Play to Win

The 5-5 Llano Yellow Jackets will play the 8-2 Crystal City Javelinas  for the third year in a row in the first round of the State Play offs.  Crystal City from District 14-4A Div. II, placed second in their district, going 4-1.  The Jackets were 2-2 in District 13-4A Div. II, placing third. in 2015, the Jackets won.  In 2016, the Javelinas won.  Both games were played in San Antonio.

This Friday night, Llano will meet Crystal City on the playing field of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.  The game will feature a Javelina team that had a record of 8-4 last season after beating the Jackets 22-18, and this season stand at 8-2 over all. The Javelinas run the football most of the time.  Two running backs, Austin Sanchez and David Patino average over 100 yards rushing per game.  Sanchez also was an All State safety last season.

I will say that I do believe that Llano played about as uninspired football against Crystal City in last years game that I had ever seen.  No energy.  And opportunity after opportunity left on the field. That will not be the case this Friday night.

The seniors on this years team not only are winners, but want to win.  It showed up game after game when maybe it was not to be.  Playing so hard against Sonora and Navarro showed me a Jacket team that could play with anyone.  And while Llano lost to Burnet, I think the Jackets surprised themselves with hard play and a very close game. (Burnet has nearly 1,000 students in high school).  The Jackets should relish the opportunity to win this rubber match with Crystal City.  And winning game number 6 would match the victory total that the 2010 team put up in a 6-5 season.  11 years ago, Llano won 7 games.

But, as I do every year at this time, I place the burden on the seniors.  This is their game.  This is their reward.  And I believe this is their season to own.  Lead by seniors Ian Fletcher, Ray Dixon and Tyler Gann.  These are football players.  And Josh Soliz and Luis Coronado have been our best surprises. So much energy and aggressiveness.  How lucky can you get when a Daniel Sparks moves to your team for his senior year.  Great football player.  Don’t remember anyone improving as much over 10 games as Dalton Bauman.  Got better every week. Few more consistent than Dakota Trull in the offensive line for two seasons.  Gage Cox, Lane Ward and Kaleb Dodson talented defensive players.  Great surprise in Austin Humphrey on both sides of the ball.  Real force inside.  Folks like Tyler Thompson, and Hayden Cowart makes the coaches job easier with people that can play anywhere and do a good job.  Hayden Godfrey continues to come up with big plays.  And look how much Nolan Keller has come in with great plays and consistent blocking.  And where was Diego Garcia last season.  Consistent, and now in the record book.  Great senior year.  Always playing hard and especially on special teams, Quint Pincelli makes plays every Friday night.  And the job Ben Walling has done from a running back position. Wow.  Hurts alot of folks when he carries the ball.  And with a disjointed season, Mason Greenwood has had wonderful moments playing for Llano.  Ranked high in the record book in rushing.  Just one more injury free, great game from Mason is needed.

You play, maybe your last game, as if it were the last game you will ever be in.  You savor every moment.  Every play has no regrets.  Every play could be the one that makes the difference.  You practice this week like there is no next week.  You want to go out with the biggest bang you possibly can.  And you make every second a memorable  one. And you walk off the field Friday night with no regrets. Beat Crystal City.

The Yellow Jackets 54-20 victory over Bandera Friday night secured a third place finish in District 13-4A, Div.11.  The 5-5 Jackets , and 2-2 in District play ends the regular season for Llano, with this week being their “OPEN” week.  Llano will not know its Bi District foe until this Friday night with games being played in District 14-4A, ( Devine, Crystal City, Pearsall, Carrizo Springs, Poteet, and Lytle).

While Llano dominated most of the game, pesky Bandera managed to stay close for the first quarter.  Llano scored first with carries from Ben Walling and Ian Fletcher.  A 39 yard run by Mason Brooks put the Jackets close when Mr. Automatic, senior Jose Soliz  carried in from the 3 and with Diego Garcia extra point, LLano lead 7-0.

LLano kick-off to Bandera was covered well by Presley Lynch.  Starting at the 40 yard line, Bandera marched 13 plays and 60 yards to score.  I think the 13 play drive may be the longest against the Jackets this season.  Longest run was 20 yards. But four times the Jackets threw the Bulldogs for losses.  Lead by linebacker Fletcher, in on 6 tackles, Drew Cooper too was active and had strong play.  Ray Dixon, Daniel Sparks, Soliz, and sophomore Aaron Brown continue to shine on defense.  Bandera threw but one pass, for the TD.

Mason Greenwood returned with good health, and began the end of the first quarter  with 3runs of 27 yards.  Walling picked up 14 more on two carries, and Soliz and Cade Fly added 8 more.  On the four yard line Cade threw to Fletcher for the TD and Llano   lead 14- 7.

One of the reasons Llano is playing better, and smarter football is the play of Presley Lynch.  Llano kicked off to Bandera, but a lateral, and then a throw back looked like Llano might be asleep.  Not Presley, who “stayed at home”or better said, stayed in his pursuit lane and made the tackle on the 21 yard line.  Great heads up play.  Ray Dixon then recovered a fumble after a Fletcher tackle for a loss.  Llano had the ball on the 26 yard line.  A 16 yard run by Cade, and then an 11 yard TD reception from Cade to Aaron Brown put the Jackets up 20-7.

The Jackets  took control of the game. Dalton Bauman plays better every week.  Brooks, Dixon, Sparks, Nolan Keeler, Gage Cox, and Tyler Gann all had very strong games.  Llano knew it needed badly to beat Bandera.  The mental aspect of this final regular season game had kicked in.  Llano was hitting and tackling with a mission.  It was fun to watch.  The Jacket defense in the second quarter had 5 plays in which Bandera made 0 to minus yards.  A  total of 38 yards were made against the Jacket defense in the second quarter.

Mason Brooks scored on the first play from scrimmage midway thru the second quarter, running for 32 yards.  Next up was Greenwood with a 21 yard run.  Walling followed a few minutes later with a 22 yard run.  And with :37 seconds left in the half, Cade hit wide receiver Brooks Keel for 27 yards and Llano lead 33-7 at the half.  Pretty fair outing.

Llano ended the game with 388 total yards.  All with a little help from our friends, guys with no names but play as lineman.  A few of their names have surfaced, and again I will try not to miss anyone.  Lane Ward and Tyler Lindell have really started to contribute.  Sparks, Dakota Trull, and Hayden Cowert really shine. Dixon, Luke  Williams, and Hayden Godfrey always play hard.  Keel and Austin Humphrey are very steady.  I keep seeing Kendall Downey and while a backup quarterback, Kendall seems to play everywhere.  Great playmaker.  Kaleb Dodson too has been playing very well.  And Cameron Johnson on the line has had people asking “who is he”.  He be pretty good.

In the secondary we have steady hands in Gann and Cox.  But Christian Kirby is getting better every game .Our guys can play with anyone.  While injuries still have an effect, several should return to play in Bi District.  The great Ian Flecther went down Friday night, and keeping fingers crossed it is not his last game.  Maybe two weeks here will help.

The Jackets 5-5 record matches a win total high in the last 6 years.  Win # 6 can come on November 17th.  No reason for this veteran team to not get serious now, and start thinking of making a run in the playoffs. 8 players scored TDs against Bandera.  The Jacket  Coaches  are  doing a great job.Fans now need to continue to do our part.  Let’s plan on winning # 6.

If getting behind 21-7 was not bad enough, the bad injury to junior wide out Anthony Watson, and 5 penalties for 55 yards, Llano’s rhythm seemed off.  Oh no, another bad game in Hondo, as if that has never happened before.  It was a perfect setting for the Jackets to call it a night by halftime.

But that is not what happened.  Junior quarterback Cade Fly returned from injury, yet I worried that he might break.  Cade sat in the pocket all night long.  Moved around very little. Still hit 22 of 34 passes, two TD passes, for 277 yards.  Let’s give Cade credit for his discipline.  Let’s give the offensive line credit for their best game as a unit.  It  had to be.  Cade’s running game taken from him and limited movement meant the Jacket lineman had to block, stay with their blocks, and hope Cade’s arm strength could prevail.  6 receivers caught passes.

Llano could have let up some.  But at the end of the second quarter, just before half, Diego Garcia kicked a 23 yard field goal with :16 seconds left.  Score 21-10.  Maybe Diego’s kick was the lift.  But Llano played its best 3rd quarter in years.  Llano took the kick-off and Aaron Brown returned it 23 yards to the 35 yard line.  Cade threw to Aaron for 5.  Junior Mason Brooks ran for 10.  Then 4 more. Aaron  another 5 yarder.  Mr. Automatic, Josh Soliz ran for 7 more and a first down.  Ben Walling carried.  And on second down and 12, Cade hit junior Brooks Keele for 36 yards and the TD. Score 21-16.  Extra point was blocked.

Time for the defense to show off.  Hondo ran three running plays.  Made 7 yards. punted.  That was the last time in the third quarter the Owls offense would be on the field.  Jacket defense was relentless.  Daniel Sparks, Josh Soliz, and Ray Dixon were just wonderful. Monsters in the trenches.  Drew Cooper, Aaron, Ian Fletcher, Dalton Bauman, Nolan Keller, Ethan Tisdale and Quint Percelli all had great games. Presley Lynch plays hard all the time. Great effort. All stayed focused is the best way I can describe what I saw.  I think, seniors Gage Cox and Tyler Gann had their best games.  Hondo was only 5 of 11 passing for 74 yards.  Junior Christian Kirby at cornerback had a good game. Llano outscored Hondo 20-3 in the second half.

I am glad you did not tell me before the game that Llano would allow a kick off to be returned for a TD.  Or Hondo would block an Austin Humphrey punt to be blocked and run in for a TD.  Or Llano would have two Garcia extra points blocked.  Or Llano would have 9 penalties for 90 yards.  Glad you didn’t tell me that before the game.

But Llano did not allow any of those things stop them from keeping their focus.  Llano knew it had to win this game.  The seniors were upset on the sidelines.  Not “drama upset”.  Just mad.  There are times in lives of all that bad things happen, and things go south.  The Jackets in Hondo refused to allow those things to take the stage.  Llano’s character….true character surfaced, and barred down harder,  took fate into their own hands and won the football game.  Llano took the lead with 11:32 in the fourth quarter 30-21 and never let go. It’s called character.

I will list the offensive lineman, and tight ends.  I hope to not miss any of you.  Let me know if I do.  You all need to be recognized.  All of us fans love you as long as we do not hear from you.  Get a holding call and we know then who to be mad at.  Being an unknown offensive lineman is tough work.  Thank you Luke Williams, Daniel Sparks, Ray Dixon, Austin Humphrey, Dalton Bauman, Hayden Cowert, Tyler Thompson, Lane Ward, Cameron Johnson, Tyler Lyndell, Dakota Trull, Hayden Godfrey (one catch, 13 yards) and Brooks Keele(4 catches 71 yards and a TD).

The Jacket offense had 455 yards total.  Hard running from Mason Brooks (17-93 yards), Josh ( 9-38 yards), and Walling (14-46 yards). Mason Greenwood was not a full speed.  Maybe with two more week to get rest, he too can get back to contributing.

Cade had 134 yards passing in the third quarter.  Pretty good.  But remember in 2002, against Smithville, quarterback Jason Smith threw for 153 yards in the first quarter.

Bandera has had a rough year.  Llano is ahead in the series 14-7. Llano has won 6 of the last 8.  But do not let that fool you.  As I said last year, they are good when least expected.  Llano last season, clearly a better team, dodged a bullet in winning only 22-13….. In 2002 Bandera was entering the last game of the season…winner of the game would secure the last spot for the playoffs.  Many recent great Jacket athletes ( if you call 15 years recent)…record breaking 800 meter relay team…Hunter Ratliff, Jason Smith, Michael White (Just look at the school record book), Nick Moratori, Jerrod Virdell.  Bandera won 39-32 in the last moments.  Bandera went on to win the State Championship.  Bandera has history.  They always play hard.

OK…this is the last point to make.  The Yellow Jackets have had our new playing field surface for two seasons.  We have only two wins on the home field.  We beat Hondo last year.  We beat Eastside this season on Homecoming.  These seniors need to help start a better tradition.  WE need to make Jacket Stadium a hard place for visiting teams to come play.  It starts Friday night.  Jackets up record to 5-5.  Llano makes the state play offs.  And Open week the following week allows Llano to get well.  It begins Friday night.

At some point in time, I expected the Jackets to take a deep breathe.  Maybe, like in the “open” week.  But it  came this past Friday when the stars were aligned to have the wheels fall off.  The 45-7 loss to the Texans gets a bad game out of the way.  Llano can now aim for one thing, and that is getting better, and making sure they secure a third place finish in 13-4AAAA.   This is the time that the seniors must stand up.  Finishing what the seniors started is a very worthy goal.

The absent of three good offensive weapons may have been the start of a bad week.  Dalton Moore, Cade Fly, and Mason Greenwood watched from the sidelines in street cloths.  But injuries happen to everyone.  The Jacket offense never got untracked, unless you count one great play when quarterback Ben Walling found Hayden Godfrey for a 66 yard pass and catch.

Mason Brooks ran the ball hard. Had him for 17 carries.  Junior Aaron Brown  too looked good carrying the football.  And the lone carry by Soliz for a TD was just “want to”. The score was then 42-7 after a Garcia extra point.

The Jackets had 6 straight either 3 and outs, or three turnovers.  Llano’s Austin Humphrey punted 5 times for an average of over 37 yards.  Good average and good for Austin.  The Texans felt like they could contain the Jackets run game, and they did.  Very hard on our very good and improving offensive line.  Daniel Sparks, Devin Bertelson, Tyler Lindell, Ray Dixon, Lane Ward, Luke Williams, Dakota Trull and Dalton Bauman did most of the heavy lifting.  They did a good job fighting with a short stick.

Players that stood out with good effort were Charlie Mott on kick-offs.  Bauman on rushing the passer. Josh Soliz, Sparks, and Dixon and holding strong against the run.  Drew Cooper stepping in a making several plays after linebacker Luis Coranado went out of the game.  And linebacker Ian Flecther is the best defensive player I have seen this season.  Donaven Arellano had a good night.  As did Ethna Tisdale.  A long night for the Jackets in the secondary, but Ethan saved several long plays with key tackles.  Very glad to see Nolan Keller playing better and more every week.  Doing a good job.  Quentin Franklin,  Kendall Downey, and Kaleb Dodson were in on several stops.  No one gave up.  I was very proud of the defense.  Wimberley was just very good, and will likely do the same this Friday night against Navarro. Last week the Texans were ranked #6.

The Jackets travel to Hondo Friday night.  3-3 all-time against the Owls.  The Jackets had their best game last season in Llano against Hondo.  But the Owls are playing good.  And remember, they have 9 offensive and 9 defensive players returning from last season.  They will be looking for revenge on their home turf.  This years Hondo is not last years Hondo.  Llano needs to bring it all together this week.  Playing hard and tough against some very good teams over the past 7 weeks should now see a pay off.  The players should be confident.  If the defense will play every play up to its potential, they can keep Llano in the game.  And if the offense can maintain drives and keep the ball for some extended periods, we can score.  We have to get Brooks Keele, Brown, Anthony Watson and new comer Logan Duggar involved in the attack.  We have play makers.  This week is a must and an opportunity Llano  cannot afford to  miss.  This is where senior leadership must come forward.  Beating Hondo is where it begins.

For all of the great effort by the Llano Yellow Jackets Friday night against power house Geronimo Navarro, the good effort does not make us feel any better.  Navarro is a combined 42-4 over the past four seasons.  They average over 40 points per game and nearly 500 yards per game on offense.  Llano’s play in the 21-7 lose was closer than the score.  And the Panthers likely have no interest in playing Llano again. Still, disappointment could be seen on every players face and posture.

The 7-7 halftime score tells some of the story.  Navarro had about 75 yards total offense at halftime, and finished the game at about one-half of their regular production…this coming on their home field. I can easily say that this Jacket defense is the best I have seen in a decade.  Our front down lineman are relentless.  Seniors Daniel Sparks, Ray Dixon, Josh Soliz, Austin Humphrey, and a player really coming on strong, Dalton Bauman.  Our linebackers are unmatched with anyone we play.  Ian Fletcher and Luis Coronado are just great.  No other way of putting it. Add in the wonderful play of Tyler Lindell, Logan Duggar, Christian Kirby, Quint Pincelli,  Donavan Arellano, Mason Brooks, and Cameron Johnson.  The play is just so good.  And our secondary is so improved.  Tyler Gann and Aaron Brown are playing at all district levels.  Gage Cox makes play after play.  Jacob Cruz and Ethan Tisdale great role players.  Ethan had 3 tackles on one drive. Brooks too had multiple tackles.  Presley Lynch, Kendall Downey, Kaleb Dodson, and the return of Drew Cooper have helped to make this defense memorable and fun to watch.  The confidence they have  after 7 games has put this defense in a position of not being intimidated by anyone. This group is becoming hardened and tough.

Play of the offense is a finer tuned violin.  For this multiple offense to work, timing needs to be near perfect.  At many times, it is.  When the offense gets off just a bit, it becomes hard to keep a drive going.  Three Jacket drives were for 8 plays or more.  The Jacket TD was only 6 plays, but blame Cade Fly for that.  He took it to the house the final 44 yards before halftime to even the score at 7-7.  Reliable Diego Garcia kicked true, again.

A funny side note is I , and many others talk about the offense and the defense as if they were two different teams…but in many instances, these players are one and the same.  Dixon, Sparks, Brooks, Brown, Fletcher, Dakota Trull, Dodson, Keller, Thomas Adams, and Hayden Cowert have all seen playing from both sides.  It is not like you can play real hard on one side of the ball, and rest on the other.  At times Llano is carrying over 35 players on the varsity. This added depth is and will be needed.  Llano has several injuries now…all are needed back.

Other than the (L), Llano is playing hard tough football. And it gets no easier this week.  But I would think after how Llano played Navarro at Navarro, the Jackets see the Wimberley Texan game as an opportunity.  The Texans have easily beat the Jackets over the past several years.  No doubt they will not be taking Llano serious.  It should be an insult to the Jacket players not to be considered relevant.  The Texans were #6 rated in the State last week.  The Texans are coming to Jacket Stadium Friday night.  Sure would be a good time for the Jackets to show how good of a football team they have become.

The Yellow Jackets game against the East Side Panthers was two teams with little interest in the finer points of football.  East Side played hard, but had little to work with.  Llano played down to their competition, and there is little to write home about.  Jackets had 5 turnovers in the first quarter.  That may be a record.  Would need to start a new category for that, but will not bother.

No team should be playing a school when it is in only its second year of varsity play.  Five others have, and I will bet that the game did little for the improvement of their teams.  I cannot even blame our Jackets for not “getting up” for this game.  We played sloppy in places, we had great plays in spots, but our minds were not in Jacket Stadium.  On to more important matters.

The game against power and 6-0 Navarro at Navarro will be a test that either becomes an opportunity or a thud.  I remember back in the mid 1990s’ when head coach Karl McCormack scheduled Abilene Wylie before district play.  The Jackets were not great.  But by playing the Bulldogs at mid season, Llano was able to see who they were.  And the Jackets played their best football in those two games against Abilene Wylie.  Their best football against State ranked teams.  The Jackets get that opportunity Friday night.  The chance to show the world, Mom and Dad, girlfriends, and Jacket Nation…we are good, and when we play our best, we are real good.

The Jackets have shown they can put up points.  Averaging 35.8 per game.  The defense can play with anyone, giving up about 23 points per game.  But this week Llano will be playing  the slot-t offense.  Navarro will run the ball, and then they will run the ball again.  And run it well. Put no lipstick on this,  Navarro was 14-1 last year, and their very good quarterback returns, as Will Eveld is starting for his third year.  The Jackets will not stop Eveld and this offense. But Llano is very capable of slowing this machine down.  The Jackets defensive line is very good.  Five to six players in and out, and all are good football players.  They must all show up in Geronimo Stadium Friday night and play their best game.  If the Jackets have their heads on straight, we can make a game of it.  No stupid mistakes.  No tempers getting in the way of ego.  Gang tackling ever play.  And go for the turnovers.

The Jacket offense plays at times… great.  12 different receivers have caught passes. Seems whoever carries the ball can average 6 yards a try.  Lineman must play under control. And everyone hold on to the ball.

I’m excited.  I cannot wait until Friday night.  This Jacket team is a real football team.  Very capable of doing some really good things.  And beating Navarro is not unimaginable. When Llano shows up Friday night with everyone on the same page, Llano could come home with its first victory ever over the Panthers.  Nothing is more important than the Jackets seeing they can beat a good team.  Now is the time for all, but the seniors can bring this team to a place that it has never been before.  See you  at Navarro.

The 31-21 loss to the Burnet Bulldogs may look like the Jackets took a step back in their progression to being a good football team.  But my take, while losing to the Bulldogs is disappointing, is that the Jackets should come away from last Friday night knowing they can accomplish several things.

Llano should recognize that they can win even when they play bad.  Llano can win when they play better talent.  And Llano can win when they get behind in the score.

I actually thought as the game went on, that Llano was the better football team.  Never did I see the Bulldogs pull away with the score and  thought they had the game won.  And most important, Llano kept fighting.  No one slowed down.  I did not see the Jackets take plays off.  These are the things that will make the Jackets better.  “If only we had a few more minutes, we would have won”.  The Jackets will go forward now knowing they can beat good teams.  And they know they can come from behind.

The Jackets three losses have come against three teams that have a record of 14-1.

While the Jacket offense was struggling in the first half, the defense played as good as I have seen it in the past decade.  The Bulldogs had 7 possessions in the first half.  The Jackets forced 4 punts, and held the Bulldogs two times on fourth down.  While my preliminary stats may be off a little bit, looked like the Jacket defense held Burnet to about 127 yards of offense in the first half.  And only about 80 yards in the second half.  That is winning football.

Can’t say enough about the defense.  At the half-way mark in the season, this group should have all the confidence in the world.  They can rush the passer, they can knock down passes, and they can tackle with the best of them.  No standing around.. .So great when you would see 6-8 Yellow Jackets stop a ball carrier.  Our linebacker play is outstanding.  Fletcher, Brooks, Dodson, and Coronado. Our defensive line play is so relentless.  Dixon, Sparks, Soliz, Humphrey, Williams, Bauman, Keller,and Downey. And the hardest job on the field in todays kind of play…defensive backs….Ethan Tisdale, Gage Cox, Moore, Gann, Christian Kirby, Adams, Mote, and sophomore Aaron Brown.

Cade Fly stats may not have looked good, but he did.  Pretty much hit his receivers on 8 passes in the first half, and still did not have a completion.  We can work on that.  In the second half the receivers played better.  Been Walling for 11 and 5 yards, Aaron for 12, Brooks Keele for 17 yards and a TD, Aaron for 25 more, Anthony Watson for 12, and Aaron another 8 yarder.  Walling ended the game by rushing in for the TD from the 6 yard line.

When the Jackets put together a full offensive and defensive game, they can be very good .We have seen signs of it from the second game forward.  This week Llano plays a weaker team in Eastside Memorial.  This game should be about one thing.  No mistakes.  Perfect in what you do.  Block without holding.  Go down on kickoffs…under control.  Hold your tempers. Play loose but mentally intense.  Prepare for District Play.  And have fun.

Over the past three weeks, the Yellow Jackets have played 2 1/2 games in which getting better was fun to watch.  The 51-15 win at Lago Vista Friday night can attest to that..  The Jackets have scored points, but maybe the most improved part of the Yellow Jackets looks to me is the fun of playing defense.  The second half of the Sonora game, in which All State quarterback Kaden Cordell threw the ball 19 times and completed 6.  Brady threw the football  17 times with only 7 completions.  And returning quarterback Jared Defelice of Lago Vista threw 25 times and completed 9.  Those are winning numbers and new head football coach Matt Green will take those on any given Friday.

One number Coach Green watches is offensive numbers.  He feels good when Llano can put up 400 yards in a game.   Coach Green must have really had a nice halftime against Lago.  The Jackets had 400 yards at the break.  And finished with close to 600 yards.

Someone is coaching someone.  The Brady Bulldogs  ran a screen pass.  In this play, the offensive lineman kind of fake a block, them suffle out to the side and block for the receiver when he catches the short “screen” pass.  Ray Dixon “suffled” out also, recognizing the play, and intercepted the ball and scored his first varsity TD. Friday night, #77, Daniel Sparks recognized the screen pass, and he too got an interception. Moving both into the secondary is not an option. They need to keep their day jobs.

Cannot speak enough about the effort of seniors Josh Soliz, Luis Coronado, and Ian Fletcher.  Monsters on defense.  Christian Kirby played great.  Drew Cooper was helped off the field, but was having a great game.  Need him back soon.  Gage Cox, and Kendall Downey along with senior Tyler Gann, senior Nolan Keller, and junior Charlie Mote are a tough bunch.  All played great.  Still love the hustle of big # 75, Austin Humphrey in the middle of the defensive line.  Sure makes the secondary’s job easier when we have that pass rush and that kind of effort.

Junior Quarterback Cade Fly is getting to understand  the quarterback position. After the Jackets first series of three and out, Cade lead Llano to five scoring drives in the first half.  One drive included a 99 yard drive and 15 plays. Overcame a 5 yard penalty, and two drop passes.  Still got the job done.  Mason Greenwood returned after a 5 week suspension, and his efforts and 3 TDs, lead the charge.  Brooks Keel and Anthony Watson had good games catching, and Mason Brooks, Ian, Cade and Dalton Moore running tough.  Mason nearly had a double 100 yard game.  Had 119 yards receiving, and 95 rushing.  Dalton had 10 carries and 71 yards. Mason 9 carries and 68 yards.  Tyler Lindall,  Dakota Trull, Cameron Johnson, Lane Ward, Dalton Bauman, and Luke Willams are all getting better in the offensive line. That is the key.  Every week. Better.

I have been afraid to look, but Art  Dlugach  says it was 1998 when last Llano beat Burnet. If that is 18 years, that is enough.  Our over all record against the Bulldogs is still in our favor, 39-35-2.  But win # 40 would look great.  All State receiver Sterling Gilban returns.  He had 10 TD catches last year.  Our secondary will get tested plenty.  Again, a great pass rush will help. Ray, Josh, Austin, and Daniel may need to get their track shoes on.  Chasing the Burnet quarterback and catching him will be the key to Llano winning.

Llano has played two team in which they lost.  Smithville and Sonora together are 8-0.  Playing a very high profile and solid always team like the Bulldogs gives Llano the opportunity to step out of the shadows.  This game Llano can win.  I said 5 weeks ago Llano could beat Burnet, and now the week is here.  Lets make this a team effort, and a community effort.  And bring home victory # 40 over the Bulldogs.

The 45-0 win against the Brady Bulldogs Friday night was what Jacket fans wanted.  The 45-0 score was what the Yellow Jackets had to have. Yet there were enough mistakes and flaws that even players know work is ahead.  The schedule does not get easier.  And Llano must improve to keep this train moving in the right direction.

The Jackets did not play well in the first quarter.  Junior quarterback Cade Fly came out and had one completion and one interception in 8 passes to start the game.  That means also, receivers were not running great routes, and the offensive line was not playing to their potential, as they allowed a sack on Cade. Llano did run the ball for 68 yards on 14 carries.  Yet four of those rushes were for minus yards.  Ben Walling had four carries for 44 yards in the first quarter.  Dalton Moore had a very good night running the ball.  Finished the night with 16 carries and 85 yards. The last three quarters, the Jackets kicked it into high gear.

Important to know that five Yellow Jackets ran the football against Brady.  43 carries and 281 yards.  A healthy 6.5 yards per carry.  This week Cade threw the football only 20 times, completing 12 for 132 yards and two TDs. In the second , third and fourth quarters, Cade was 11 for 12. Good receivers, good line blocking.   Five receivers made catches, including Ben, Ethan Tisdale, Thomas Adams, Brooks Keele and junior Anthony Watson.  Watson caught 8 for 93 yards and both TD tosses.  Last week 8 receivers caught footballs from Cade.  And maybe we can see a pattern here.  The pattern being there is no real pattern..  Last week both  Keele and Aaron Brown had over 100 yards receiving.  Brady was watching Aaron closely, thus Anthony steps up.  And the running game gets going.

Llano has about 12 skill position players that are capable of being the flavor of the week.  Each with skills that can produce on any given Friday.  But for that to happen, each one must prepare like they are the anointed one each week. Prepare as if this is the last Friday night they will ever get to play.  And continue the journey of learning this offense of Head Coach Matt Green.

I am learning too.  Coach Green would love to see 400 yards a week in offense,  split evenly would be nice. But as each player finds his role, and this takes time, a system will emerge.  And 45-0 can be the result.

The shutout by the defense was special.  Brady had 40 yards of offense the first half. The defense forced 6 straight punting situations for the Bulldogs.  Luis Coronado at linebacker was great all night long.  Gage Cox, Ian Fletcher, Easton Valdez, Kaleb Dodson, Brown, Moore, Nolan Keller, Kendall Downey, Tyler Lindall (sic), and Drew Cooper all played hard.  Daniel Sparks is a steady hand.  Plays hard  both ways.  Ray Dixon so tough.  And now that he has intercepted a pass and run it in for a TD, he becomes one of those skill folks we will be looking to!!!

Three players really made top plays Friday night.  I saw Austin Humphrey from his defensive line position hustle like he was playing his last game.  Very impressed. Great effort.  I saw Tyler Gann from his cornerback position get his hands up and knock down passes.  The same way Mason Brooks did last week. And then I saw a player make a play that will be used in teaching of defensive line play….Josh Soliz in full speed came down the line from his interior linemans position just  as Brady’s running back was headed for the corner on a sweep play.  Josh was  in perfect form and position as he made a text book tackle.  Knowing how to do that, is only two things…coaching and a willing student.  Wow from me.

Diego Garcia hit his first varsity field goal.  I think Dakoda Trull had a good game at offensive center.  Cade had time to run and throw.  Lane Ward played well, as did Luke Williams on the offensive line.  And special teams had good hustle from Ian Fletcher, Quint Pincelli, Mason Allsup, and Gann. Must keep this effort up in an area of little reward.

Now, lets stop counting our change.  Lago Vista beat Llano last year in Llano 41-13.  Horrible game and effort by the Jackets.  This is a serious game.  Lago is good.  Went 8-3 last season, and their very good quarterback is back.  The Jackets defense will be challenged.  A supreme effort will be needed.  But, more important, Llano can become a good football team.  But improvement every week must happen.  Each player must take on the responsibility of making himself do more.  Working towards perfect is a tough job.

I have always hated the good loss excuse when it comes to anything football.  Rarely have I seen that to be the correct twist on a game.  But, a 42-28 loss Friday night to the 3-AAA 6th ranked Broncos may have some of that flavor with this after taste.  Being 0-2 two weeks into the season could have a horrible meaning to a team learning a new offense, from a new coach, with a new quarterback.  After last weeks play against Smithville, you could have said “learning how to play a new game”.  Friday night against Sonora, the Jackets show the upside is everything they dreamed about back in July.

First of all, I do not ever remember such a one week improvement of a team as I saw in the Yellow Jackets. Ever.  Second, I saw a team that thought they really were going to win the football game.  And with an exception that lasted about 6 minutes at the end of the third quarter, Llano could have won.  I said this last week.  Coach Matt Green’s hardest job is coaching and teaching our Jackets how to win. You cannot take plays off.  And you must stop the “unlearned” penalties that will cause a loss even when you out play your opponent.

Llano’s offensive line could not have played better.  Thus, junior quarterback Cade Fly had time to pass.  Thus, Llano had a running game that had to be respected.  Thus, the defense was not on the field for long periods.  Daniel Sparks, Ray Dixon, Dakota Trull, Luke Williams, Dalton Bauman, Hayden Cowart, Austin Humphrey, Tyler Thompson, Lane Ward, Cameron Johnson, Tyler Lindell, battle each other every day in practice.  Many get few praises.  Few ever see their names in the record books.  But these players make the backbone of a good team.  Llano’s lineman are making very long strides.  And they will be the most important part of making Llano a good football team.

How good was the offensive line?  They did something that has never happened before.  They made it possible for Cade Fly to pass for 405 yards. Best in the history of LHS in a single game.  Cade’s 25 completions was second most ever in a game.  And receivers Brooks Keele, a junior, enters the record book with 4 catches and 106 yards, plus 2 touchdown catches.  Sophomore Aaron Brown too goes in, with 6 catches and 114 yards.  Maybe just as impressive is 8 Jackets caught passes in the new Jacket offense.  Senior Hayden Godfrey had 6 catches, and junior Anthony Watson had 3 catches for 76 yards.  Logan Duggar had three catches, with Dalton Moore, Ben Walling, and Mason Brooks making key catches.  The receivers were the most notable improved group on the field.  I heard one Jacket coach say we had two dropped passes Friday night.  That compares to last week when Jacket receivers stopped counting the number of drops.  Cade also thanks you for working harder last week in practice.  Wonderful improvement.

Special teams played better.  Good hustle by Christian Kirby.  Also Cole Schluetter and Quint Pincelli.  Ian Fletcher and Kendall Downey pushed hard to cover downfield.  These guys are only heard of when they mess up.

Llano’s defense had a tough job, and a long night.  2016 All State 3-AAA quarterback Kaden Cordell just never let up.  With the score tied at halftime, 14-14, the Jacket defense had kept it close.  But Cordell reminded us how good he was thru the third quarter.  Sparks had a great game.  Ian Fletcher at linebacker, along with Luis Coronade ,Josh Soliz, and Kaleb Dodson had really top end games.  Seniors Nolan Keller, Tyler Gann and Ray Dixon just played their hearts out.  Austin Humphrey is making a ball player.  Very important in this unit getting better.  Aaron Brown is getting better in the secondary.  And watch for Thomas Adams.  Good plays when we needed them.  Really like Ben Walling on defense. He does not get pushed around.  Looks like he is mad at someone.  Just love watching Ben.  Drew Cooper got a sac, and very good pass rusher all night.  Christian Kirby  and Gage Cox managed the secondary, along with Ethan Tisdale going against  Cordell throwing the football over 35 times.

Please forgive me here, but my memory is not what it once was.  But the play that Mason Brooks made on the goal line in the fourth quarter by his last second deflecting a long pass that was a sure TD from Cordell. At the last possible moment, Mason put his hand up and flicked it away like it was a fly.  Forgive me here, but I could not believe it, or remember it being done in years.  I thought Jacket secondary defenders had to play with their hands in their pockets.  Watch someone catch a long pass, then make the tackle.  Thank you Mason for a very memorable moment for me .  Great play. Great play.

Must mention # 51, our own Diego Garcia.  7 for 7 this season on extra points.  Been awhile since extra points could be counted on.  Keep up the great play.

All this feel good is now last week.  We are 0-2.  We travel to old menace Brady.  They hold a 26-25-2 overall record against Llano.  Playing in Brady is never easy.  Llano will likely will get a 15 yard penalty before we get out of the dressing rooms.  If they let us use dressing rooms.  I really do not like Brady.  Llano played lousy last year.  Got beat 21-7.  If we play better than last week, we will win.  This is not the time to not get better.  Every player should make himself a promise not to play “unlearned” “things”.  No penalties.  That is one way you measure your own progress.  No turnovers, and the Jackets bring home win # 1, and even the overall record with Bulldogs to 26-26-2.