The 2024 version of the fighting Llano Yellow Jackets put a strong statement out to everyone last Friday night. “We’re Llano, and we came to play.”

The Jacket’s first win ever over Lytle was enough for me. But the sound play on offense, defense and special teams proved at least for one week, Llano came prepared. Lytle last season was a good football team. And nearly all of those players returned for their senior season. Many Llano fans were lost without a program for the Jackets. New players, some old veterans, and a Coaching staff still in place.

The Jackets took the opening kick off and drove 13 plays and scored. Just like you do in practice. Senior Trey Mote carried 4 times for 22 yards and two first downs. Junior Brayton Shaw carried 3 times. Sophomore quarterback Luke Davis ran twice. And Luke threw four times with two completions to senior split receiver Carter Bickett and 10 more yards. And then on fourth down, Luke threw a perfect over the shoulder TD pass to Carter and the 19 yard score. Senior Tate Morgan kicked true and Llano lead 7-0 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.

Senior center Stephen Barrack along with seniors Will Landers and Thomas Caldren manned the offensive line. Luke was hardly ever touched all night long. Luke finished the night 12 of 17 and three TD passes. Still in the first quarter, Luke found senior RJ Coplin for a 14 yard completion. And on the next play RJ took an end around hand off and scored from 11 yards out.

The Jackets had about 112 yards of offense in the first quarter. Trey had a 57 yard TD run in the second quarter. Luke completed passes to Heath Rhea for 18 yards and a first down, and another for 27 yards. RJ caught a pass from Luke for 27 yards and another first down. An 8 yard reception by junior Austin Humphries was getting the Jackets close. Junior Konrad Zwicke had several key blocks. Two runs by Trey for 19 yards put Llano on the 15 yard line. Again Luke found Austin for the 15 yard TD pass. Llano lead at halftime 40-0

Oh yea…that 0. Someone showed up for Llano and played defense. Lytle had one drive, the first time they had the ball, and had a 10 play drive. But in that drive, the Jackets threw the Pirates for losses on 3 plays for negative 58 yards! They had 2 first downs, and were forced to punt. Senior linebacker Tate Morgan leads this very good defense. Wesley Whitaker and JD Friday had strong nights. Nose guard Michael Logan was unstoppable. Most of the night Michael was double teamed, but to no avail. Senior Logan Van Pelt had a very good evening. The three down lineman for Llano were a horrible menace to the Pirates. The Jackets held Lytle to 55 total yards for the entire game. 6 times the Jackets forced punts on three downs and out. Twice Lytle went for the first down on fourth down. Both times the likes of Carsten Hayes and Cole Kennedy stopped the runs.

Lytle only had the ball 16 plays in the second half. I think everyone on the Jacket sideline got to play. Youngsters like Ethan Griego, Hayden Scott, Brayden Amidon, Hayden Dean, Zach Driskell, Rice Thomas got valuable snaps. And running backs Cody Greenwood and Isaiah Aguilar carried the ball 17 times in the later part of the game. Sophomore Cash Lynch had two catches. And the leadership of senior Colton Baily while playing awesome in the secondary, came in and played quarterback in the fourth quarter. A great first game win. And we beat Lytle.

So many people have asked ” Is Llano good”? I still don’t know. Lytle just never showed up. Or did the Jacket just play that good? One way to find out. The Jackets travel again this week to Comanche. The Indians were 8-5 last year. Three games deep into the play offs last year. They are in a tough district, along with Jim Ned and Sweetwater.

Somehow, the Comanche all time record got deleted in the record book. But I’ve uncovered a few games. In 1966 Llano beat the Indians 28-0. The last time Llano played Comanche was in 2011, I think. Llano won 36-32. But in 2002, the Indians won 45-27. When time allows, I’ll go back and get it brought up to date. Over all, it has been a hard fought, competitive series.

You can bet that Comanche will be ready for Llano this week. The Indians lost to # 6 ranked Poth last week, but were still ranked above Llano. The young Jackets get the opportunity to get better. Playing a strong play off team from last season is needed. Keeping the penalties at a minimum paid off last week. And no turnovers. Llano gets better. Llano 27 Comanche 12