The 2020 Llano Yellowjackets finished the best season in the History of the school last Thursday night, going down fighting and scratching in the State Semi-Final game played in Georgetown. The Hallettsville Brahmas are now in the State Finals against Jim Ned to be played this Thursday. Only four teams were left in the state play-offs before Thursday night. The Jackets finish the best season ever, going 14-1. The best record before this season was an 11-1 record in 1997.
Andrew with the Llano News does such a great job of a play by play, that today I will hit a few highlights. And even in a 53-28 game, these Jackets had highlights.
Here are a few…as the weeks past, I will come back and fill end the blanks…but the chore that I love is making sure all the records get recorded…and goodness sakes, it will take a bit of time. So many additions will be entered.
The Jackets had nearly 500 yards of offense against the Brahmas. Case Kuykendall had 186 yards rushing behind the senior offensive lineman of Dalton Enberg, Luke Hicks and H-back Trevor Cowan. In the total yards department, senior Quincy Price had 111 yards receiving, 16 yards rushing, and had a 101 yard kick off return!!!…Very Good night for Quincy…Abel Prince had 56 yards receiving, 50 yards rushing for 106 yards. And Case had 401 total yards, with his 215 yards passing. Quincy had 7 catches from Case. Abel caught 3, senior Jared Beasley 2 catches, and Austin Hulon, Trevor and Luke Keller each had one catch.
Senior Diego Perez name will fill the record book. Thursday night he hit 4 of 4 on extra points…
Quincy had two touchdowns, Case one, and Trevor one.
Senior Austin Hulon carried the ball 5 times for 26 yards, a 5.2 yards per carry. Case 20 times, and averaged 9.3 yards per carry. Abel 10 times for 50, and Quincy once for 16.
The Jackets got behind, and that changed some things they would have been doing. Still, most impressive was the third quarter. The Yellowjackets defense held Hallettsville to 8 total yards, and forced three punts. Yeoman’s work by seniors Lance Pierce, Mason Baker, Cade Ligon and Guillermo Davila The Brahmas completed one pass for 4 yards, had 3 plays for negative yards, and three incompletions with superb play by seniors Aiden Cuthbertson and Luke Keller. Again, great help supplied by Dillon Milum, Anthony Ysais, linebacker Michel Silva, DB Zane Toney-Fielding and the very good Jake Self.
Playing from behind in the fourth quarter, Llano put together a 12 play drive. No penalties. Two successful fourth down plays. The final one on fourth and 5 from the five. Case ran it in. Pulling it closer at 40-28.
In the drama department, Case hit Quincy in stride in the second quarter for a 54 yard TD. And in the first quarter, Case had a spectacular 71 yard TD run to put Llano ahead 7-6. It was not all Brahmas. Hallettsville had a very good football team. You are not in the Semi Finals by being just Ok.. Llano was a very good football team. Many others can attest to that.
In an earlier article I noted Llano had played 7 teams in the State Play-offs or the team won our District. Those went on to win the Championship. With a small smile, I said the State Championship often went thru the Jackets. I hope Hallettsville wins too Thursday night. # 8 would be something to remember and be proud about.
Still soon will write about the All-District Team….maybe should be renamed the All- Llano team. And then in a few weeks we can all take a deep gasp of air, and start talking about 2021. This 2020 team laid the foundation, and set the bar very high. Ours seniors so special. No other Jacket team knows how it feels to go 5 deep into the play-offs. I hope to hear from some players and their stories.
The Llano River Creamery will be putting together a tribute to the 2020 team, with pictures of the seniors. Looking for pictures, if anyone has ones to share.
Play to Win 