Falcons get early look with scrimmage against Cy-Ranch

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 8/13/21

“We’ve been waiting the whole year for this,” Marshall said. “The whole team has been waiting for it. We’ve all been practicing hitting, going hard and we’re ready to go.”

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Falcons get early look with scrimmage against Cy-Ranch

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 Collin Marshall had been waiting for an opportunity.

The Tompkins senior running back had to contend with a crowded backfield last season, that included five seniors, but this year he knows he is going to play a big role in the Falcons success.

Marshall took advantage of his time in the backfield Friday in Tompkins scrimmage against Cypress Ranch, scoring three rushing touchdowns, including a long run during the timed quarter of the scrimmage.

“We’ve been waiting the whole year for this,” Marshall said. “The whole team has been waiting for it. We’ve all been practicing hitting, going hard and we’re ready to go.”

The Tompkins offense scored five times in the scrimmage, with all five scores coming on the ground. Marshall credited the work of his offensive line.

“They we’re doing a great job up front,” Marshall said. “They did their job, most of the plays I had were wide open holes. I didn’t have to make a huge decision because I knew they were going to have it from the start, it’s been like that all week and we kept that going today.”

The Falcons used the scrimmage to get their experienced players sharp and to allow their unexperienced players to get valuable playing time against varsity level talent.

Tompkins defense played well in spots, but also gave up a few big plays, but Tompkins head coach Todd McVey was glad to get different players experience and get film on both the good and bad plays.

“We pride ourselves on running to the football and I think we did that well at times, we just have to continue to ingrain in our kids is getting to the ball,” McVey said. “When we did that good things happened and when we didn’t, bad things happened. Our secondary has some stuff to work on with getting their eyes right but they did some good things as well. Live speed gives you a great look and a lot of video to look at.”

Cole Francis, Tompkins senior quarterback, said he was happy to have the opportunity to compete.

“We’ve been going against ourselves for the past three weeks, so to have the chance to go up against a different team is great,” Francis said. “It gives you a different look, forces you out of your comfort zone and you can see the differences. It’s completely better, it just opens your eyes and lets you experience it all.”

Francis is taking the reins of the offense this year and did a good job of directing the offense and taking what the Mustangs defense left open.

“The way he took leadership and the way he managed the offense by taking them down the field, doing the little things, throwing the ball away when nothing was there and not forcing things was really good,” McVey said. “Obviously we’ll watch tape and figure out some things he can get better with, but I was very pleased overall.”

The teams ended the live 20 minute session tied at 14, Tompkins took the lead, but Cy-Ranch scored late on to tie things. The scrimmage was a learning lesson more than anything else and the biggest praise kept coming back to the work of the offensive line.

“The offensive line just blew it out of the park today,” Francis said. “I think every single play today they took care of business and it was amazing. We had a slip up on the first play but from then on you couldn’t ask for anything more.

Tompkins will continue to prepare for their season opening clash with Magnolia on Aug. 28.

“We have as much potential as we’ve ever had,” Marshal said. “We can be just as good as last year or any year, we have that bond. We just have to keep getting better even if it’s one percent each day and that’s what we did today. We have some good film to watch and get ready for everything.”