The Llano Yellowjackets again played a lackluster first half for the fourth week in a row, only to come roaring back and win their fourth straight game and beat District foe Florence 34-14 Friday night. The Jackets 14-14 half time score kept the Jackets in the contest. But the slot t running Buffaloes gave Llano all they wanted in the first half. Florence had 148 yards rushing in the first half. Llano had only one yard of offense in the first quarter, having run only 6 plays.

Florence took the opening kick off and ran 12 running plays with no passes to take a 7-0 lead. The Buffaloes ran off 7 minutes and 10 seconds before Llano saw the football. And while the Jacket defense only gave up one double digit run, the other 11 plays were grinders. Senior Tate Morgan and senior Michael Logan seemed to be in on every tackle. But it was taking a mob of Jackets to bring the Buffalo runners to the ground. I wrote down # 26…44…19…23…and 22 many many times.

Llano did turn things around in the second quarter. Sophomore Luke Davis ran for 9 yards. Then threw to sophomore Cash Lynch for a first down. Luke ran again for 6 Yards Senior Trey Mote got 5 more. And then Luke found the fleeting senior RJ Coplin running deep and hit him for a 64 yard scoring pass. Tate kicked true and the score was 7-7.

On the Jackets second possession of the second quarter, Trey streaked 85 yards to what every thought was a long TD run, but turned out to be a long penalty for holding. So back to work. Junior Graham Prokop caught a 14 yard pass from Luke. RJ came right back with an 11 yard catch. Sophomore Kenny Greenwood ran for 13 more. Then Luke picked up 22 more on a run down to the 18 yard line. 3 yards by junior Jose Sillas. And the final play Luke found Cash deep in the end zone for the TD catch and Llano took the lead. It was Cash’s first TD catch as a varsity player, but it was close….keeping his feet in bounds and catching the ball in one athletic move.

But the Buffaloes were not finished. Florence ran 6 running plays, covered the 58 yards and scored with :28 seconds left in the half. 14-14. Jacket fans had seen this before.

Half Time Scores of the Jackets last four Games:

Llano Opponent

7 Marble Falls 13……….Final Score: Llano 20 Marble Falls 13

13 Jarrell 14………Final Score Llano 21 Jarrell 14

7 Comfort 12……..Final Score Llano 37 Comfort 23

14 Florence 14……..Final Score Llano 34 Florence 14

The second half was another story. The Jacket defense was all one could have hoped for. Florence had only three possessions. The first one Florence drove to the 26 yard line, where on fourth and one yard to go, Llano stopped the runner cold. On the second drive, the Buffaloes drove 10 plays to the 37 yard line and on fourth down, the Jackets held. And the third possession the Jackets forced Florence to punt. I had the Buffaloes with 65 total offensive yards in the second half. Cole Kennedy had a rough long night as the Buffaloes just keep coming straight at you. Colton Bailey Cole, along with Logan Van Pelt and Mario Hernandez and Marshall Henderson held their own. Isaiah Hernandez and Rice Thomas had good nights. And the secondary had a good work out. Austin Humphries, Niko Arms and Carsten Hayes were in on so many tackles. Jose, Tate, and James Greenwood so steady. And # 19….Gavin Hays and # 6 JD Friday are adding extra lighting to the fields. Really playing great. And senior Wesley Whitaker is really starting to show up. And good contribution by Bradley Kelly Super effort.

Offensive lineman really never get any publicity, unless it is bad. But seniors Will Landers, Thomas Caldron, Marshall Henderson, Rice Thomas, Stephen Barrack and Jaxon Johnson should stand proud. Yeomans effort against the good line of Florence. I had the Jackets with over 200 yards rushing. That’s winning football. James, Ethan Griego, Cason Stephenson, Zach Driscal, Hayden Bigger and sophomore Mario Hernandez are all good talents. Getting better.

In the second half, Cash had a 19 yard catch, Jose Sillas had a 16 yard catch and RJ another catch for 11 yards plus a TD catch from Luke for 12 yards. Trey had a 19 yard TD run. And the strong running of Kenny Greenwood and Jose help to make Trey’s life somewhat easier. Really strong effort by all.

Llano has played four Slot T running teams in the last four weeks. The slot T is very hard to defense, despite very predictable plays. Florence had a running back that was super strong. He often carried many Jackets for that extra 2, 3 or 6 yards. I don’t know, but expect Llano to face the slot t several more times this year. It is not an offense with alot of skilled players, such as a RJ, or Carter Bickett, or Colton, or Graham Prokop, or even Cash. But it is hard nosed. But Llano must start sooner. Like at the beginning of the game.

The Jackets had over 100 yards in penalties. Have no idea if all were ligament…non the less….this is not sustainable. Trey had two touchdowns called back….I think on blocks downfield. When you have a back like Trey, shield blocks are more effective. No fear of getting a holding penalty, and Trey will adjust as he flies down field. Any take down blocks down field so often just look like holding.

Home Coming….Lulling here at Jacket Stadium. Hall of Fame Inductees at O’Henry Jr. High about 4:30…then walk over to Dennis Hill Hall for short ceremony. Come if you can. It is special…everyone is invited.

The Jackets have the opportunity to win again at Home. Going for 26 of last 28 games with a win. Seniors…be leaders….keep this very positive season rolling. And being 2-0 in District play is a must.

Llano 38 Lulling 0

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary….

Character is what you are in the dark….

Any play will work, if every man does his part…..