The Llano Yellow Jackets defeated the 2023 District Champions on their own field Friday night to take the lead for the district crown. Playing San Antonio Randolph on Ro-Hawk field is hard enough on its own. But Llano out played the Ro-Hawks down to the last play, and that was what it took to win this very hard fought district contest. The 27-26 win puts Llano at 3-0 in the district race with two games to go. Randolph is now 1-2 and will be fighting for its life to make the play offs. Randolph was picked by several publications to win 13-AAA at the beginning of the season. Still, Randolph is 6-2 for the season, and could easily now go 8-2 and with some luck by all, meet the Jackets again deeper into the State Play offs.

The Jackets began the game with a new twist, as Randolph kicked off, and the Jacket player reached high to try and catch the kick off. But thru his hands went the football, and a Ro Hawk caught the ball in mid air. First and ten Ro Hawks. Four plays later Randolph scored with only 1 minute and 15 seconds gone in the game! 7-0 Ro Hawks. (No one from Llano flinched…nor did any Jackets.)

The next possessions of each team punted. Llano had the ball on the 36 yard line. Sophomore quarterback Luke Davis finds senior RJ Coplin for an eight yard completion. And on second and two, Luke drops back and high flies a pass that senior running back Trey Mote catches and goes the 60 yards for Llano first score. 7-7

Now, each team gets the ball twice, and each team punts twice. Second quarter. Ro Hawks quarterback drops back, and from a delayed blitz position, senior Colton Bailey sacks the quarterback in a terrific hit, out goes the football, and senior Logan Van Pelt recovers in the end zone for the Jacket lead. 14-7.

I was afraid this wasn’t going to be easy. Senior Tate Morgan kicks off, and and after three plays, the Ro Hawks are sitting on the Jacket one yard line. In for score goes the very good Ro Hawk quarterback…thus a 14-14 score at half time.

The third quarter gets started. Each team punts. Llano’s Carsten Hays, Tate, Cole Kennedy, Jose Sillas, and senior Michael Logan are playing hard…but there is little stopping…completely this good Ro Hawks offense.

Luke drops back on first down on the 33 yard line. And again senior Trey runs under the pass and out runs everyone and a 67 yard touchdown. Llano leads 20-14, after Tate’s extra point gets blocked. Here come the Ro Hawks….7 plays and they tie the score at 20-20 due to their missed extra point.

Llano begins what will be one of its longest and most plays in a drive starting the fourth quarter. The 14 play drive with Trey carrying 5 times. Jose once. Luke found Carter Bickett for 8 yards and on third down and 13, Carter again for 17 yards and a first down. Great throws and catches. Then from the 6 yard line and third down, Luke hits Cole Kennedy and the Jackets score. Tate kicks true and Llano is ahead 27-20. Don’t think for a second this game is over.

The Ro Hawks put together their own 11 play drive. Their quarterback ran 5 times for 41 yards and three first downs. And from one yard out, he scores. 27-26.

The Ro Hawks line up to go for two points and the win….and their quarterback is two yards from taking the lead. He has run 15 times and 97 yards…..but, an offensive lineman moves…5 yard penalty….still going for two….I had already changed it on my paperwork for Randolph to kick and tie the game up…and I look up… the Ro Hawks stay on the field.

The seven yards to win looked reasonable with their quarterback…he’d just roll out and go…but the Jacket defense had a better idea….good penetration by Michael, Logan and Cole…Tate, Jose, Carsten, and Gavin Hays were on the line of scrimmage waiting for the run, and the quarterback stops his run and throws to the end zone….Carter, and JD Friday, and Colton, and Austin Humphries, and another I can’t tell…all stay thru to their coaching….the ball goes out and thru the sidelines….the Ro Hawks are denied…27-26 Jackets. The Ro Hawks on side kick, and sophomore Cash Lynch recovers for Llano. Luke takes a knee for the final seconds of the game.

The fourth quarter only saw Llano with the one touchdown drive. 14 plays. And Randolph had only the one possession, and 11 plays. It was a great game, if you didn’t care who won.

A few points. Jose punted 6 times for a nearly 40 yard average. Field position really played a big part. I showed no punt return yardage…JD Friday helped with that…great hustle getting down field to cover. Nico Arms, Carsten, Gavin and Heith Rhea too were down field. This is nothing but pure hustle and that extra effort it takes to win.

The Jackets had only one penalty in the first half, and that was a bouncing punt that hit JD as he was going down field. Super concentration…but in the third quarter, Llano had three penalties over 7 plays for 35 yards…costly…..Llano, other than the first play of the game, had no turnovers….that’s how you win close games.

Marion beat Randolph two weeks ago. Marion beat Llano last year 28-21. Marion thinks they are going to win district. They beat Llano and they are there. The Jackets are playing for their 27th win in their last 29 games in Jacket Stadium. This great group of Jacket seniors play their last game Friday night in Jacket Stadium. This is special.

I’d like to think the Jackets will come out fired too the hilt, and never take their boots off the Bulldogs’ necks. But…it can be done in other ways.

Llano 31

Marion 14

Make the important things important…Hayden Fry

A man that knows no problems knows no challenges….Jim Hess

The will to win is worthless without the will to prepare….Vince Lombardi