Oct. 27, 2008
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Play To Win
By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
Llano 47 (6-2) Canyon Lake 6 (1-7)
The victory over a young Canyon Lake team was more complete than the win over a hapless Ingram team. In winning 47 to 6 Friday night, Llano had improvement in many areas. The first being the linebacker play. The Hawks ran many plays in which backs were moving around, and opportunities for their quarterback to drop passes out to the flats. Linebackers Logan Davis (great read on the screen pass), Kayden Gass, and Reagan Friedrich were to most part, in good position, and running easily with the movement. Senior Walker Woolman, Charlie Durham, a junior, senior Jeffery McLerran, and junior Seth Graham were very active all night long. It was a good night for the Jacket Backers.
The secondary played pretty good. With more of a pass rush, it made it a little easier when Travis Lawrence, Josh Gammill, and senior Royce Haines were causing havock in the middle. Tate McWhorter had his best game this year, with great effort in trying to get to the quarterback. There were times it took two blockers to keep him out. As a result of the lineman’s effort, Estivan Aviles, Todd Tribble, senior Taylor Maddox, and senior Russell Weihs covered well.
WEEK 9
Playing defense against the Hawks and against Ingram will not be the same for this defense as it lines up against Wimberley. But this game has got to be the game Llano has been waiting for as this season progressed. Granted, the Texans began this season as they did in 2007. Few wins, and not much to show. But as District play began, so did their season. The Jackets can say the same. I would think Llano should be confident it can beat Wimberley.
When Llano played the Texans the first time in 1996, they won 38-0. It has been a back and forth rivalry. Llano has won five times, and the Texans have won seven. Llano will see a team that splits its pass and run just about 50-50. Quarterback Barron Scudder (6’2, 210 lbs) is very good. Yet Llano should be reminded, that when pressured, he will hurry a pass. He has thrown 10 interceptions this season. Don’t be fooled into thinking with a moment of time, he can’t throw perfect and deep. It would not surprise me if that long deep pattern is not their first play of the game. He hit the 28 yard TD pass last year on the third play. It will come, and Llano must not be flat footed.
While Llano can’t figure to gamble a lot, one criticism is that the Jacket secondary reacts after the ball is caught. With a little quicker jump this week, an interception could go a long way in securing a Jacket playoff game. Llano, in order to make the playoffs, needs to beat Wimberley by 7 points. While other things need to happen, and other things certainly could happen, should there be a three way tie…Llano Wimberley and Burnet, the tie breaker is points, with a cap. Burnet beat Llano, but the Cap is 17 points. Wimberley beat Burnet by 6 points. Thus, when we beat Wimberley, we need to win by 7, and the Texans stay home. Then in the last regular game of the season, Llano could do something that no one else has been able to do, and that is beat Liberty Hill November 7th and end their 33 game winning streak, the longest in Texas. The Jackets winning this District this year can be a reality, and it begins Friday night in Jacket Stadium.
What can Llano do to win? Number one is forget the 7 point deal. The Jackets need to be serious as a heart beat, and a quite resolve to make sure everything is covered. The lineman, the key to this win, must not jump offsides. They can’t get caught holding, and they must be alert enough to pick up those “stand in the hole linebackers.” They killed us last year. Llano lineman must pick this up In order for Jacket backs to break the line of scrimmage. When Llano is focused, this team can run up the yardage and points. Beating Wimberley by 21 is my gut feeling. But it will not happen without that 100% effort on every single play. Beating Wimberley will be the biggest test this 2008 Jacket team has ever faced. Beating Fredericksburg was big, but in the first game of District play, it is hard to think it was “that important”. IT was, but now all rides on this perfect storm that can happen Friday night.
A few weeks ago, someone quoted the Fredericksburg Coach in saying that any team that goes to the play-offs out of this District, would have to do so by beating Llano. Llano’s perfect storm is being played at their home field where they have not lost this year. Beating the Texans here will be only the beginning. Llano by 21!