The fighting Llano Yellow Jackets played their best first half of the 2024 season Friday night, racing out to a 24-0 half time lead against the Marion Bulldogs. Marion came into the game with a 3-1 district record and with a win over Llano, they would have taken over the number one seed in 13-3AAA. But those dreams were quickly dashed as the Jackets completely dominated.

The Yellow Jackets have now won 27 of their last 29 games played in Jacket Stadium.

The offensive lineman of the Llano also had their best game. Senior Will Landers, Thomas Calderon, Rice Thomas, Jaxon Johnson, Stephen Barrack, and Isaiah Hernandez lead by example. Juniors Cason Stephenson, Zach Driskel, Ethan Griego, James Greenwood, Hayden Bigger and sophomore Mario Hernandez gave running room for senior running back Trey Mote to have his best game running the football. Trey had 135 yards on the ground, and three touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Luke Davis added 70 yards and Cody Greenwood had 43. Trey is on the path to go over 1,000 yards for the season, and that gives him a big lift in confidence. But bragging rights go to these offensive lineman.

The Jackets defense is allowing about 15 points a game. That kind of effort will win a lot of games. The Jackets run a defense that for this old timer has no name, but it looks like a 4-3, or a 4-4 lining up. The three down lineman, seniors Logan Van Pelt, Michael Logan and sophomore Cole Kennedy line up and often take out the entire offensive line of the opponent. Mass disruption. This makes playing linebacker a joy. Senior Tate Morgan, and juniors Gavin and Carsten Hays are free to go full speed at the snap of the football. Out of 41 defensive snaps, I counted 22 negative plays by Marion. And that includes four Jacket interceptions.

I do not know what position senior Colton Bailey plays or junior Jose Sillas. I think cornerbacks, but maybe safety? Or defensive line ? I just know they seem to show up everywhere. Both having great seasons. Same can be said of senior Wesley Whitaker and juniors Niko Arms and Isaiah Aguilar. Strong and quick group all.

JD Friday had two interceptions Friday night! Gavin and Niko each got one. The secondary has played steady. Marion only completed 9 of 28 passes Friday night. Austin Humphries, Carter Bickett, and Heath Rhea are good tacklers in the open. Senior Zach Horton likely prevented a score with a sure tackle Friday night. night. They will all be tested again this Friday.

Luke completed 13 of 21 passes. A touchdown pass to Carter at the end of the second quarter put the Jackets up 24-0. Junior Graham Prokop had a catch, as did Trey, Jose, and H Back Konrad Zwicke. Senior RJ Coplin had four catches for 60 yards. Senior Heith Rhea caught two for 19 yards. And sophomore Cash Lynch had two catches for 32 yards. 8 Yellow Jackets caught the ball Friday night from Luke. For the season now, 11 Yellow Jackets have caught passes. That is spreading the wealth.

Art Dlugach texted me Saturday asking about the four interceptions in a game. What I have is that the four interceptions Friday night ties a school record in one game. The Jackets had four against Austin Crockett and Cotulla, both in 2022. Something tells me there are others. Please help out if you know, or give me a specific game and year. I’ve got most every game play by play. Still adding to that record book.

Beating a good Marion team adds to the confidence level. But up next is Ingram. Ingram beat Marion! Marion’s only loss in District until Friday night. Now Ingram thinks they have a shot at taking the crown. Their only loss in District is to Randolph. So…should they beat the Jackets, Ingram would be the number one seed. But that is not going to happen.

On the radio after the game Friday night, head Coach Matt Green expressed that the Ingram game centered around their great player, Kye Hightower, a 205 pound bruiser Hightower played quarterback last season. But this season he plays wherever he is needed. And that usually is where the football is. This may be the hardest test for our Jacket defense this year. Ingram has scored 112 points in their last three games. This is not the Ingram team of old. I remember thinking after last seasons’ game with Ingram…that they were getting better. Much better than I had remembered.

Records mean little at this point in time. The Jackets are 8-1. Only eight teams in school history have won 9 or more games in a season. It should mean everything to this great group of seniors to be included in that elite group of Jacket teams. Beating Ingram will put them there.

Llano 35 Ingram 28