Oct. 6, 2008
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By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
Llano 32 (4-1) Fredericksburg 29(2-3)
The win against Fredericksburg, while not said out loud by anyone, including me, was a must win. A lose to the Billies would have ended a District march before it ever began. Among the top five teams in the District, Llano was the weakest by all critics. To beat a team that at the beginning of the season was projected as the third strongest in the league was monstrous. To win and do it for half a game without your top running back is more meaningful. It came down to the Jackets wanting to win more than the Billies. But if you thought Fredericksburg was tough, get ready this week for the Burnet Bulldogs.
Llano’s victory Friday night did not come easy. Trailing 7 to 6 at the end of the first quarter, and then rallying to go ahead 32 to 14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it took everyone to hold on as the Billies scored 15 points to close the gap. A recovered on side kick by senior Todd Tribble and then super efforts by senior quarterback Trey Brooks and senior Logan Davis to produce 2 first downs finally sealed the victory. The Yellowjacket offense under the guidance of Brooks keeps chugging along, at a record setting pace of over 36 points per game in the first five games of the season.
The concern is the defense. Allowing over 24 points a game has been more than worrisome. Little containment on the outside, little pass rush, and bombs over head have made almost every game way too close. By the end of the Fredericksburg game, Brooks was limping noticeably, and he is easily the best open field tackler on the team. By the third quarter he was moved over from his safety position to cornerback to cover Sam Henke of the Billies who caught 9 passes for well over 100 yards, including a 58 yard TD pass in the first quarter. And starting cornerback Clayton Maples was on the sidelines before halftime with an unknown injury and did not play in the second half.
The reason for more concern than less is that Logan Davis came into the game after missing the first four games with an illness. Certainly conditioning was a factor. But he replaced Maples in the backfield, and did a very good job. I had Logan with 15 carries and 65 very hard fought carries that produced four first downs and a touchdown. And then Logan went back on the field at linebacker. Maples being able to play is important. Logan continuing to get in better shape proved invaluable.
I can’t say anything about Estivan Ailes that is fitting. His 120 yards rushing and five carries are just plain amazing. And the return of senior Jordan Ashabranner came at the perfect time. His 78 yards rushing in the first half while averaging nearly 9 yards per run was pretty good for someone out of shape! Maples had 52 hard yards before he went to the sidelines. But as I ramble off these yards, one might think that a little blocking from the line could have helped. Andrew Ratliff, Jase Ball, and Kayden Gass have just been overwhelming to every defensive player to date. Forrest Hoerster and senior Josh Gammill are solid. And downfield blocking this week by senior Walker Woolman and Greg Dukes were made possible for the long runs. Next week, watch these two guys block downfield. They both are very good.
I’m just glad the Fredericksburg game is over. We beat them for the first time since 1991. That gives me and the rest of Llano bragging rights to our good neighbors to the South for a whole year. And besides that, they are a good football team. I hope they win the remainder of their games, and we both then could be in the playoffs.
Burnet: Over-All Record: Llano 38 Wins. Burnet 30 Wins, 2 Ties
First Game of Record: 1927 Llano 7 Burnet 6
(A special thanks to Darrell Debo from Burnet, who has through the years kept great records for the Burnet Bulldogs)
Burnet!
Enough said. Most people will see a team with a 1-5 record and figure they should be pretty easy. The opposite is true. They are 0-2 in District play, but the Bulldogs look at it this way. They will be picked to win in the next five games they play, including against Llano. They win out, and the Bulldogs are in the playoffs. They lose one more, and their season is finished. That is why their game against Llano is the most important game of their entire season.
On the other hand, Llano beats the Bulldogs Friday night and Burnet will be at 0-3 in District, and Llano would be 2-0. That is where the Jackets must be this time next week. Beating Burnet may be the toughest assignment Llano has had in many years. Burnet is not only a very good football team, they came within 27 seconds last Friday night of beating the reigning two -time State Champion Liberty Hill. Burnet threw the football for nearly 400 yards. Burnet had 100 yards more offense than Liberty Hill. The Bulldogs gave the Panthers all they could handle. And now they are in a must game to save their season.
Llano can beat the Bulldogs, and this is a game at the beginning of the season that I had Llano winning. Llano can win by having a pass rush, and at the same time having containment. This means the defensive ends or linebackers, whoever is responsible, does not allow the quarterback to get outside on a rollout and have an option to run or pass. Give Burnet time to throw, and they can be very successful.
Second, Llano can continue doing what they do best. Run the football. Long 10 and 14 play drives that keep the Burnet defense on the field. Llano’s offense is about the same as Liberty Hill. This offense can win football games, and beating Burnet would be …well…monstrous!