Play to Win

The come from behind win Friday night against the Comanche Indians was more than one win.  It may have set a tone for the next 9 games.  The Yellow Jackets refused to take a knee, and they could have going into the fourth quarter.  There are genes working here, and Llano players have that gene that takes losing hard.  It is not that hard to believe that Llano came from behind.  In fact, going back to last season’s final regular season game with Salado, many of these same Jackets never quit and  never stopped playing in that 51-49 victory.

The play of so many seniors won this game.  While there are so few of them (10), everyone stepped up their game.  From Justin Oestreich, to Clay Tarter, to Vance Bauer, to Wes Haverlah. When the kick-off sounded, Llano was ready.  Conner Barrett played well, as did Zack Baker.  Senior lineman Jordan Johnson started this season like he left last season, playing at full speed.  Great game.  I was really glad to see this kind of senior effort.  Speaking out loud here, I think this group of seniors knows that this season will be a true test of their grit and their wills.  It may take coming from behind many more times this season for Llano to get much respect.  But to get that first one under ones belt is a great achievement.

I’m looking, but number one question after the game was when was the last time a Yellow Jacket ran back a kick-off?  Well, the last one now is senior Clay Tarter’s 75 yarder, and while he never had the appearance of his run being of little doubt, I nearly looked away several times only to see Clay still pounding to the end zone. The score brought Llano back within 2 in the third quarter.

The Jackets have plenty of work ahead of them this week.  Turnovers?  We can’t kick anyone off the team for this, but three of the most dependables lost the ball.  Need to cut that number in half!!!  The defense gave up way to many yards, and Comanche’s quarterback was a super good test for Llano.  In fact, I guess you give credit where credit is due.  Payton Middleton was very good, and his 8 completions for more than 10 yards got the attention of the Jacket secondary.  But pass rush and linebackers are just as important in stopping a sound passing game.  The defense should be staying late this week.  It does not get easier from the game with Bangs this week all the way to Salado in October. From Johnson to juniors Cooper Hill, Allan Lucas, and senior Ryan Williams, picking their games up is a must.  And the game in Bangs Friday is where you start.

The kicking game can come around.  Every year it seems, that part of Llano gets going slow.  But look for continued and good effort from Zach Morgan punting, and Tatsch  getting more comfortable kicking extra points.

Junior quarterback Rhett Brooks has that gene.  He willed the team to win.  And few times do you see that intensity in a player.  When the Jackets went ahead 29-25, Rhett carried the ball 7 straight times before he scored.  And with 1:56 left to play, when the Indians took the lead, it was Rhett that carried three times, and threw a 40 yard completion to junior Matthew Center before he scored the winning points. Center had four catches and 87 yards receiving from Brooks’ throws.

Sophomore Issac Hutto had a very good game and two catches in his varsity debut.  Will Siegenthaler ran the ball well, as did junior Storey Tatsch.  Bauer showed he has speed and actually made the corner a time or two.  His secondary play was excellent. And watch next week for sophomore Mason Ladd in the secondary.  He is small, but may be another good surprise.

But the surprise of the night was not really Clay or Rhett.  It was an offensive line that few expected much from.  Starting with center Taylor Stewart, a junior, and then sophomore Gilbert Arrendondo, Jordan Johnson, Wes Haverlah, Oestreich, Jacob Beasley, Cole Barrett, Williams,  and Nick Bornholdt.  These no name guys really played well.  Rhett knows better than anyone.  He was not sacked, a real rare thing for the first game, and remember, this was Brooks’  first start at quarterback.  So, despite the inexperience, this was one good start.

But to summarize, the defense was not good.  Giving up 32 points can’t help but make everyone work harder.  The offense should only get better.  One concern is quarterback.  And unless your name is Brad Kassell, you really do not want your quarterback carrying the football 30 times!!!  Rhett is going be be Rhett.  When opportunity arises, he will run.  But he will be a better runner when he runs 15 times a game.  Llano will be better team when Vance, Will, Storey, and Clay carry the football, effectively 20 times.

Bangs beat Llano last year by two touchdowns in Llano.  Two years ago, the rain and lightening stopped the game after 2 plays. Bangs finished last season at a healthy 8-4. This year, with one minute to play, Llano leading by 20, we all hope rain and lightening again stops the game.  Llano by 20, and takes a 5-1 all-time lead in the series.

The hottest summer in my history, has caused a cautionary vision, one of hope, but not of false hope.  The 2011 Yellow Jackets must surprise if they are going to be good.  They will have to shock, to make the state play-offs.  Yet in 39 years of following the Jackets, hope was always a basis of what the Jackets would do.  And surprises have been many.  The reason is just plain old numbers.  Few years has Llano been picked to win.  Few years were we ever in the top 2 or 3 teams with high enrollment.  Yet, it has to be in the water.  Yellow Jackets out-perform many teams that are better.  Jackets work harder,  stay longer, and want to taste success more than most.  2011 will not be different.

Texas football has the Jackets picked fifth in District 25-3A.  Last season the Jackets beat both Salado and Lampasas, now ranked ahead of Llano.  Liberty Hill and Burnet are district favorites.  Llano’s 510 enrollment is ahead of Salado by 43 pupils on  average day attendance, but Lampasas has 477 more kids than Llano, and Burnet has 446 more.  I think Bowie in 3A has the smallest 3A enrollment with 432 students.  About 20 3A schools have enrollment of less than 500.  Llano has two of the largest schools in 3A with , with Lampasas at 987 kids, tied with Lindale, followed by Fredericksburg with 968, and Burnet with 956.  I’m feeling like if Bangs or Comanche would drop us from their schedule, we could go after Lindale for a game!!

No kidding … Llano will play against only three teams that we will be favored.  Comanche……. even though Llano only beat the Indians last season by the score of 18-12. ended last season 2-8. Still,  Llano did not play well, and it poured over into  the following week when Llano lost t0 Bangs.  Llano should be better early in this season, just going off the scrimmage of Somerset.  Seems like the defense could be better.  It will have to come along faster this season.  Offense is still finding itself.  And then Llano should be favored against Taylor.  That may be all.  In the other 7 games Llano could be big underdogs.  But, that’s why they go ahead and play the season.

And now to Comanche.  The 2010 Indians were 2-8 in 2010 with 9 offensive starters back for 2011.  Friday night in Llano needs to be a statement from Llano.  The experienced , or inexperienced Jackets need confidence.  Confidence comes from seniors.  I’ll be watching DE Jordan Johnson to show the younger kids what it takes to have a motor that goes full speed every play. LB Davis Hill may be playing on both sides of the ball.  He takes no plays off.   Also, Vance Bauer should be very sound in the secondary.  Last season I liked Wes Haverlah and Clay Tarter a lot.  These seniors can be difference makers.  It must start for the seniors Friday night.

Comanche has a losing record of 7-13 against Llano.  The Jackets will make it 14-7 Friday night.  Look for Llano to win  27 to 10.  Let’s get this season started right.

The 2011 Football season is upon us.  The Yellowjackets of 2011 have little expectations.  The 6-5 season on 2010 was better than many expected.   The continued changes that take place with a team still in transition, one ask, “how can a high school team still be in a state of change?”  Only because the basic  ingredients are still changing.  We speak of both the offense and the defense.

Lets’ dig deeper.  In 2009, the Yellowjackets  were a  4-5  team, and no playoffs. The defense allowed  21.7 points.  Actually in the new age of defense, not bad.  The 2011 6-5 Jackets allowed 31.9 points a game, not good. And all this time the Jackets under Head Coach David Yeager are changing an offense that from 2005 to 2008 was averaging over 33 points per game.  In 2009, the offense averaged  25.7 points, and then the offense of 2010 was at 26.7 points.  The Jackets were 10-10 over the past two seasons.  Left behind was the slot-T offense that broke every school record on offense for points, yardage, and most important, wins.  Yeager’s offenses for 4 years were nothing short of great.  Maybe not Liberty Hill great, but pretty darn close.  Llano’s slot-t was fun.

Beginning in 2005, Shane Pope ( 1,672 yards), 2006 Lance Dickey (1,270 yards) & Ty Thurman (1,101 Yards), 2007, Lance Dickey ( 1,334 yards), and Ty Thurman (1,222 yards),  & then the 8-4 team of 2008 had Clayton Maples and his 1,322 yards  along with Estevan Aviles and 1,194 yards rushing.  Estevan also holds the school record for averaging 9.63 yards per carry his junior year.  The slot-t offense was the key to Llano’s averaging nearly 9 wins per season, and making the play-offs all four seasons, as well as  winning  5 play-off games.

The offense was changed in 2009 to fit a more passing quarterback, and maybe to take advantage of the most exciting football player to don a Yellow Jacket uniform in decades, 2010 Offensive MVP, Justin Severance. The changes seemed logical.  Severance was the fastest Jacket in a football uniform that I have ever seen.  His highlight film sends chills down ones back.  He turned on a dime, and was at full speed in two steps.  The Jackets had to get the football to this young man often, and not just by handing him the football.  In the Salado game, maybe one of the greatest games of all time, the Jackets won 51-49.  Severance had 136 yards rushing in 14 carries, and 113 yards receiving, on 4 catches. His breath- taking performance could not have been accomplished in the slot-t….I think?

Yet, the team success was not there.  Llano’s offense in the slot-t was predicated on holding on to the football -running long time periods off the clock.  Not allowing the offense of the foe onto the field.  This did not happen in 2009, nor in 2010.  There were too many 3 downs and out – too many punts – too many returns.  And worse, too many missed tackles.  The defense either became tired or stale.  The urgency to get the ball back was not up to 2007 standards.  And while making the play-offs in 2010, the  Yellow Jackets were outscored 56 points for the season.

Thus, bringing us to 2011 – what will the offense be about?  Will Llano learn to play defense again?  And, for the first time in 7 seasons, an unknown quality will be at running back.

We begin season # 39 as Play To Win now sees players today, and saw their fathers yesterday.  In 1973, the first season of writing Play To Win, I never had a thought that this small bit of information would take on a life of its’ own.  The small attempt to recognize Yellowjacket players is the reason I began this article.  It is why I continue today. Full article to follow on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.

   The Llano Yellowjackets placed 9 seniors on the 25-3A All-District team.  Seniors Matthew Ratliff,  Preston Rabb , Sterling Jameson,  Raven Harron, Jordan Cavness, Travis Lawrence, Justin Saverance, Davis Hill, and Kenneth Smith were the seniors honored.  The big salute to Llano by Liberty Hill, Salado, Lampasas, Taylor and Burnet was to vote Justin Saverance as the Districts’ Most Valuable Player.  This hornor is one few Jackets ever see.  To my memory, it was 1997 when Bradley Kassell received the same mention.  When a player makes that list, it is from respect, because others from the district certainly received more headlines.  Also of note, center Kenneth Smith was first team.  Making the first team at center is also very prestigious.  Ken had a great season, and the honor was well deserved.

   Travis was honored as a first team defensive lineman, and second team offensive lienman. Sterling also was on both teams, first team defense, and second team offense.

   I too think the last time a Jacket was first team quarterback was Kassell, but I need to check to see where Brooks from two years ago landed on his All-District team, but Preston Rabb’s honor is hard to get.  Added also was first teamer Matthew Ratliff on offense, although he had a very big impact for the Jackets on defense, but was over-looked there.

   Seniors Davis Hill and Raven Herron were on the second team defense, and both had great senior years.  and Jordan cavness had a super year at punter, and was on the second team.  His play at defensive end was also over-looked, but he had a very good season even with injuries.

   Seniors that will be missed are Cody Wisdom, Michael Rusche, Zach Berry, Taylor Osbourn, John McCay, and Ian Mayne.  McCay is in the Jacket record books at his split end position, and Osbourn really played well in district play.  I thought he might make it on the second team as an offensive lineman.  Cody played very well, as did Zach who had a very fine senior season.  While Mayne got hurt, he was very good when he had his chances.  Rusche drew the short straw when it came to guarding top offensive split ends all season, and still played well in a very tough position.

   Coming back for 2011 will be Cody Lang,  and Jordan Johnson, both will be seniors, and could both be really, really good.  Both sophomores in Rhett Brooks and Matt Center were second team All-District, and both should be very big factors as juniors.  Rhett likely will be the starting quarterback

   2010 was an exciting year, and the 6-5 record reflected a very hard schedule.  Beating Fredericksburg, Lampasas,  and Taylor, all previously in 4-AAAA would have be considered great in all other seasons.  The Jackets expected more, and made the play-offs five time in six seasons under Head Caoch David Yeager. 

   2011 will be just as difficult as 2010.  But returning letterman, and good juniors and sophomore will again prove that LLano has quailty football players, just not always quantity.  The 2010 seniors were but 15, usually not a number needed to reach the play-offs.   Most schools reaching the play-offs in 3-AAA will have 20 plus seniors.  The 2010 senioirs will always know they played their best, and with great pride.

District MVP                  Justin Saverance     Sr.  5-9, 165

1st Team Offense:     Quarterback:   Preston Rabb, Sr.    6-6, 210

                                          Center: Kenneth Smith, Sr.    6-0, 280

                                          Offensive Line:   Matthew Ratliff , Sr.   6-4, 295

                                           Defensive Line:  Travis Lawrence, Sr.   6-0, 240

                                           Defensive End:   Cody Lang, Jr. 6-1, 185

                                           Linebacker: Sterling Jameson, Sr. 6-0, 175

2nd Team All District:    Running Back: Rhett Brooks, So.  6-1, 185

                                           Tight End: Matthew Center, So. 6-2, 190

                                            Wide Receiver: Sterling Jameson, Sr., 6-0, 175

                                            Offensive Lineman: Travis Lawrence, Sr., 6-0, 240

                                             Punter: Jordan Cavness, Sr., 6-0, 175

                                            Defensive Lineman: Jordan Johnson, Jr., 6-1, 180

                                            Linebacker: Davis Hill, Sr., 5-10, 165

                                            Defensive Back: Raven Herron, Sr., 5-8, 150

Honorable Mention:        Wide Receiver:  Justin Wyatt, So., 5-10, 160

   These kind of Saturdays are the saddest of all.  When the football season is over, and you know you are not going to see the seniors in a Yellowjacket uniform ever again.  You know how much these men have in front of them, yet they will forever, look back on these last 12 weeks as maybe their best ever.  We hope not, but if not the best ever, it is the most fun, AND the best ever.  I have spoken to hundreds of former Jackets, and to a one, being a Llano Yellowjacket was their most proud time.

   The kind thing about life, and Llano football is that you don’t really remember the last game as your definning moment.  It was disappointing.  You will always know you could have played better.  But, take solice in knowing, we all could have.  We all would love to have one more chance to make that one block that would have sprung an opening, or one more chance to make that interception, but just missed by inches.  But those moments do not define you as  a Llano Yellowjacket.  What makes you what you are is how you played the game.  You were not the most talented.  You likely were not the fastest, or the strongest, and even the best prepared. But you were, and always will be from a team that holds tradition high, prideful of the past Jackets, just like yourself. You loved the game at times more than you loved yourself.  You played more with your heart than with your feet, and you cared more about your teammates than your own self worth.  That is what separated you from others.  You will forever be a Llano Yellowjacket, and as time goes by, you will look back as the very best time of your life. 

  As I thought about this article, I knew one thing, I  think.  On the Wimberley sidelines were two coaches that had to have some mixed feelings.  Coach Dane Saucier, son of James Saucier,( Llano long time coach) is an old timer for the Texans.  But at one time, he was a tremendous Llano Yellowjacket football player.   And Coach Shawn Cockerham, a former Yellowjacket coach.  These two highly competive men wanted more than anything to beat Llano.  They coach in a very competive school where winning every game is expected.  But I have to believe that had they not been this competitive, they would not be also, forever, Llano Yellowjackets.  I think I know both coaches took little glee in seeing Llano go down by 35 points.  Yet, they took something with them when they left Llano and had other lives to go live.  Part of them, forever will be Orange and Black.

   The 55 to 20 score will not define these seniors.  But, their hard work with their best friends, is rarly ever repeated.   These seniors will remember the Lampasas game forever.  And the wonderful fun game at Salaldo.  Those two games defined this senior class.

  In a few days I will write a few woords about the seniors.  And  later a few more thoughts about the team of 2011.  And within a few weeks I hope to have all of the new entries into the record books. 

  Please send me your thoughts, and certainly your corrections and missed records when you find errors.  These records belong to you.  I only try to keep them  accurate.  I serve only as a messenger.

   The game with Wimberley could be our perfect storm.  First of all, there are no expectations about Llano winning, except players, coaches and Jacket fans.  The 24 point underdog tag placed by the Harris Poll, and the unanimous thoughts of the Austin American Statesman that this one will be easy for the Texans sets the perfect stage for an underdog and sometimes underacheiving Jacket team.

   What makes it even more odd, is the Jackets need to play a game soon, or we will be down to our freshman team.  Injuries after last Friday nights game, and some small aggrevation type hurts this week in practice.  Yet, I do know how Jackets step up.  Juniors will play harder, and seniors will know it could be their last moment in a Jacket uniform.  Other teams have the same issues, but the Texans have expectations as 3rd ranked team in 3-AAA, and those expectations have little regard for the Jackets.

   I’ve watched the Wimberley Texans as the season flows by, and they are a team with few flaws.  Their quarterback in a transfer from powerhouse, Aledo.  Brady Lambert throws good, but will and could throw an interception when pressed. He perfers to run.  He rushed for over 150 yards in the last two games as he carried the football 30 times.  In rushing Lambert,  seniors Travis Lawrence and Matthew Ratliff will do well to keep their heads up, and keep the blocking offensive lineman in place directly in front of them.  That way, they can slide either way.  Junior Jordan Johnson the same, but his quickness gives him a little more flexibility.  The key is a pass rush, being ready in the secondary to get an interception, and to expect one. Lambert threw two picks against Boerne. Lambert is 21-44-2 over the past two weeks.  A pass rush and the caving into the inside to stop what amounts to quarterback draws can slow down an offense that produces well over 400 yards per game. The Texans offensive linemen are very large.  Nothing harder to block for a large lineman is a low lying defensive men that keep moving.

   Llano can also win when the offense plays four full quarters.  On average, the Jackets offense runs smooth about 2 1/2 quaters each game.  The Jackets actually played two good quarters against Brownwood, still the #1 team in 3-AAA.  The long 80 yard drive and against Brownwood was great football.  It will take that effort, and that head in the game thinking to beat Wimberley.  Llano can pull this off.  Had the Jackets played four full quarters against Brownwood, we would have made that game close.  Wimberley is not Brownwood.  Know you can do this.

   Llano can win if the cornerbacks could slow the Texans down at the line of scrimmage.  That slowness off the line really messes with timing, and the worry is the speed of the Texan receivers. Still, a second of hesitation on the line could work, throw Lambert’s timing off, and give our strength, the defensive line one more second to sack Lambert.

   Lineman and receivers, be slow to block downfield, especially when the ball carrier is close.  Our big play people( Jameson, Wyatt, Center, Bauer, Chauncy, Brooks, McKay, Tarter, Rabb, and possibly Saverance) all have enough speed to pull of the big gain.  Don’t let an “excitement penalty” void one of these plays.  Play safe and smart.  That too is how you best Wimberley.

   Take the game to Wimberley early and late.  The Texans were behind 21-0 last week against Boerne, before the Texans came back with 42 points.  Know, and expect this.  Expect a close game, all the way to the end.  And, mentally, be ready to win in the final minutes.  The Jackets did this against Salado.  They have come from behind two times this season by two touchdowns, and won.  This could be our perfect storm.  The Yellowjackets in 1973 played Bastrop in bi-district.  The Bears were ranked #2 in the State. The Bears were  picked to win by 4 touchddowns.  We still talk about it today, 37 years later.  Llano won 7-0. It was a perfect storm.

 Where to start?  The Jackets decided to make the price of a football ticket well worth the trip.  Over 700 yards of offense by the Jackets.  I’ve found 7 new names & numbers that will go into the record books.  But that is not the real story here.  The Jackets found themselves  ahead at half-time, 24-21.  This against the highest scoring offense in our district.  Salado’s quarterback has eye popping stats, and he did not let the visitors down with his offense.  Cole Brentham’s 370 yards passing in a losing cause against the Jackets may be a record, but senior Preston Rabb’s 369 yards passing is a Yellowjacket single game record, passing greats Brian Hill, Jason Smith and Brian Edwards.

   But after the kick-off in the third quarter, Salado scored on three plays to take the lead 28-24.  Then to add insult to the guest, backed up on their on two yardline, Brentham hit speedy Fabian Sauceda for 98 yards and a 35-24 led!  Neither team was finished.  The story is that this ignited a fire in the Jackets.  Llano came back, highlighted with TD passes Fro Rabb to senior Justin Saverance for 53  yards, and 50 yards to Sophomore Justin Wyatt to take the lead 38 to 35 on the next two Jacket possessions.

   What was curious to me is that Salado went to their run offense.  In the fourth quarter, after Llano had  fumbled, Salado led 47 to 38!  The Eagles drove the football 13 plays, 10 running plays and scored again.  Now, with most of the quarter gone due to the long drive, Llano was looking at a 47-38 score with only 5:43 left in the game. 9 points down.  Back came Llano, and on the fifth play, Rabb hit Wyatt again for a 34 yard strike. Mr. Automatic, John McKay kicked his 6th extra point of the night, and school record 24th in a row. The score was 47-45, Salado’as ahead, with 4:33 left in the game.  If history tells you much, it would tell you that Salado would run the clock out with another steady drive of running plays, just like their last time consuming drive of 75 yards.  No, Salado went back to their passing game, and Llano held.  Pressure from Travis Lawrence, Zach Berry, Jordan Johnson, and Cody Lang kept Brentham from completing a pass. 

   Llano took the punt and started on the 40 yardline.  22 yards from Rabb to Conner Chauncy, 14 more to Saverance, and 20 more to Wyatt down to the 14 yardline.  The idea was to let McKay do his work with a field goal (he already had hit a 23 yarder in the first quarter), get the game into overtime, and win there.  But lining up for the field goal, Salado jumped offsides two plays in a row, giving the Jackets a first down on the four yardline.  This was too tempting for Llano Coaches,…give the ball to the second fastest player on the field, senior Sterling Jameson to the corner, and just as Sterling was to score, three Eagles hit him, and the ball was on the ground.  Sophomore Matt Center, while still counting his change, picked the ball up and stepped into into the end zone.

   The come from behind  51 to 49 win places Llano in the playoffs against Wimberley, Friday night in Round Rock.  I plan on writing a blog by Thursday with more info on the playoff game.  So, today, I’ll regress to the Jacket’s of today.  We can’t stay too long on this subject.  But, Salado was a very good offensive football team, playing hard with every team in our District.  I told one of the Salado Coaches after the game how good and impressed I was with their talent.  I made sure their quarterback was a senior, and he confirmed that!  He wished Llano good luck in the playoffs, and hoped that Rabb and Saverance were well for Wimberley.  He knew they were both seniors.  The Jacket seniors sparked this surge to the playoffs.  It is so nice when a Vance Bauer, or Chauncy, Ryan Williams, Kevin Vassar ,Cole Barrett, or Rhett Brooks, (104 yards rushing on 12 carries) or Wyatt, or Center, or Clay Tarter, or Wes Haverlah step up, because these talented underclassmen are gravy to a Coach.  But you must have the Lawrences, Johnsons, and Hills play with maturity of a senior.  Where would Llano be this season without Matt Ratliff ( playing both ways much of the time), Kenneth Smith, Sterling, Zach, Justin, or McKay?  All stepped up their game where they were difference makers.  The much maligned secondary still had to have Raven Herron, Michael Rusche (an interception against Salado), and Jordan Cavness (great punter).   Taylor Osbourn was nominated by me at one point in the game when he made an outstanding tackle on the kickoff coverage, for defensive player of the game.  He, like Ian Mayne before him, and sophomore Storey Tatsch, and Clay Tarter do hustle on special teams.

   I’ve spent hours this weekend going back looking for trivia.  Records to make sure no has been slighted.  With Wyatt, Rabb, Saverance, Yellowjacket Offense, McKay, & Cavness all getting mention in new stats.  If they are single game stats, I may place them in the record book this week.  If totals run into career stats (Rabb), I will wait until all games are over.  But, I do need help.  Justin Saverance had a wonderful game.  He had 136 yards rushing on 14 carries, and caught  four passes for 113 yards.  We do not have a cataory for individuals that may have had over 100 yards in receivng and rushing in one game.  I went back to 1977-79 to see if Johnny Baskin had ever accomplished such a feat. Could not find it.  Kevin Fain never did.  Michael White didn’t, nor Will Carpenter.  So many Llano greats.  Saverance may be only one.  Help me out if you remember such a game by a former Jacket.  And from here, I’ll  back here Wednesday or Thursday

   I said that there would be regrets years later when the Llano seniors remembered back on the Liberty Hill game.  The memory these seniors will have of the Burnet game will be memory blockage.  Burnet played pretty good, gave the Jackets two fumbles which should have been enough, but Llano was never in this pre-Halloween game.  Burnet had 14 plays in which they had double diget gains, producing 12 first downs and 315 yards.  Their other 41 plays produced only 117 yards, for a respectable 2.8 yards a try.  Llano’s defense could not play big long enough to give the Jackets the needed field position required to have a chance.  The Jackets 11 possessions averaged beginning play on their own 24 yardline.

   Burnet started their 11 possessions on their 33 yardline.  The real advantage for Burnet was their speed on offense, and our lack of aggression on defense.  Many times the Jacket secondary had the Burnet receivers well covered, only to wait until the catch was made before making a play.   The Jacket linebackers played good enough, and the defensive line was not as visible, mainly due to, I suspect, playing better competition.  Burnet threw the football 20 times and did not allow a sack of their quarterback.

   The Jackets offense was also inconsistant.   The running game produced over 200 yards, with senior Justin Saverance going over 100 yards, and averaging over 7 yards per carry.  The 154 yards passing was on 11 of 27 tries, and hurried throws, over throws, and drops,  Llano just missed out on good chances.  The Jackets did drive 80 yards and 78 yards on two of their scoring drives.  Now look at this.  Those two drives consisted of 20 plays. Llano had no penalties.  Llano ran the ball 14 times for 109 yards for a 7.8 yards a carry.  And completed 4 of 6 passes for 49 yards. Two competions to Vance Bauer, one to Matthew Center, and one to Justin Wyatt.  Winning, consistant football.  The Jackets must bring it all together this week.  Striving to be perfect has to be the goal each week.  Only with that goal foremost in ones mind will the Jackets be able to consistantly have 80 yard drives.

  One consistancy Llano has is extra point kicker, senior John McKay.  18 in a row breaks the school record held by Robert Clark 0f 17 in 1999.  I’m expecting John to get about 10 more chances over the next two weeks, and after we beat Wimberley in the first play-off game, we’ll regroup and predict how many John will have at that point.

   Game balls this week go to Jordan Cavness, Travis Lawrence, and Raven Herron.  Davis Hill contines to play hard at linebacker, and Jordan Johnson still has his motor running strong.  I want Sterling Jameson to run the kick-off out of the end zone.  His speed can get him just on glimmer of daylight, and that is all he needs.  I want Preston to throw only on two drop step backs, and throw.  That is when he is most accurate.  I want Conner Chauncy to never try to get to the sideklines again.  The opening and his quickness put the opportunity at the turning up field place just past the tackle spot.  Turn it up sooner.  I want Clay Tarter to keep getting better.  He improves every week.  I want to see McKay catch more footballs, like about 6 as he did against Comanche.  I want Cavness to punt only once or twice this week, but keep that average over 35 yards.  I want Matthew Ratliff to bury defensive lineman this week.  Take scaples, no survisors.  I want a secondary lead by sophomore Rhett Brooks to get more turnovers.  Herron, Wyatt, Jameson, Rusche, and Tarter need to take a chance…get an interception.  Playing too safe, has not worked.  And I want Llano and its seniors to remember Salado.

   Beating Salado puts the Jackets into the playoffs for the fifth time in 6 seasons with head Coach David Yeager as head man.  Llano can end the regular season at 6-4.  I think it should have been 8-2, but that is just me.  Beating Salado is the kick0ff for the next season.  These seniors have worked hard, and to the  most part, have played strong.  Mistakes, and not taking advantage of mistakes has been the big issue.  Llano, should it ever play 4 full quarters, will surprise even itself.  I want the Jackets to be surprised Friday night in Salado.