Play to Win

When it looked like the Llano Yellowjackets were going to bring forth a consistent offense, a defense that did not allow the big play, and special teams that stayed disciplined, all fell apart in Brady Texas last Friday night.  To say, “these things happen” is letting everyone off the hook.

I know not where to start.  How do seniors still jump off sides?  Where was the gang tackling?  It was nearly a dream, but when we all woke up, the nightmare was real.  This was one game I had no explanation for.  And as I write two days later, and look at the stats, still have no clue to everything falling apart in one game.

And since I have no idea, you get up, dust off the britches, and get mad.  Get ready to play again.  No one quit.  There was good effort.  There were good plays.  And while I never kept stats on plays over 10 yards, a yardstick even used by colleges and pros, this is one look at what happens on both sides of the ball and gives some insight.  Llano had 7 such plays, 4 in the first quarter.  4 were passes to three different receivers.  Brady on the other hand had 12, 7 running plays for 176 yards.  The second effort of chasing is usually the key to this kind of stat.

I hope the Yellowjackets recognize the great heads-up play of junior Jaden Napolez.  His hustle down field on a Llano punt in the 3rd quarter and keeping his head in the game gave Llano the ball at midfield off his recovered fumble.  Just good effort.  Then when all is lost, and Llano is down 34-0, his effort produced an interception/fumble recovery and he ran the ball in for Llano’s only points.  As a very old timer, I want to thank Jaden for not letting Brady shut out the Jackets.  Good game.

The Jackets get no time to lick their wounds.  A very strong Fredericksburg team comes to Llano this Friday night.  Burnet just beat the Billies Friday night.  Fredericksburg thinks they have their best team in 20 years.  This is where the Jackets decide about this season.  Maybe some will retreat.  But others will step up.  If you have a strong senior class, this is where they had better recognize the urgency of getting the cob-webs out of the helmet and get serious.  Fredericksburg will be picked over Llano by 30 points, and their ranking deserves that edge.  But, Llano has a history…Llano has played the heck out of Fredericksburg when the Billies expected it the least.  This Friday night could  be one of those times.  Llano makes no stupid mistakes.  Llano covers on kick-offs and punts.  No turnovers.  None.  Play like it is the last game you will  ever play.  And Llano, when you do that, you will walk off that new Jacket Stadium turf with your pride and integrity all in hand.  You can do it.  But you must believe.  Believe in everything you have worked for since the 7th grade.  This week will take that kind of effort.

The 2015 Llano Yellowjackets found success at home last Friday night beating the Bangs Dragons 41-12 while playing the first game on the new artificial turf.  The beautiful new field was just the backdrop of a Jacket team that was hitting on all cylinders…playing strong defense that held the Dragons to 98 total yards while the offense ran and passed for 395 yards.

After playing a pretty good game  last week against state ranked Wall, the Jackets came back strong Friday night.  One of the most glaring examples is the secondary players were not the leading tacklers.  But they did lead in interceptions.  One by senior linebacker Wyatt Bauman, and then senior cornerback Mat Agee early in the second quarter picked one off and went 33 yards for a Jacket score.  And all senior cornerback Cody Miller could do was pick off two passes  while making 6 tackles  in the game.  The yardage improvement this season is a difference maker.  Long plays have killed the Jackets in the past seasons.  Friday night, Bangs on first play got off a 17 yard run.  Bangs had only one more play the remainder of the game of over 10 yards.  Sound sound defense.

Can’t say enough about the aggressiveness of sophomore Ray Dixon.  14 tackles with help.  Bauman too in on 14.  Junior Blake Dillard with 10.  Brent Greenwood played a great game on both sides of the ball, and in on 12 tackles.  Really like the play of junior Kegan Greenhaw on the defensive line.  In on 10 tackles.  Gang tackeling is starting to make a difference.   Dorian Green does that.  It prevents the second effort of a running back and stops those long runs.  Great improvement by the defense.  Defense must really step up this week.  We play Brady in Brady.  They scored 41 against their chief rival Ballinger Friday night.  Good test for this defense.

The offensive line was better this week.  Junior Cameron Hall had a very good game.  As did Cameron Brumley.  Juan Mungia  had his best game, as did senior Jose Arrendondo.  Improve every game.  That is the key.  Senior Colton Center shows his experience of being a four year starter.  Dixon was great.  And ends Jason Gann and Luke Snitkin blocked with good effort out in the secondary.  Gann also caught a Casey pass .  Good to see Roberto Alcala getting better.  This junior could come on strong with more confidence.  The off-side penalties must end.  Real deal killers on any drive.  Concentrate, concentrate.

If the line is wondering about confidence, think no more.  It is showing up in the confidence of your running backs.  Running as hard as they can on the first step and then the hole opens up.  Mason Greenwood had 168 yards on 14 carries.  Brent and 4 carries, William Oliver, Hunter Roemer, John Heflin, Dorian Green, Sterling Rogers, and Christian Rodriquez all showed they have talent carrying the football.  Good depth at running back.  And who would have thought that the longest run of the season comes from senior quarterback Wyatt Casey ?  Made an 82 yard TD run look easy.  Outran everyone.

Back in the old days, Brady was the Jackets oldest and most hated rival.  And it was mutual.  Brady had no use for Llano.  Last season Brady beat Llano in Llano 20-17.  Really was a season changer.  Llano never recovered from the very close loss.  The Jackets success in Brady over the years has been a bright star.  Seems even old rivals keep being passed down.  Nothing could help Llano get that bit of extra confidence needed to go forward than beating Brady in Brady.  For many of us old timers sitting in the stands nothing is more important.  Nothing.  Llano needs this win very badly.  That extra effort on every single play could be the one play that counts.  Llano 17   Brady 12.

Playing the #5 ranked 3AAA team in the state on their home field was to be no easy task.  The Jackets were not fooled into thinking it would be, especially after the 54-21 beat down at Jacket Stadium in 2014, and the Hawks going on to a strong 11-2 season. So being prepared was good advice.   The 28-13 final score in Wall Friday night proved all of the above correct.  Wall’s ranking is accurate.  Playing at Wall with game officials certainly more familiar with the green and white.  And Llano was prepared.  Take away 5 plays and the score could have been reversed.  The Jackets are a different team from 2014, and only good things will happen over the next few weeks.

This team has one hard task, and that is to get to the point where it trusts itself.  The offensive line considered the Jackets strongest unit coming into this season, played good…not great.  What they must learn in the trust department is knowing if they hold a block just for a 1/10 of a second longer, that sophomore Mason Greenwood will hit the opening and make yardage. ( 17 carries and 93 yards) There is nothing that makes an offensive lineman get better every play than knowing he is blocking for a running back that can actually score on any play.  That is the reason not one play in a game can be used for a resting play.  Mason has that quickness that gives hope on every play.  The balance of running by senior John Heflin can do nearly the same.  Dorian Green, Wyatt Bauman, and Brent Greenwood bring different talents.  The 4.3 yards per try was good, not great.

The offensive line will form a bond.  A brothership.  Lead by four year starter Colton Center, along with seniors Jose Arredondo, Garrett Carlson, Cameron Brumley, Juan Mungia and # 90, Luke Snitkin. Juniors Roberto Alcala, Keegan Greenhaw, Cameron Hall. and Jason Gann.  And two way starter sophomore Ray Dixon.  This group can be very good.  Learn to trust each other.  Every play you will get stronger.

The defense played pretty good.  Forced a key fumble.  Held twice on fourth down.  Allowed only 34 passing yards on 2 of 7 attempts by Wall.  Still not real strong against the Wall triple option.  I wanted to say something , but during the game, when a Yellow Jacket fan screamed out that why did not the Jackets stop the Wall offense, because they “had run the same play 3 times in a row”!  I was more concerned that the Llano fan could only count to 3, as the 49 other plays that Wall ran….were also the same play…it’s the triple option, or the old time veer, but….it is all the same play!!!

Sure don’t like to see defensive backs Matt Agee, John Heflin, Cody Miller, Dalton Dewveall, and Blake Dillard make so many tackles past the line of scrimmage.  But easily Hunter Roemer and Wyatt Bauman had very good games.  Brent Greenwood played well.  as did Dixon, Dorian Green and Jaden Napolez.  Jaden was in on 10 tackles.  Keep up the gang tackleing.  Play hard every single play.  Try to get more turnovers.  And set yourselves a goal of shutting out Bangs.

Have not said anything yet about senior Wyatt Casey.  Loved his first game as a starter.  Wyatt was 9 of 16 passing for 108 yards.  Managed the game well.  Confidence is all that needs adding, and that will come.  Threw one bad pass…forced it in when he should have tucked and ran.  Still, quarterback is in good hands.  Could see the confidence build as Wyatt threw and connected to senior Airon Layton 4 times for 78 yards.  This connection will produce more yards and more points when Wyatt connects on about 15 passes a game.  More first down passes…then Mason really cuts loose.  This could be an exciting offense.  Beating Bangs in Llano this Friday night will help all the confidence builders.

Llano 35   Bangs 0

The football season begins this next Friday night with an inner confidence.  So many new players.  So many veterans with great experience.  Some new coaches with lots of energy. Few will predict the number of wins…but all feel confident it will be unlike 2013 and 2014.

We travel to Wall Friday night.  Revenge would help, as the Hawks beat Llano in Llano last year 54-21.  Wall was an 11-2 team last season, going into the play-offs and losing in the regional quarterfinals.  The Hawks are picked to win their 3-3A DI district, with Brady and Bangs as common foes this year.  Their confidence will be strong.  But what an opening game opportunity for Llano.  Beating Wall in this opening game would be big.

The Jackets prepare with a new quarterback, senior to be Wyatt Casey.  The 6’2 tassel headed Wyatt has looked very good in two scrimmages.  Confidence looks great.  Love his demeanor on the sidelines.  Wyatt could surprise.  And he will have great skill people help.  Love everything John Heflin does.  Yes, all 135 pounds of him.  John became a starter last season as a sophomore in the secondary.  He can run.  Look for more help from the Greenwood brothers, Mason and Brent.  Both are fast.  Wyatt Bauman, and Cody Miller, both veterans will see much time on the field.  And 6’2 #90 Luke Snitkin at end needs to be the next best tight end for the Jackets. He can be a very good senior.

Coach Craig Slaughter says this offensive line will be his best going into his fourth year in Llano.  You start with center senior Colton Center.  Should Colton stay well,  he can be very special.  He leads a group of experienced lineman, with no one better right now than junior to be Ray Dixon.  Tremendous motor…plays hard every play.  Watch the Cameron boys, Hall and Brumley.  Old hand Jose Arredondo at times last year as a junior was the Jackets best blocker. Juan Mungia is very strong and consistent.  There will be others.  But give me a very good offensive line, and you will get good play out of the skill guys.

Last season, the defense was not good.  So I will wait until we have a feel for this seasons players.  6 of the top defensive players from last season return.  All will be better.  But they must be much better.  Llano plays 8 teams that made the playoffs last year.  There will be no easy games.  But you play them one at a time.  Right now, Wall is the only team on the schedule.

So let’s all saddle up and head west.  Beating a good Wall team on their home field will be tough, but the assignment not impossible.  Llano 21   Wall 18 ..

In 90 days we will be getting serious as fans to begin dreaming the dreams of our Llano Yellowjackets.  2015 will bring many things new.  New faces, new approaches, and most anticipated, players with talent enough to be competitive.  Soon I will have players names to add to this blog, and comments from Llano Coaches…..with summer brings anticipation.   Year number 43 begins for Play To Win.  I can’t wait.

2014 Seniors…Class of 2015

Kasin Riley # 89                              Austin Miller #40

Dalton Ward #88                            Lance Reven #34

Jalen Bauman #84                         Tommy Yelvington #24

Colton Ekstrom # 77                       Trevor Penny #20

Clayton Masters #75                        Holden Simpson #11

Harley Smith # #68                         Aaron Moss #8

Cody Harp #64                                  David Forrister #4

Stetson Watson #52                         Rhett Levingston #11

Colin Mayne #50                               Dustin Heflin #3

The loss to District Champions Navarro Panthers brought to the close a very frustrating season to a team that never gave up.  The effort was on the field, but the unbelievable rash of injuries to most key players and the misfortune of so many close moments that did not fall the Jacket direction.  Nearly beating Brady…nearly beating Lytle…the story of this season.

With senior Jalen Bauman after 3 games on a path that could have broken a season school record in receptions, goes down against Fredericksbug on the first play, and the whole offense had to change directions.  Bauman ended the season with 26 catches and in the top 10 all time catches for a career.  Senior Holden Simpson ended with 16 TD tosses, and 1147 yards passing…nice numbers that will be in the record book. And senior Kasin Riley with 13 catches and 20.08 yards per catch will see his name listed forever in the pages of Llano history.

But the disappointment for Llano fans like myself is the seniors that worked so hard since the 7th grade and before, saw few rewards.  “These are the times that try men’s souls,” and true Yellowjackets know that this is not the end, but it is the beginning of a special time.  A time of making decisions that set the course.  And after 42 years of writing Play To Win, few times have I not heard back from retired Yellowjacket players that did not learn what it meant to face adversity and not always see or expect rewards.  The reward many times in life comes from knowing deep inside you did all you could do.  That you tried your best.  That you left it on the field every game.  And while your best sometimes fail short, you knew you played to win.  Nearly 40 years ago I had a saying by Theodore Roosevelt placed in front of my desk, and in times of worry, and times of dark clouds, I would read, and somehow, feel better.  I have taken these words with me.  Maybe they can be of help to you.  Best of all to the great seniors of 2015.

“It is far better to dare mighty things and to enjoy your hour of triumph, even though it is checkered occasionally with failure, than to take stock with those poor souls who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in a gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

The Llano Yellowjackets up and down season begins anew.  Rested.  Somewhat healed.  Refreshed.  But more than anything else, the seniors have realized this is the beginning of the end.  It can end greatly, or it can be a real downer.  Three games left in their entire careers.  7th and 8th grade are now a blur in the rearview mirror.  Freshman years look so limp.  But here we are when the real test comes to fruition.  When everything you dreamed could happen, can happen.  Lytle is the first of three big final exams.

This still can be the perfect storm.  Llano can still not only be in the mix for a State Playoff spot, I really think that these seniors can rally the forces to be counted on to be the district crown holder.  And when you think that by winning your last two home games and winning in Hondo next week, you are there.  Improbable?  Maybe…but Llano has players that will not give up…never have, and will not this time.

Each year I lay this on the seniors.  No doubt the juniors and sophomores are some special talents.  But the seniors have more to loss.  Three weeks of the most supreme effort in their young lives will give the gift of a lifetime.  Great memories as a LLano Yellowjacket  in their senior years is unmatched in regards to all in life.  Life begins this Friday night at Jacket Stadium..and beating Lytle will be a memory maker forever.

The Llano Yellowjackets had a very rough opening district game Friday night in Wimberley.  The Texans opened with a 60 yard TD pass on the first play of the game, and built a 45 – 0 halftime lead.  Losing the coin flip at the beginning of the game got the Jackets off to a bad start.  Talking with a Jacket parent at halftime…we decided that from now on, if we lose the coin flip, we will ask to go for 2 out of three…the loss was bad…but now start over.

Llano can  now regroup.  A week off and three district games to go.  Lytle on October 24…travel to Hondo on Halloween, and finish with pre-District favorite Navarro on November 7.

We will talk about the Texans very little.  We can learn from it, and we can work to get better.  But no need to play it again.  Llano outscored the Texans 20-7 in the second half, but know that Wimberley took the foot off the pedal to some degree.  Still senior quarterback Holden Simpson threw 2 TD passes, one a 19 yarder to senior Lance Reven in the third quarter, and then a 56 yard heads up play to senior Kasin Riley who broke deep when Holden was running for his life. A 26 yard screen pass to senior Aaron Moss was near perfect. Reven ended the game with a 3 yard run and a TD.

Briefly, many Jackets did recover from the first play, but it was not soon enough.  Stetson Watson played well.  Still like the center position of Colin Mayne.  Junior Cody Miller from his safety position was the last defense before scores were made.  Trevor Penny and Austin Miller played hard.  And junior Wyatt Bauman had one of the best defensive plays this year in a linebacker blitz on a fourth and one play that was a two yard loss.  Dorian Green continues to have positive plays, and Stratt Stiles was much better.  There just were not enough plays made early.

The Jackets have 6 players that were starters that did not play.  Some, such as Jalen Bauman, Colton Center and freshman Ray Dixon played both ways.  Do not know if they will return.  So you play with who is healthy, and Llano can win with these players.  This point in the season, Llano must get healthy…mentally.  This is the point in the season that the seniors realize there are only three games left in their lives.  Since the 7th grade to now…all is on the line.  To make the playoffs, the Jackets must win one more game.  They should win two more for sure.  But what I see happening is Llano wins out, Wimberley losses Navarro ( Navarro has beat the Texans the last two years), and the Jackets share the District Crown.  That is what the Jackets think about this week.  Putting every ounce of energy into three more games, to make sure their original goals set in August can still be realized.  Sure, Wimberley took the wind out of our sails.  But you don’t let one half of one game be who you are.  Llano can beat Lytle in two weeks….build on that and beat Hondo in Hondo…then play for it all in November….this is when it can be fun and wash away any poor games of this season.  Win it all.

I will write again toward the end of this week…picking the score and spending this week thinking hard on everything that we as a town and players can do be  all that we can be.

The Fighting Llano Yellowjackets found their sting.  The seniors played like there were no more tomorrows.  And gang tackling became the norm Friday night as the Jackets won for the second time on the road by the score of 34-13.  The 2-3 Jackets begin District play this Friday night against very old rival Wimberley.

Despite the whining this week by cry babies and enablers, the Llano Yellowjackets knew one thing…it is what is in ones heart that really matters in life.  If it were up to size, speed, and number of players on the sidelines, Llano need not travel.  Going way back, George Scott, Austin Charlton and Ty Thurman would have been water boys.  Instead they were… and are legends.  Someone forgot to tell them they were too small and too slow.

I told the 2014 Jackets last week they might be in the later category.  They forgot to listen.  When I saw senior Cody Harp pulling around and down the line and doing his best Larry Allen impression, I knew something was different.  When I saw senior center Colin Mayne crush a linebacker, and two plays later, in the fourth quarter sprint with all of his energy to be the first Jacket downfield on a punt, I knew these seniors had DNA.  And when I saw Llano coaches finally give senior Aaron Moss some help at running back with senior Lance Reven,  junior Wyatt Bauman and junior Dorian Green I knew the coaching staff was still looking for answers.  When Llano lined up in the I formation, this was a team looking for ways to win.  People of football know what I am talking about.

Can’t believe how impressed I was with the offensive line play.  Junior Luke Snitkin, senior Kasin Riley, Mayne, Harp, senior Steton Watson, junior Jose Arredondo, seniors Colton Ekstrom, Clayton Masters, junior Stratt Stiles  and senior Dalton Ward all turned their game around.  Should each improve next week as they did this past week, the Texans could be in for a long night.  Senior Harley Smith really played hard and several times he looked like he was having fun running through folks.  Harley went down with a leg injury in the second half and hope is he will return soon.  Really like the play of 5’5, 230 pound Juan Mungia.  Played like he was 6’5, but I guess someone forgot to well Juan  he needed to be taller.

The Jackets 99 yard drive in the first quarter on 12 plays was nothing short of just spectacular.  Moss, Bauman at fullback (an old position many in football have forgotten about), Reven, sophomore John Heflin all carried the ball.  Five first downs, one fourth down try with success, Llano was hitting on all cylinders.  OH Yea, I nearly forgot, Holden Simpson, senior quarterback had his best game.  Simpson throwing to junior Airon Layton for 44 yards, and TD pass to senior Tommy Yelvington for the final 6 finished Llano’s best offensive drive this season.  Tommy caught two TD passes Friday night and now has 17 catches for 220 yards.  He will not make us forget Jalen Bauman who had surgery this past week, but he sure is making Jalen proud.  He and Layton and Moss all are sure handed receivers.

The drive in the fourth quarter covered 72 yards and 15 plays.  Great line blocking, pass completions to Moss and Airon for the TD score, the game was complete.  Yelveinton picked up another interception, as did junior Cody Miller.  Miller I think has 6 picks  for the season.  Remarkable 155 pound safety playing like John Lynch!

Really have liked the kicking game all season.  Simpson’s punting with great effort in coverage has made this phase so successful.  Ward, senior Rhett Levington, junior Dalton Dewveall hustle hard every play. So does #5, Trent Decker..going to be good.  They make this part really good.  Senior kicker David Forrister is just hard to beat.  Also like to see that Llano lets David kick deep.  Jackets have good coverage.

The defense played like they did against Bangs.  Cody Miller, Reven, and senior Austin Miller lead this hard hitting group.  They wrap up and don’t just throw their bodies at runners.  Ekstrom, Bauman, and Green have really started to get good.  And junior Wyatt Casey gets overlooked in the secondary when you have Miller and Yelvington to compare with, but Casey makes a lot of plays.  This may be best Llano secondary in many many years.  And what do you say about senior Trevor Penny? The 160 pound lineman is so quick…one of the best at what he does.

Seniors, it does not  get easier, but it could be more fun.  Wimberley has made life not pleasant on Yellowjackets in recent years.  I think we beat them in 2001.  At Wimberley!  We have not played them every year in the past.  Their 2-3 record and they have played some good teams.  They will be tough at home, but that seems good for Llano.  Looks like the Jackets can pour all energy into this misplaced district contest, then take week off before the final three district games.  The Texans have two great players in Wes Lambert and quarterback Colton Cerday, both all-district last season.  This is a great challenge for Llano.  Texas Football picked the Jackets last in 13-4A in preseason.  Llano will win.  Watch the Jacket lineman.  We win on the line, and we win this game.

Llano 24   Wimberley 20

The Yellowjackets just are not getting the job done.  The 38-0 halftime was as bad as I have seen a Jacket score since the Bi-District contest in 2001 in which eventual State Champion La Grange whipped the Jackets 56-0.  This game was a complete let down, as the defense played as poorly as the offense.  But to keep things in proper prospective, the Jackets did manage 280 yards of offense, clearly 3 times more this Friday night as compared to last week against Fredericksburg.

A 63 yard interception return for a TD pushed the Lake View Chiefs to a 21-0 lead, and the visitors were never in a worry over losing the lead.  The final 45-7 score is dis-heartning…and it must stop.

This may be crazy, but I think Brady Bulldogs has now beaten the Jackets 3 weeks in a row.  The 20-17 two OT loss to the Bulldogs back on September 12 looks to be haunting.  Llano came so close, and the team could have gone either direction.  David Forrester’s Field Goal in second OT looked like the winner, only to have the game jerked away one play later.  Llano has not recovered.  The two past weeks Llano has been outscored 75-7, and the physicality has been absent.  Gang tackling in the first three games was tremendous.  A couple of times last night I saw Jackets letting up before they got to the pile.  When you are behind you play more cautious…only natural.  You don’t want to make bad things get worse.  But I think maybe we have lost our highest gear.

I have got to call on our seniors.  This is your season.  This is your last chance.  And I truly believe Llano can beat Salado this week…play close to Wimberley in week 8, lay off a week, and then win two of three to finish either 2nd or 3rd in District.  You certainly are not the most talented Yellowjacket team in recent memory, but you are Yellowjackets.  Teams of our past have been worse,  and done better.  You can too, with senior leadership taking over this team, and knowing the goals you set for yourself back in August are still obtainable.

Let’s build on the positives.  Good kicking game…good punter…excellent coverage on all kicking aspects of the game…appears we have a good medium passing game. The 12 passes completed against Lake View average nearly 13 yards per play.  Very good.  6 were for more than 15 each.  That is winning football.  Yelvington and Layton can catch the football, and really have taken up slack with loss of Bauman.  The offense was better, the offensive line much better.  Have to hold your blocks 1//2 second longer on run and pass plays.  To do that is nothing but extra effort.  You can do it. 1/’2 second!!!

Defense.  Find your kick butt again.  Gang tackle.  Make sure you take full responsibility for your job…Be aggressive…and play like you did against Bangs.

Seniors…play like this is your last season…the last time you will have to be a Llano Fighting Yellowjacket.  You start with leadership…you beat Salado…and you make sure you make the State Playoffs.  You will never regret playing harder.

Llano 31   Salado 14