The Llano Yellow Jackets beat the Goliad Tigers 31-7 last Friday night in a Regional Finals game played in Bastrop. Llano is now 3-0 in the State Play-offs and heads to San Antonio this Friday night to play an old nemesis, The Edna Cowboys.

Llano is 3-0 all time against the Tigers. But the awareness never slowed the Jackets. Llano kicked off to the Tigers and on the third play forced a fumble. Senior linebacker Niko Arms came up with the ball. 9 plays later the Jackets turned the ball over on downs at the one yard line. Goliad carried one time and then fumbled into the end zone and Llano fell on the ball. Senior Francisco Parravano kicked true and the Jackets lead 7-0 with 6:08 left in the first quarter.

The Yellow Jacket defense forced three punts, three fumbles and senior Grayson Lilie intercepted for the second week in a row and returned the ball for a Jacket TD. Strong play by lineman Cole Kennedy, Mario Hernandez, Nick Light and Logan Robinson held the Tigers to running for their lives on passing downs. Goliad completed 5 passes for 34 yards on 14 tries. 40 yards of that came on one play. A nice completion by the Goliad quarterback to a wide receiver over the middle ended with a Jacket defender hitting the receiver so hard that the ball flew back to the 38 yard line, after the 40 yard gain!. Lilie, Austin Humphries, JD Friday are playing at an all star level. Gavin Hays is superb…Emerson Pool making special plays. Caden White, Josiah Wood sound tacklers. And the linebackers get better every week. Jose Sillas, Niko, senior Isaiah Aguliar and junior Cody Greenwood. The defense is allowing an average of 13 points a game with 6 games under 10 points.

Junior Luke Davis looks to be well. Luke started his 28th game as the starting LHS quarterback, tying the school record with LHS Hall of Fame quarterback great Dennis Raesener from the 1965-67 seasons.

Luke completed 12 passes for about 140 yards, with the best play coming at the end of the first quarter when he hit senior Graham Prokop for 43 yards and a TD, giving Llano a 14-0 lead. Cash Lynch, Niko, Austin, and senior Brady Kelly had catches. The offensive line gave Luke plenty of time. Grayson also came in at quarterback and had completions of 14 yards and 4 yards to Graham. Francisco kicked a 24 yard field goal in the fourth quarter and the score was 31-7.

Goliad had won 10 games this season. The Tigers came in second in their district behind Edna in 15-3AAA. They lost to Edna in district play 37-28. Edna enters the game with Llano with a 10-3 record.

Edna is a very good football team. The Jackets have played Edna two times, losing both games in 2022 and last year. They return two Pre Season All State players in defensive lineman Hunter Buehring and defensive back Trevor Floyd, who may also now play quarterback. Edna was 14-1 last season.

I think…that Llano players, and Llano Coaches and Llano fans have looked forward to this game for about 364 days. Llano lost to Edna last year on December 6th. This Friday in Gustafson Stadium in San Antonio is December 5th.

Art pointed many things out to me this week, but most statistics are on hold until the season is over. Although one was …I guess…just a coincidence. Luke’s 28th start..and he throws his 28th TD of the season!! Nice. LLano is better than last year. I’m sure Edna is just has good. December 5th can’t get here soon enough.

LLano 28

Edna 21