Sept. 2, 2008
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By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
This game certainly had all aspects of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And two out of three does not make for a win. The Yellowjackets frustration was best put by a Jacket Coach that said the players now may better understand what has been worked on so hard…now makes a little more sense.
My frustration is that Llano was ever bit as good a football team as 33rd Ranked Rockdale, but the continued shooting of ones foot off just made it impossible to get ahead of a strong offensive team. Rockdale scored on its’ first five possessions. The bad part for Llano was on three possessions, the Tigers scored on two plays are less. The bad part of the Jacket defense was giving up big plays time after time. The Tigers scored on plays of 63, 39, 25, and 62 yards.
The ugly part was the 9 penalties. 6 of those penalties were committed by Jacket seniors being offsides. If there is a positive in that statistic, it is the offense was able to overcome all 6 penalties and still score on those drives. But what a distraction from the concentration required for this offense.
There was a lot of good. And number one had to be that after the defense got their noses bloodied on the first play from scrimmage, the offense came right back and drove 14 plays and scored on the 64 yard drive. Four first downs, five ball carriers, and a beautiful catch on a pass from senior quarterback Trey Brooks to senior Walker Woolman for 18 yards. The score was 7 to 6 after Llano failed on the extra point try.
The Jackets were down 27-12 at halftime. This was an important test for the young and mostly inexperienced team with only 3 offensive starters returning from the 9-4 2007 squad. Llano took the second half kickoff and from their own 28 yardline, marched 72 yards on 11 plays to tighten the game to 27-19.
Yet, one play later and 62 more yards, the Tigers went up by the score of 33-19. This was becoming less and less fun. But, despite the failed defensive play, the Jackets’ offense kept fighting back. Again the Jackets took the kick-off and drove 69 yards and 11 plays to score. Two off-side penalties, a fumble(recovered), and still a score. Rockdale also had to keep wondering, “who are these guys”. The 33-27 score at the end of the third quarter was exhausting and frustrating.
The fourth quarter was a repeat of the third. The exception being the Tigers actually had to drive 63 yards for a score, using 9 plays. Despite not being at 100%, senior linebacker Logan Davis was in on tackle after tackle. Inspired play came from senior Tate McWhorter as well as junior linebacker Charlie Durham. And senior Reagan Friedrich had an outstanding night if you just count all out effort on defense. But when Rockdale went up by the score of 39 to 27 with 4:35 left in the game, this would have been one great opportunity to call it a night by the Jackets. Few would have complained. But senior quarterback Brooks rallied the troops for one more curtain call. One first down Brooks connected with ‘ole reliable Walker Woolman for 16 yards. Then carries by junior Clayton Maples, Brooks, and finished off the evening with an eye popping run by junior Estevan Aviles for 35 yards and the score. Estevan tried to make it easy for the Tigers, as he gave every Rockdale defender two shots at him, and if they were not missing him, he was jerking away from them, or outrunning them. Still, final score was 39 to 33.
Maybe there are such things as good losses. If so, let’s see if this one is of that color. Llano should have won this football game. More important, watching Llano after the game, the players knew they had an opportunity to win, but just did not get the job done. Miss tackles here, grabbing instead of wrapping up ball carriers. Getting their hands up to try and deflect passes. Sidestepping blockers. It’s the little things that lose football games.
But if Llano shows the never say die attitude it had against Rockdale against everyone else this season, then some teams ahead on our schedule will be in for some long nights.
How about some thoughts going against Bangs this week. Number one in my mind is Llano had 0 turnovers against Rockdale. Llano had 11 players handle the football, and everyone took care of the football.
In this offense that Coach David Yeager runs, you have to have a star running back to make it go. Stars need to be everywhere. On their helmets, shoulder pads, in the dressing room. Someone has to be the star. I read that somewhere, and I knew it was true. And three years ago in Yeagers’ first season as Llano’s head coach, he had that star in bull dozer Shane Pope. But, in Shanes’ senior year, his season ended with a serious injury, and there was no other star. Sure, that little guy by the name of Ty Thurman would be OK, but he was not a star. And his sidekick Lance Dickey was OK, but where were we going to find a star? Well, as luck would have it, those three players all ended their careers in the top 10 all time LHS rushers. And if you remember, when Ty got hurt last season, another very unlikely player came forward by the name of Austin Freeman. He wasn’t a star either. But he did end his career third most yards in school history in playoff games! And now we have senior Jordan Ashabranner, and junior Clayton Maples, and a little guy by the name of Estevan. I really don’t think any of these guys are stars. But when the game ended, Maples had 18 carries and 104 yards, and Estevan had 160 yards on 9 tries, and Jordan carried the load with 10 carries. And after only one game, for my money, it is worth the price of a knot-hole ticket to watch these three non stars play their hearts out on every play. All three together don’t weigh enough to make up one real big star, but, man can these guys play football.
When senior back Logan Davis is 100%, and our offensive line “jells”, these Jackets are going to be fun to watch. The defense must improve. There may be a big adjustment going on here as many players have to play both offense and defense. When these two get into a rythem, Llano in 2008 will be just fine. But what I saw Friday night was something I don’t think you really can coach. I saw heart in a very young team that did not know that you only play four quarters. I really think if the clock had broken, the Jackets would still be playing. That is worth the cost of aknot-hole ticket.
Last week, Bryan Jernigan picked the games, and missed only one! The ex Goldthwaite star only missed the Llano game. Let’s see if someone can do better:
Llano………..Bangs………..(Pick Score)
Burnet……..Henderickson……..
Canyon Lake……. Brandice………..
Liberty Hill………..Abilene Wylie……….
Fredericksburg………Uvalde………….
Wimberley…….Dripping Springs……….
Taylor……….Manor………….
Travis……….Hutto……………