Raul Dominguez Jr. Express-News Staff Writer
Publication: San Antonio Express-News
Date: December 15, 1991
Page: 8D
Sean Noster and Todd Siebert tested among the best athletes at Marshall earlier this season. They backed up the results by turning in multi-talented performances in Marshall’s 20-13 victory over Houston Aldine in the regular 5A state semifinals at the Astrodome.
The Rams test their players on a combination of speed, strength, agility and endurance to determine who is the best athlete. Not surprisingly, Noster and Siebert are at the top of the list. “They are probably our best two athletes,” Marshall defensive coordinator Monte Land said. “They’re just good athletes. When Anthony (Holmes) got injured, we used Todd on just about everything offensively except quarterback and center.”
Although Siebert appears to be the most talented, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior says that honor goes to Noster.
“He is really good,” Siebert said. “He is a real good punter. He is a real good linebacker. He is our No. 1 athlete. He is talented and he is just a junior, so he’ll be back next year.”
Noster and Siebert’s primary duties are at linebacker and defensive back, where they helped the Rams limit the Mustangs to 269 total yards. They also turned up everywhere else. Noster sent seven punts booming into the Astrodome lighting, averaging 39.1 yards per kick with a long of 47 yards. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior helped limit Aldine to 19 yards in returns. The final punt proved to be his finest. Noster boomed a 38-yard punt that was bobbled and recovered for no gain. Noster’s punt put the Mustangs at their own 16-yard line with about 3:30 remaining in the game.
“It was crucial,” Marshall quarterback Mark Saldana said of Noster’s final punt. “I told him he had to nail it deep. He told me ‘Thanks for the added pressure,’ but I told him he already had been doing it all night.” Reminded of that, Noster made a prediction to Saldana. “I told him, ‘Baby, this one’s going to boom,’ ” Noster said.
Land said Noster’s consistency was a pleasant surprise. “Sean is not the most consistent punter, but he outdid himself tonight” Land said. “Usually if he kicks four or five times in a game, he may kick three good and miss on two of them. Tonight he just hit on all of them.” Noster said the offensive line allowed him to accomplish what he set out to do. “I really wanted to concentrate on my hang time and distance,” Noster said. “The offensive line did a good job of blocking and keeping me protected.”
Siebert’s biggest plays came on defense, where he picked up a fumble and an interception for the Rams. Siebert also ran the ball when he wasn’t blanketing the Mustangs receivers or reminding them of his presence by knocking them to the ground. Siebert picked up 79 yards in return yardage and was involved in a few offensive plays, picking up two yards on one carry.
Although Siebert played most of the game, he was not complaining of fatigue. “I was tired a little bit near the end of the game, but I was just thinking about winning and going to the state final,” Siebert said. And thanks in part to athletic performances by himself and Noster, the Rams did just that.
