Sept. 22, 2008
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By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
Week 4 Open Week September 26th, 2008
Taylor: Llano 25 Taylor 7
The win at Taylor was a very big ego booster for the 3-1 Jackets. Beating a very good Taylor Duck team on their home field in front of the largest crowd of the season has got to help the Jackets begin believing more in themselves. The crowd looked like a Homecoming crowd. Folks were all up and down the sidelines. And most were there to watch the top Central Texas rusher in senior Tristan Meyer. With nearly 600 yards rushing in three games, the 195 pound back was the leader of a team that had very high hopes. But Meyer and the Ducks’ crowd went home very disappointed. While Meyer had been averaging nearly 200 yards per game, the Jackets held him to 37 yards on 11 carries.
The Jacket defense held the Ducks to 179 total yards. But no one is being fooled that the defense is ready for District 8 3-AAA. But no doubt also, in anyone’s mind, Llano is improved, and hope appears to be on the way. The Jackets began by having several adjustments in players and their positions. Against Taylor, and their offense, the Jackets were able to “experiment” some. Some was good, some not so good.
The Jacket secondary has had a hard time finding itself, and no quicker than the second play of the second quarter, a 59 yard TD toss from quarterback Rick Cobia to speedster Mark Jackson and the score was tied 7 to 7. The pass rush has just got to get better, and as the game went on, it did. After that TD play, Taylor threw the ball 12 times for a total of only 59 yards. Senior Walker Woolman places a good technique at defensive end. Junior Seth Graham, junior Steven Yantis, and senior Todd Tribble all got better as the game went on. The best part I saw in the game is Llano gained confidence as the game wore on. And by the early part of the third quarter, Llano was confident it would win. More aggressive play was shown, and better tackling. Linebackers Kayden Gass and Reagan Friedrich along with Cory Wunderlich had solid games. Senior Josh Gammill and junior Charlie Durham had very good games. Sophmore Travis Lawrence is getting better.
Four Yellowjacket seniors were out with injuries, and a fifth was hurt early in the game. All are expected to be well by October 3, first district game with Fredericksburg. This week being Open Week, is wonderful medicine for the beat up Jackets. Work over the next two weeks may be the difference, as the Jackets keep tweaking their players and who will line up where. But a lot of mistakes are made up by super effort. And that super effort begins in practice.
I’ve said that I guess Coach Yeager could put the cheerleaders in Llano’s backfield, and out would pop another 6 yard per run output. But, for now, let’s keep juniors Clayton Maples (25-113 yards)and Estivan Aviles(11-116 yards) in the backfield along with senior Clayton Tumlinson(11-62yards) and senior quarterback Trey Brooks( 11-63 yards). Their production has been so consistant, and their effort on record setting pace. But continued great blocking from junior Jase Ball at center, Seniors Tate McWhorter, and Royce Haines, along with Forrest Hoerster, Greg Dukes and Woolman.
Senior Trey Brooks played his best game to date. Starting his 17th game as the Jacket quarterback, Trey is so comfortable that he makes it look easy. His running game is much improved, and he runs smart. He does not take too many direct hits. As the season gets tougher, his passing will come more into play. It too has improved. Trey plays full time in the secondary, and is so solid there. But do you want your quarterback playing every down? Up to now, Llano has few choices. Yet Trey will have a backup maybe by the time we play the Billies. Not that I want Trey coming out of the game, but a breather won’t hurt this very competitive senior.
The Jackets are 3-1. In my mind, this is where I thought we would be at the start of the season, although I had us beating Rockdale and losing to Taylor. Rockdale is now 4-0 and a top 20 in state ranking. The Jackets have 6 really hard weeks ahead. But the way to win is to only worry about one team at a time. And that path to the playoffs begins with Fredericksburg.
District 8 3AAA at a Glance:
Liberty Hill 4-0
Llano 3-1
Fredericksburg 2-2
Burnet 1-3
Wimberley 1-3
Canyon Lake 0-4
Ingram 0-4
Don’t let these records fool you. Wimberley, for example, won the District last year, and finished the regular season at 4-6. They too, like the 9-4 Yellowjackets, played three games deep into the playoffs. The mysteries today are the Burnet Bulldogs and the Fredericksburg Billies. Both coming down in classification from 4AAAA, these schools have large enrollments and very good athletes. Fredericksburg plays Liberty Hill this Friday night at Fredericksburg. Burnet travels to Wimberley. And Canyon Lake goes to Ingram.
Next week we will review those games, and start getting ready for Fredericksburg on October 3rd.