Oct. 6, 2009
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Play To Win
By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
3AAA District Standings
Wimberley 2-1
Llano 1-0
Canyon Lake 1-0
Burnet 1-1
Liberty Hill 1-1
Fredericksburg 0-2
Ingram 0-2
The Llano Yellowjackets played a solid game against the Fredericksburg’Billies last Friday night and won by the score of 28-7. As far as I can tell, it is the first time in school history that the Jackets have beat the ‘Billies two years in a row. It is easy saying we beat a team with double the enrollment of a school with twice that of LHS. The mystery is how good were the ‘Billies. No doubt, they will have more success over the next five weeks, and we hope they help with the outcome of the district race.
I e-mailed Coach Yeager asking to confirm that this may be only the second time in school history in which Llano had three backs with each over 100 yards rushing. Yeager’s 2007 Jackets had three against St. Michaels, in which Lance Dickey (202 yards), Ty Thurman (176 yards), and Wes Regmund (149 yards), coupled with other Llano backs to run up 618 rushing yards in one game, another school record. Against the ‘Billies, Clayton Maples (184 yds.), Estevan Aviles (142 yds.), and junior Justin Saverance (100 yds.) pushed the Jacket rushing total to 453 yards for the game.
The mood and relief that the Fredericksburg game is over tells more about this week against Burnet than last week against the ‘Billies. Burnet may have read my article last week and took offense that I said they may not be the giant killer they have been in the past. But, giant killer they have become. It now makes it much easier for Llano now to identify which team is the one we must beat. It is the Bulldogs of Burnet, and this week, we get the opportunity to see who the best is. The Bulldogs slaughter of the Liberty Hill Panthers tells many stories. The 48-6 score is alarming. While Burnet surely must have gone asleep against Wimberley the week before, the giant awoke and laid the first district loss on the Panthers in five long years. I have said since early summer that Llano may go 1-9 this 2009 season, but we would beat Liberty Hill. I know it as I know my own name. But that game is not until the last regular game of the year. The only game that counts now is Burnet. Llano is playing good football. Solid and sound.
Had the Jackets not committed two penalties last Friday night against the ‘Billies, the Jacket defense would have gotten their first shutout. Still, holding the ‘Billies to about 155 yards of offense was top play on the defensive side of the ball. Many players were outstanding. But, in my mind, the pass rush of Cody Allen and Josh Gammill lead the charge. They were able to make tackles on the straight dive plays, chase down the backs from behind, and rush the passer. All of this enabled Travis Lawrence, Seth Graham, Kayden Gass, Davis Hill, and Charlie Durham to make the plays. And the secondary was just as good. Cornerbacks Raven Herron, Sterling Jameson, and Michael Rusche played very sound. The ‘Billies had two completions of 23 and 36 yards. The other 6 completions produced only 42 total yards. Fredericksburg was suppose to be a passing team. The interception by Saverance was a solid safety just playing center field. He was where was suppose to be. Justin had an outstanding game. You throw in outstanding play by Maples, Aviles, and junior Jordan Cavness, and you have good athletes playing sound football. This defense can be very good. It will have to be this Friday night.
I’m ready for the offense to get good. Really good. And this week you will see that. It takes every bit of 3 to 5 games for an offensive line to not only feel good about what it is doing, it has to feel comfortable. That sounds funny, but that is what it takes. There has to be a real rhythm for the lineman to knock out 10 to 18 plays in one drive. The line of Jase Ball, Travis Lawrence, Forrest Hoerster, Kayden Gass, Matthew Ratliff, and Davis Hill are beginning to get to that comfort level. Their confidence level rises as the backs gain more yards. Nothing feels more right for these dirt hogs to look up and see numbers 21, 3, or 44 running out in front of their efforts. Their efforts not only usually go unnoticed, their receptions on the sidelines are rarely nice slaps on the back. Missed cuts by running backs are usually overlooked. Missed blocks are for all to critique.
The one pass thrown by junior quarterback Preston Rabb may be a school record. Not one to say how hard it was practiced for, but to date, Preston is commanding a good ship. Solid play, and few mistakes. That in a quarterback is telling.
Llano’s backups play a big part in every game. This week we saw more of Clayton Tumlinson running the football, and Lane Sprey ran very strong. Will Cohen played a lot, and I love his # 90. He blocked well downfield, as did Graham and Cavness.
Another overlooked aspect is the kicking game. This week junior J.D. Roberson, Herron, Dean Redden, Saverance, Tumlinson, and Rusche all made tackles on the kicking game. It is nothing but hustle and hard running to make those plays.
Llano has not beat Burnet this decade. It is an old rivalry, going back to 1927 when the Jackets whipped up on the Bull pups 7 to 6. And Llano won in 1996, 1997, and 1998. And the Jackets lead the overall series 38 to 32 with two ties. I think it is time for # 39.
Llano 29 Burnet 20.