks went 75 yards in nine plays highlighted by a 23-yard pass to Jordan Pickerall from Josh Mikulencak for the 17-14 lead.
The Ducks added to the advantage when Josh Mikulencak hit Jackson Meller for an 80-yard touchdown bomb that led to a 24-14 score with 3:01 left in the third quarter. The drive was done in three plays.
Once more Taylor only needed three plays for its next score when Josh Mikulencak hit brother Jake Mikulencak for a 65-yard touchdown and a 31-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Marble Falls punter dropped the ball on the ensuing drive allowing the Ducks to crowd him as he kicked the ball out of bounds. That gave Taylor a first down on the Mustangs’ 25-yard line.
Kyetrevius Sanford needed only one play to score on a 25-yard scamper and a 38-14 lead with 4:53 left in the contest.
Marble Falls scored on its next drive to trim the deficit to 38-22.
But the Ducks got the points right back on a 66-yard pass to Jake Mikulencak from Josh Mikulencak and added the two-point play for the 46-22 final.
Josh Mikulencak completed 12-of-16 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns. Jake Mikulencak caught six passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson had 16 rushes for 81 yards and a touchdown.
On Taylor’s third drive, the Ducks reached the Marble Falls six-yard line.
But the Mustangs stiffened on forthand- two.
“We weren’t executing,” Flowers said.
“We just didn’t finish.”
At halftime, Flowers noted all the positives from the first half and watched as his players found multiple ways to end drives with scores.
Players from the Taylor High School varsity football team celebrate with fans Oct. 20 following the Ducks’ 46-22 victory at Marble Falls High School. Photo courtesy of Earven Flowers
The Ducks secured their first district win Friday night in Marble Falls. They return home next week to host Canyon Lake in a critical game to still fight for a playoff spot. Photo by Andrew Salmi
And though Braylan Alderete didn’t score, he lined up at slot receiver and had four catches.
Flowers said Alderete presents matchup issues for defenses because of his height, his width and his strength.
“He’s our hybrid,” the coach said. “He allows us to jump on people. He’s a game changer.”
Meanwhile, Marble Falls had only 293 yards of total offense with 219 coming from its rushing attack.
“I was so proud of our defense,” Flowers said.
“The slot-T offense has been our Achilles heel.
They had the one long touchdown where we flat-out missed a tackle.
We put a young guy in, Triston Vega, and he kept battling. He got the interception in the end.” Taylor welcomes the Canyon Lake Hawks (2-5, 1-1), who lost to the Burnet Bulldogs 4520 Oct. 20. The Hawks also operate the slot-T offense.
“That’s going to be the playoff game,” Flowers said.
