The Llano YellowJackets had not lost a District game in four years, until Friday night, falling to a good 7-0 SA Randolph team 24-7. The lose puts the Jackets tied for second place in district play, and has three games to go. The 4-3 Jackets play in San Antonio this week against Marion.

Randolph played a good defensive game, holding Llano to less than 200 yards of offense. Llano on the other hand, too played good defense. The Ro-Hawks were held to only 212 yards of offense…winning football in most games.

Randolph took the opening kick-off and drove 70 yards in only four plays. The score came on a 51 yard TD pass and the score was 7-0 with 10:42 left to play in the first quarter. Good defense by seniors Charlie White and Dusty Miller. Hunter Brown applied pressure, but not enough.

Mid way thru the first quarter, sophomore Aiden Detwiler intercepted a pass in Jacket territory and Llano had the ball at the 33 yard line. The Jacket offense went no-where. A 38 yard punt by senior Cooper McWilliams put Randolph on the 48 yard line, and good defense by the Jackets forced a third punt. Junior Logan Van Pelt had a stop. Linebacker Tate Morgan had a stop, one of his team leading 13 tackles for the night. Fitz Kennedy ended the night with 10 tackles. Carter Bickett had 6 tackles from his safety position. Senior Buddy Machuga had a great night from the trenches. But after an exchange of punts, the Ro-Hawks struck again and scored with 7:23 left in the half.

The Jacket offense finally got untracked. Runs by Kaleb Payten, Trey Mote and quarterback Colton Bailey had Llano in a fourth down situation. But a 15 yard penalty by Randolph, and then a 10 yard gain by Dusty had Llano at the 28 yard line. Five more by Dusty, and three by Trey. With freshman quarterback Luke Davis in the game, a 15 yard TD pass to sophomore Konrad Zwicke put Llano on the scoreboard with 3:56 left in the Half. Freshman Carlos Sapula kicked good for the extra point and the score was 14-7, Randolph.

The beginning of the 3rd quarter made the score bleak. The Jackets fumbled the kick off, and Randolph recovered, and scored on the next play. Score 21-7.

Llano took the kick off and had a very good 14 play drive. Runs by Trey, Colton, Fitz Kennedy got the Jackets to the 23 yard line. Completions to RJ for a first down. Senior Alex Kachura had the longest play of the night for Llano with aa 33 yard catch. But the Jackets could not find the end zone. Llano stopped the next Randolph drive with an interception by Charlie White.

A 22 yard field goal by Randolph in the fourth quarter made the score 24-7. With the exception of a kick off play by Llano in the second quarter, when the Jackets caught the ball, got it to Davis, who threw clear across the field to RJ who got the ball up to the 50 yard line, leading to the Davis to Konrad Zwicke 15 yard catch and the only Jacket score.

There is no doubt that Llano did not play well enough to win Friday night. Many of the same players on offense are the same players on defense. The effort is there. The will is there. I only counted 4 penalties by Llano. Much improved from earlier in the season. Getting up and going again is what this team can be all about. Going 7-3 is realistic.

The season is far from over. Llano could and should win their three remaining games. If they can do that, they will have the opportunity to win two games into the play offs. That would be 9 wins. Then…they might get to play a revenge game against Randolph…I wouldn’t bet against the Jackets over the next three weeks. Or 5 weeks. Or 6 weeks.

Prediction: Llano 31 Marion 0