Just getting over the hump was not enough Thursday night as the Llano Yellow Jackets took it on the chin in a 35-26 loss to Glen Rose in Bi-District play in Belton.  The inablity to score in the fourth quarter prevented a serious run.  Three times inside the 16 yard line produced no points.  And while Llano played very defense in the first and fourth quarters, it was the failure to stop Glen Rose in the second and third periods that spelled doom.

   In the first quarter, the Jackets’ defense held on the first three possessions, and the Llano  offense scored on their first.  On first down senior quarterback Layton Rabb set the scoring toss up by first hitting senior wide-out Issac Hutto on an 8 yard pass completion.  Then Rabb came back with a strike of 57 yards to senior Chance Ware for the 7-0 first score.  The defense forced three punts, on three, 3 and outs.  The defense lead by seniors Caleb Penny  and Ryan Mansell…the defense held Glen Rose to -2 yards rushing on 9 tries, and 69 yards passing on 4 of 9 passing.

   Sound blocking from seniors helped the Llano running game get going.  Seniors  Jordan Webb and Gilberto Arredondo helped the running game get traction…  Rabb, junior Jalen Bauman, and senior Carter Tatsch gashed the Tigers for four rushing first downs.  After Glen Rose scored early in the second quarter, Llano responded with a 9 play drive of 72 yards highlighted with a Rabb to Ware 34 yard pass and catch and Llano lead 14-7.  And then Llano spurted.  Two long drives by the Tigers sent the host to the locker room ahead 21-14.  Llano actually scored on the last play of the half, only to have the refs not recognize the score over the end zone pilon.  With the large picture display at the end zone, replays showed Carter scoring.  Very disappointing to Jackets.   Llano allowed 152 yards in the quarter on 17 plays and three scores.

   The third quarter was an exchange of touchdowns, and good plays by many.  Linebacker  Aaron Moss was good defensivley, as was Holden Simpson and Lance Reven.  All juniors.  Erich Burch and Blain Steffen had good games.  Senior Eli Tiffin came up with a fumble recovery, and played as always…tough and hard.  Still love the play of Mason Ladd and Kralen Dickerson in the secondary.  Jacket run defense was better at times…15 plays of 0 or minus yards on plays.  Big plays killed the Jackets.  Llano scored late in the fourth to make it close.  I’m not sure the Carter non-touchdown had a big negative in the minds of our players.  Many of these Jackets are 16 or 17 years old.  How do I know what was in their syc?

   Llano’s improvement under Slaughter is 100% difference.  His 8-13 record over two years is stellar….playing schools that suite up 60 players for a game is so tough.  February we make the change into new territory and new schools we will be playing.  The UIL is set to split 3-AAA, and we will benefit greatly.  No more Liberty Hills, Burnets, or Brownwoods..It was pretty neat beating Brownwood…and now we have an over-all record against the Lions of 5 wins and 4 losses!  Coach Slaughter is already wworking on the 2014 schedule.  It is going to be exciting

   Congratulations to this very special 2013 team.  Next week, I will review the seniors, and list the records that will go into the record books…there are many.  Thanks for reading Play To Win.