The 2024 season kicks off this Friday night in Lytle Texas. The Jackets have prepared for 9 long months. Thank goodness there is no more waiting. Let’s see what we have.

While I suggest that Llano is young, that based on experience, and somewhat lack of. The hard work has been put in. The countless hours. The worry of that first game can’t be measured. And with Coach Matt Green and his very experienced coaching staff, the Jackets will be ready.

Since that first season in 2017 that Coach Green came to Llano with a mission in mind. A purpose to fulfill. That since of confidence he gave us all. And his staff has always been so strong. I’ve never doubted our resolve.

In 1965, the Yellow Jackets had a veteran team. Future TCU star Sammy Rabb lead the Jackets from his full back position. Tommy Duncan was at tailback. And Quarterback Butch Stovall was returning having been 2nd team All District his junior year. All three were seniors. Jim Everett, Robert Mosely, Lyndon Lockhart, Mike Livingston, Shorty Lockhart were veteran lineman. All seniors. Expectations were high in Llano Texas for Coach Weldon Seeligers’ team.

The second game of the season, Llano played Round Rock at Round Rock. Early in the game, Butch rolled out to the sideline and was tripped up. He got up slow, got back to the huddle, but never ran another play. What was thought of at the time of being a pulled calf muscle, was much worse. Butch got to the sidelines, and that was the last time we and the team saw of him until the next day in the hospital.

What ever the leg injury was, I don’t know. But days later Butch was taken to a San Antonio hospital where they removed all of the muscle in Butch’s right leg. He never played again.

Dennis Raesener was the sophomore quarterback on that team. Dennis had been the starting quarterback in the 7th, 8th and 9th grade teams. He was a very accurate passer, and in those days, the quarterback called his own plays. Dennis was very smart, and a very cool guy. The situation did not fazz Dennis. That Jacket team finished the season 7-2-1, losing only to Fredericksburg in the last game of the season for the District Crown. Only one team from each district advanced to the state play offs.

Dennis went on the start 28 more games for the Yellow Jackets. His record of 17-10-1 was remarkable. Of the ten games lost…all were to teams that were district champions or co-district champions. 4 loses were to teams that went 10-0 in their regular seasons. Dennis holds the LHS record for most games started by a Llano quarterback. Behind Dennis is the quarterback of the 2007 and 2008 Jackets, Trey Brooks. Trey started 25 games for Llano, and finished with a 17-8 record.

Last year, the Jackets lost all State quarterback Briggs Green before the first game. In stepped Colton Bailey and freshman Luke Davis. Both played well. In fact I thought Colton turned into one of the Jackets best defensive players by the end of the season. Luke continued to improve at quarterback and got much experience. Both players will need every bit of last seasons experience to help beat a very sound Lytle team.

And while Luke and Colton, along with Trey Mote, Brayton Shaw, Konrad Zwicke, RJ Coplin, and Carter Bickett work on fine tuning the skill positions, expect this first game to be controlled on both lines of scrimmage. Seniors Rice Thomas, Stephen Barrack, Will Landers, Thomas Caldron, Marshall Hernandez, Jaxon Johnson, and Isaiah Hernandez must be at top speed. Seniors Michael Logan and Logan Van Pelt along with sophomore Cole Kennedy will man the trenches on the defensive side.

Lytle went two deep into the play offs last season, with 10 offensive and 9 defensive players returning. They have experience. And their confidence of having a record of 2-0 against the Jackets has not hurt that confidence.

Let’s turn that record around. Llano 21 Lytle 13

August 27, 2024