September 14, 2009
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Play To Win
By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
The 22 to 14 loss to Bandera was a very mixed bag of good and bad. The Jackets were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win. The unaggressive play can be due to not playing the week before in Bangs, but, more than anything I could see, it was pure lack of leadership. This happens so often in the early part of any season. A team must find itself, and start feeling comfortable with what it does. This team has not had that experience yet. That is where leadership must emerge. This Jacket team has talent and tradition. It is up to the seniors to stress that “this is our last chance” to do what we love best. The seniors must start demanding an urgency to this success. The seniors must start with themselves, and demand it from juniors and sophomores. This is not negotiable. The Jackets are 0-2. They play a very good 3-0 Taylor team this week. Last season Llano entered District play at 3-1 and getting better. The 2009 Jackets could be 0-3 and still searching for its identity. Time is short.
At times in the Jackets first two games, I have really liked the defense. Strong play has come from senior Josh Gammill and senior linebacker Kayden Gass. Junior Travis Lawrence also played well Friday night. Junior Sterling Jameson at safety had a good game. When Estevan Aviles and Clayton Maples are in the Jacket secondary, I feel secure that top effort is being played every down. And juniors Michael Rusche and Raven Herron at the cornerbacks are coming players with little fear. The defense has the makings of being pretty good. With more confidence, players like Davis Hill and Seth Graham with Charlie Durham will help bring this unit together. I think senior Cody Allen played strong in the middle of the line.
The defense forced two punts and one fumble. Those numbers need to double.
The Jackets first TD drive went from the 14 yard line to the end zone. 86 yards. 13 running plays. Aviles 3 carries and 22 yards. Maples 6 carries and 22 yards. Junior Justin Severance 3 carries and 30 yards. Junior quarterback Preston Rabb hit Jaameson for a big 19 yard gain on third down to keep the drive alive. Steady blocking from Hill, Gass, Matthew Ratliff, and senior Forrest Hoerster provided the open holes. It was the best Llano football this season.
The Jackets’ second TD drive at the start of the third quarter was vintage Llano. Aviles gets 30 yards on the kick-off. A fake punt on fourth down and Maples gets 7 on 4th and six! 10 more from Estevan. And then Severance takes it to the end zone on a 20 yard run. Llano was in control at this point. The game was very much winnable at this point. And nailing the nail into the coffin is crucial. But mistakes and mental errors did the Jackets in. On defense in the second half, the Jackets allowed 2 yards on 9 plays. On three others plays they allowed 131 yards. Big plays were the killer for this game.
The Jackets really need a win. And this week against one of the top teams and biggest surprises of the early season is 3-0 Taylor. With one of the fastest players in Texas, Mark Jackson will be a challenge. He can be stopped, but it will take 100% effort every play, and an urgency on the Jackets’ part. Llano’s 34 points in two games will not be enough. It may take that many to beat Taylor. Llano’s seniors must come together and get their team fired up. The offensive line must take control of the game so that the ball control of the Jackets can dictate the tempo of the game. Taylor is a winnable game for Llano. The Jackets need this game more than the Ducks need it. It is up to Llano to realize they can turn this season around this Friday night. Llano will have two long weeks to think about the Taylor game as the Jackets are off the week of September 25th. They need to be thinking positive and feel good about the game with Taylor.
Llano 35 Taylor 27