The 4-2 2007 Llano Yellowjackets took one on the chin for the school Friday night as the Class 4AAAA Kerrville Tivy Blue and Gold held their Homecoming Game at the expense of Llano.

The Jackets’ surprise victory over Tivy in last years’ contest set up the game this year. To say it in a nice way. Revenge can be very tough at times. Tivy has been talking about Llano for several months. They were not surprised this year. The 41 to 20 lose to the 13th ranked Kerrville was good experience. Now is the time to move on.

The Jackets played well at times. Too much 4AAAA talent at others. When Tivy scored on their first possession after 7 plays and a 70 yard drive, the Jackets responded with a 7 play , two first down drive. But Lance Dickey punted for 50 yards after the jackets ran out of steam reaching the 48 yardline. Senior Dickey had 15 yards rushing, senior Ty Thurman had 12 more and blocking by Andrew Ratliff, Seth Hensley, and Dusty Lockhart on the line.

But an 11 play drive by Tivy and a score had the Jackets down by 14. Defense was solid at times. In the first quarter, Llano held Tivy to five yards or less on 7 plays, but big plays again hampered the Jackets from getting the ball back into Llano’s hands.

The second quarter, the tempo changed, and the Jackets played their best football this season. Not just the 75 yard run by senior Wes Regmund that got Llano’s first score, it was the blocking, the downfield blocking, and the defense that showed Llano’s ability to play with the big boys. The quarter ended with Llano’s second score on a 16 play drive, covering 86 yards. Quarterback Trey Brooks hit reliable junior Walker Woolman, first with a 20 yard pass and a first down, and then on the last play with 12 seconds left in the Half for 20 yards and the TD to Walker. A great catch between two defenders, as Trey threaded the needle, and Walker’s concentration sent the teams to the dressing rooms with a 21-13 score.

Llano’s defense was more than adequate. Ethan Moore has stepped in for the injured Austin Freeman and played like an old hand. Seems very comfortable in the secondary. Junior Taylor Maddox with Lance in the secondary are making a solid secondary. Sam Whitaker gave up little to the stronger and faster Tivy players. And seniors Cody Feitz,
Wes, and Michael Anderson all had some very good plays, all with outstanding effort. The Jackets are learning not to take plays off. This self conditioning will pay off in District play.

Had Llano scored on the first drive of the second quarter…well you never know. The Jackets started on the 19 yardline and drove nine plays to the 50 yardline, where on 4th down and three were not able to make the first down. The set-back was what took the air out of Llano. Even with good runs from Thurman and Dickey, blocking from Sam, Andrew, junior Corey Wunderlich, and Royce Haines, Llano’s night was coming to and end. The quarter ended with the Jackets having two series of 3 and out, while Tivy scored 10 more.

Best thing about the 4th quarter, is Head football Coach David Yeager found this to be a good place to play more people in order to get better prepared for Llano’s district title run. While old hands Tye Siegenthaler, Kyle Frizell, and Jared Francis were playing their very consistant game, even against much tougher competition, action for Brady Vestal, Robert Ivey, Jordan Ashabraner, junior Tate McWhorter, senior Michael Reeves, Cory could become so important in games this October, and more so when November hits. Royce Haines at center was a good move. And the emergence of Junior Logan Davis on defense has made Llano a team more solid up the middle. His aggressiveness shows on the field. And placing him in the backfield for a few running plays was a good change of pace. Logan is getting ready for this run at a district title.

And talking about that district race. Llano is the only team in the district with a winning record. But please do not buy into that right now. Wimberley has played a schedule that just as well have included the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. No easy games for the Texans. By the last game of the season with Llano, they too will be playing for the district crown. Bandera and Ingram will play Llano tough, even if their cheerleaders have to suit up. Nothing from here on out will be easy. This is where the money players start showing up to play. And nothing short of over-looking St. Michaels this week should stop Llano from their primary goal.

Llano has so many good areas of play. Brooks to Woolman. Lockhart, Anderson, Ratliff, Haines, Hensley, and Wunderlich blocking consistency. Frizzell, Justin Logan, Nathan Dudley, Freitz, and Robert Ivey, and senior Seth Simpson all playing tough defense. A secondary getting better. Punting game and coverage is better. The main stay of Llano is the running game. Hard to beat Thurman, Dickey, Brooks, Wes, and Davis, all very good with the football. Turnovers have been minimum this season. Penalties better than last season. I may scream though the next time one of our senior offensive lineman jumps off sides, but that is just my pieve.

This team could have something really special just over the horizon. And perfecting the small things begins this Friday with St. Michaels. Llano’s seniors need to take over the mental part of this game. Keep the plays crisp, and the concentration so focused, The seniors can control this part of the next few weeks. A strong solid, no mistake game is where the Jackets start for the quest of a Title, the first since 1998.

Llano 50 St. Michaels 14

My wife Kay and I sat on the Tivy side last Friday night. I had three grandchildren, two son in laws and two daughters there. You must understand that last year I made everyone sit on the Llano side as we beat Tivy. So pay backs are heck! But this night I was blessed.

Sitting behind Kay and I was an elderly gentleman, who was with friends, and I could hear them talk football. Not your average football fan. This guy knew formations and knew play calling. And was good at evaluating talent. I agreed with most assessments he had about the Jackets. At half time he leaned over and asked what kind of stats I was keeping, and what was the purpose. I told him of my small habit of the past 35 years.

His name was Peter Vann. His senior year as starting quarterback at West Point in New York, he had a fellow by the name of Vincent Lombardi as his offensive coordinator. The team lead the nation in offense his senior year, 1953. The next year, Lombardi got another similar job with the New York Giants. And a few years after that…well the rest is history.

Peter Vann said that Lombardi was as fiery as I had ever heard about him. And when asked if he was more low key in his younger years, he said very strongly “No”. ‘Lombardi had a gap between his front teeth”, and when he was mad or excited’ he “ spoke and spit thru his teeth”. He said he would take nothing for such an experience.

I have read much about Lombardi, but Mr. Vann told this story. Lombardi was the high school coach in the same town as West Point was located. Lombardi’s high school team played the West Point freshman every year, and it became an annual event. But when Lombardi’s high schoolers had beaten the college team five years in a row, West Point just hired him!!

Mr. Vann was very complementary of the Jackets. He thought Trey had a very sound and accurate arm when he set-up to throw. Really was amazed about Wes’s speed. I thought Andrew was very good both ways, but more outstanding on offense. It was an amazing night, and the Jackets left Kerrville with a few more admirers.