Sept. 8, 2008
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Play To Win
By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
The Llano Yellowjacket’s defense had a 39 point turn-a-round from Week 0 to Week 1. For all the things the Jackets needed, it was a shutout, shutdown play by an inspired team de-termined to be more than just an offensive machine. The Jackets tackled and played pass defense. Two things lacking in the Rockdale game the previous week.
The Jackets kicked off to the Bangs Dragons and started playing defense on the first play. Despite allowing two first downs, linebackers Kayden Gass and Reagan Friedrich along with Charlie Durham and Corey Wunderlich played hard every play. This week, no one was waiting for someone else to make the tackle. Their aggressiveness along with a good pass rush from seniors Larry Johnson, Andrew Ratliff, Royce Haines, and Tate McWhorter kept the Dragons on their heel the entire night.
The Jacket offense had another great night. And on the first offensive play from scrimmage, junior fullback Clayton Maples burst thru the Dragon line and went 74 yards for the first score. Junior Estivan Aviles kicked true and Llano lead 7-0. Aviles went on to kick 5 of 6 successful extra points in the game, and for the season now is successful with 6 of 8.
Back on the ranch, the defense forced the Dragons to go three plays and out the next four series, and forced a fumble on the fifth series, caused by a crunching hit by cornerback Maples.
The secondary played very well. Along with Maples, starting quarterback Trey Brooks playing safety, who really becomes the quarterback on defense, and had some of the hardest hits on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Taylor Maddox, his second season as a starter, is very reliable, and stayed in position all night long. Seth Graham, a junior dropped back from his linebacker position and had a very good game. Junior Russell Weihs also plays safety, and he is playing himself into being on the field a lot. Great game. And the Jackets got their first interception of the season from junior Steven Yantis. ( teven to his friends!) This secondary could become good. And these young players know they will have to get better. Bandera throws the football. Fredericksburg throws the football. Burnet throws 40% of the time. So this rush to get better came timely. This defense can keep Llano in every game this season.
And by keeping Llano in the game, our offense can score. The 74 points in the first two games is not an accident. Llano averaged 35 points a game last year. Same offense. The defense just must keep maturing and getting better.
The offense had over 450 yards rushing against the Dragons. Maples and Avlies had about 120 yards rushing each. Brooks running the ball had over 70 yards including a 57 yard run. And senior Jordan Ashabranner had about 10 carries and a TD. In the fourth quarter we saw senior Jeffery McLerran carry four times for 36 yards, including a 17 yard run. Junior Clayton Tumlinson had several strong carries, including a 10 yard TD run for Llano’s final score of the night.
And while Maples, and Brooks, and Aviles and Jordan were getting the glory, the guys in the ditch did the job of opening the holes. Lead by senior Andre Ratliff, center Jas Ball, Freiderich, Wunderlich, Greg Dukes, and Josh Gammill were doing the dirty work. They have blocked now for over 800 rushing yards in two games! That is some heavy lifting.
Llano now gets a strong test. Bandera is always strong. Llano has never had an easy time with the ‘Big Blue”. Bandera has been in the Llano district for the past 8 years, and in 2002, they won the State Championship, despite Llano playing their best game of the year before losing 37 to 34. Bandera would love to come to Llano and spoil the Jackets winning streak! This will be a good one. See you Friday night.