Play to Win

Jackets Dump the Burnet Bulldogs

For the Llano Yellowjackets to beat the Burnet Bulldogs Friday night was such a relief to many that this game became like a special moment. Head football Coach Matt Green said it best in his interview with sports legend Art Dlugach after the game. “This game was like the San Saba game in 2020.” A defining moment. Winning against an equal team. Winning when maybe you did not play your best game. And finding it at the end to see a path to victory. The 29-21 win by the Jackets was special.

Llano extended its win streak at Jacket Stadium to 12 games.

LLano improves to 2-0.

The Jacket offense, for the second week in a row had over 560 yards of offense (568).

The Llano Yellowjackets began the game with a very smart 6 play, 75 yard drive that saw 4 first downs. Senior Carson Kuykendall carrying the ball 3 times for 22 yards, senior Miguel Hernandez for 14 more, and a reverse run by Jackson Dillard for 11 more. Then junior quarterback Briggs Green found senior Ross Prokop for the 26 yard TD reception. Senior Bryce Mize completed the perfect series with his 7th straight extra point and a Llano 7-0 lead.

We knew this wasn’t going to be easy when on the second play from scrimmage, the Bulldogs struck for a 53 yard TD strike, tying the score.

An exchange of punts and Llano again combined with Green and Ross. A 52 yard TD reception and Llano lead 13-7. The Jacket defense again stopped Burnet. Strong play came from senior linebacker Ricky De La Torre. Senior defensive end Jaxon Rhea and lineman Bryce Mize were so strong in the line. Senior Isaiah Bush was all over the field, and senior linebacker Hayden Manahan was in on 3 tackles in a row. Junior Fitz Kennedy and Ulisses Martinez made several outstanding plays.

Llano, on the third play of the second quarter, scored from 22 yards out when Miguel Hernandez darted into the end zone. Good blocks by Coy Kelso, and Parker Parrish cleared the way. The 20-7 score felt safe of a moment. But on the Bulldogs next series, 7 plays later and in the end zone and 2 points on the end put the score at 20-15. This was concerning. Llano had now committed 40 yards in penalties.

Llano put the offense back on the field. Briggs, Carson, Miguel, Jackson and junior Alex Kachura all contributed to the 11 play drive, down to the 7 yard line, where Bryce came in and kicked the 24 yard field goal and Llano was ahead 23-15. On the next series, senior Brock Fly, Ricky, junior Braeden Hatfield and junior Charlie White combined to stop Burnet again. Burnet punted. Llano, starting from their 15 yard line drove 73 yards, but were unable to extend the lead when Bryce missed his first FG of the season.

When Llano kicked off to Burnet in the third quarter, few would have expected Burnet to put together an 11 paly drive that resulted in a 30 play pass to connect for the TD and the score was now 23-21! Burnet had gone to their passing game, and it worked.

After the Jackets were unable to move the ball, Dillard punted for a 50 yard kick. On the second play, senior Caden Bauman intercepted for Llano and Llano had the ball on the 40 yard line. Miguel ran three times for 28 yards, Carson three times for 13 more, and Briggs for 10 more. Carson’s one yard TD run put the Jackets up 29-21. That was the end of the scoring, but not the end of the game.

Llano put together an 11 play drive, but with fourth and long, Briggs threw his first interception of the season. Starting from their 25 yard line, Burnet was on the March. It started to rain.

Burnet ran the football with large gains of 16 and 29 yard runs by senior running back Jose Rodriguez. The Jacket defense had been ready to play the pass as with their previous success. Rushers from Llano, senior Kyle Gilliland, Jaxon , senior Parker Parrish and Bryce were pushing up field, and the swift Rodriguez zipped right by. Yet, when Burnet drove down to the 9 yard line, they threw the football four straight times. The Jacket defenders, of Bauman, Hatfield, Bush, Hayden, Ricky, and senior Ulisses Martinez ( 2 interceptions in two games) and junior linebacker Fitz Kennedy played like they were coached. Thank goodness Burnet forgot about Rodriguez. The Jackets held, and won the game.

The Jacket’s big 5, the offensive lineman of seniors Jaxon Lange, Ross Edwards, Hudson Godfrey, and Daniel Sandoval, and junior Dylan Kennedy are playing as good as a unit can play, and they will get better, and more polished. These 5 lineman do stir the drink. Yoemans effort.

The Jackets play in House Park Friday night against a 5 A school that has over 1,600 folks in high school. Austin Crockett was picked to lose by 21 points last week to Bastrop Cedar Creek. Crockett won by 16. The Cougars have 19 starters back from last season. This will be the Jackets biggest test. Crockett will play their best game against Llano. Llano beating the 5 A school last year 37-7 was humiliating to the Cougars. The Cougars will not be surprised this year. The Jackets will have to play their best game. Running, passing, blocking, tackeling. Oh, and those penalties. 200 yards against Burnet maybe a school record, although thank goodness, that is one stat I do not keep. 200 yards in penalties against the Cougars, and Llano might lose by 30 points. But Jackets prevail in their first game ever in the storied, House Park. Llano by 6.

Jackets Win Season Opener 48-26

The Llano Yellowjackets took a bus trip to Jarrell, Texas and brought home a needed opening game win with a very good 48-26 score. The Jackets scored first, they scored last and ran up an impressive 572 yards of offense, third most in the LHS record book.

The Jackets scored on the second play of the game when senior Carson Kuykendall went straight up the middle for 48 yards and the first score of the game, and the first of five rushing TDs’ for Carson. The 30 points by Carson ties for second place in the school record book for most points in a game.

Miguel Hernandez had 149 yards rushing on 17 carries and an 8.7 yards per carry in the game. Senior quarterback Briggs Green carried for 59 yards on 12 carries. With Carson’s 225 yards, the three Jackets had 433 yards rushing, #3 all-time best for three backs in one game. Senior Remington Hipp added 33 more yards on his 8 carries. It was a great opening game for the Jacket running backs.

But…the accolades might want to remember the offensive line. This group of four seniors and one junior took it to the Cougar defensive line. Seniors Ross Edwards, Hudson Godfrey, Daniel Sandoval, and center Jaxon Lange played great in their first game of their senior year. Junior Dylan Kennedy takes a back seat to no one. Keep these five healthy, and Carson, Miguel, Briggs, and Remington will have a fun season. Other lineman will be stepping forward, and learning. The offensive line has made a statement. They will be a load for anyone coming forward.

Briggs was 7 for 12 passing and 127 yards. Senior Ross Prokop lead receivers with 3 catches and 67 yards, his longest reception being 36 yards. Jackson Dillard had a catch for 25 yards, and junior Parker Parish had a catch for 28 yards. Miguel had a catch for 7 yards. Again…good pass blocking by the offensive line, along with good blocking by the backs, Parker, and senior Coy Kelso.

Last season I spoke with then junior Bryce Mize. He looked thin and malnourished. Friday night, was a different Bryce. First of all, he kicked 6 straight extra points, which ties for third best single game on extra points. Then he kicked two field goals! 12 points for the game. Bryce plays in the defensive line…not sure what they call that position today, but he is down in the trenches. Long, but very good night for Bryce.

In one sense, the defense had a long night. No one expected the Jackets to give up 26 points. But no one knew about # 5 for the Cougars. Jacques Spradley, a junior, maybe the fastest player I have seen in a very long time line up against Llano. In the Cougars second possession, senior quarterback Andrew Knebel hit Spradley for a quick 65 yard strike and their first score. In the second quarter, Knebel found Spradley again for a 79 yard score! And in the fourth quarter…yep again…Knebel to Spradley for 69 more yards. Take out those three plays, and my records show only 90 other yards by the Cougars.

The Jackets had 7 sacs. Senior Ricky Dela Torre had three, as did junior Fitz Kennedy. Senior Hayden Manahan had one, along with 4 solo tackles. Isaiah Bush had a very strong night being in on 6 tackles. Jaxon Rhea put tremendous pressure on the quarterback all night long, and had many near sacs on Knebel. Cole Franklin had two solo tackles. Junior Braeden Hatfield from his safety position had 3 solo tackles. Juniors Dusty Miller and Charlie White played hard and were in good position all night long. Seniors Brock Fly, Caden Bauman and Ulisses Martinez had good nights. Ulisses had the lone Jacket interception and his first as a varsity player.

Let us say out of 39 plays run by the Cougars, four were not good. This defense is going to be very good. And it will need to be, to beat a Burnet team that comes to Llano with a 13 game winning streak against the Jackets, and not one of these players on either side were born when Llano last beat Burnet. 1999.

In 1997 the Bradley Kassell team went 11-1 losing to Cuero in the area game 14-13. Kassell, at quarterback and defensive back, Billy Bickett in the secondary, and Daniel Benedict in the offensive line all were second team all state players. That season Llano shut-out Burnet 24-0.

In 1998, Llano beat Burnet 29-19. They also beat Liberty Hill 50-0, and Jason Freeman had 170 yards rushing on 30 carries. Zach Vassar was quarterback, and Cummings Smith, Aaron Rode and Justin Methvin carried that team to a 6-6 record. Llano lost to Industrial 19-16 in overtime in the playoffs.

The Jackets 1999 team lost to Burnet to start a long up hill battle. The 1999 team lost by a score of 13-17. Llano beat Wimberley and Liberty Hill that season, but lost to eventual State Champion Sealy. The Jacket finished 8-4 in 1999.

There have been some good games, but never the Jackets winning. And scores like 70-20, 35-0, 49-0, and 64-32 have made the rivalry tough to stomach. One positive note. Under Coach Karl McCormack in 2001, the Coach moved three sophomores (Michael White, Jerrod Virdell & Jose Aviles) up to the varsity to play in the secondary to try and stop the fantastic duo of Jordan Shipley and quarterback Steven McGee. Shipley caught one pass that night, but Llano lost 27-0. (Coach McCormack was fired after that season) In 2006, Llano lost to Burnet, but beat Kerrville Tivy.

It has been interesting. Llano has played Burnet more times than any other team in history. We maintain a 3 game edge over-all in wins. (39-36-2) The Jackets carry an 11 game winning streak on their home field in Jacket Stadium…This Friday, we extend the streak to 12, with a three point win that resets the clock against the Bulldogs.

Recording the History of the Llano Yellowjackets for 50 years

Few Yellowjackets football seasons have been approached with so much anticipation as this 2022 season. Over the past two seasons there have been distractions. Cancelled games in both seasons of 2020, and 2021. Worry over CIVID…injuries…but no excuses…the Jackets have won 21 games over the past two years. The most ever. The Jackets in 1994-95 seasons won 19, and again the 1996-97 teams won 19. That 4 year span saw the Jackets win 38 games. The Yellowjackets have won 35 games over the past 4 years under Head Coach Matt Green.

Coach Green has won 40 games in his five years as head Coach. Only David Yeager in 7 seasons from 2005 to 2011 has won more, 43. Only Ken Gray in three seasons, 1973-75 has a higher winning percentage than Green….691% to Greens’ .667%.

The Yellowjackets have won District Championships the last two seasons. Llano has never won three outright District Championships in a row, although they were able to go three years with co-championships! This senior class has goals, and do not think that the District Championship in 2022 is not at the top of the list.

By my last count, the Jackets have 27 seniors. The most ever. Former Llano Yellowjacket Kevin Kelso told me that his senior class had 23. A typical season is 16-18 seniors. Way back in 1967, the Jackets had 18 seniors, and that team went 8-2, losing only to Del Valle (10-0) and Brady(10-0). Can’t find anywhere when the number was over 16 that Llano did not have a winning record.

The Yellowjackets have an 11 game home winning streak. The Jackets play in Jacket Stadium against Burnet September 2. Llano has not beaten Burnet in 21 years.

And so the Week 0 is here. And Llano plays Jarrell, a team the Jackets have never played before. Jarrell is in District 13-4A D11, along with Lago Vista, Wimberley and Geronimo Navarro. The Cougars will be getting ready for a tough district fight and hope to feast on the Jackets. Llano knows how if feels to lose the opening game of the season, and it takes time to recover from an opening lose. Last season the opening lost to Gatesville took the air from Llano and it took time to gets its bearing before Llano recovered to go on and win District.

The 4A Cougars will have expectations, and that beating Llano Friday night should be a good start for their season. We play at 7:30PM in Jarrell. The Jackets also have expectations. That being to win against a larger foe, on the road, in the season opener. That makes for a short ride home.

Yellowjackets by 21.

Team/Foe Date Location Historic Record 2021 Record

Jarrell Aug. 26 Away Never Played

Burnet Sept. 2 Llano 39-36-2

Austin Crockett Sept. 9 Away 1-0

Coleman Sept. 16 Llano 3-4 11-2

S.A. Cole (D) Sept. 23 Away Never Played

Lulling (D) Sept. 30 Llano 5-0

S.A. Randolph (D) Oct. 7 Away Never Played

Marion (D) Oct. 14 Llano 2-0

Blanco (D) Oct. 21 Away 5-2

Oct. 28 BYE WEEK

Ingram Moore (D) Nov. 4 LLano 13-3

(D) Denotes District 13-3A Div. 1 Game

Lago Vista wins again, and beat a very good Edna team. Edna was ranked in top ten most of the season. Lago plays Industrial out of the same District this Friday night. Both teams came in 2nd place in their respective Districts. Llano beat Lago 13-10 in District play. Would love to see the Vikings win another game. They have been one tough game every time Llano has played them. Yet the Jackets have won the last 3.

Fredericksburg too goes to round 3. I bet it has been 30 years since the Billies have been this far. Congratulations Big Red. Play Saturday in the Alamo Dome against LBJ, ranked number one in 3-A.

All District teams will be announced in week following the last team that gets beat from District play. Jackets should do very well. Will publish results as soon as we can, here.

Worry is how realignment will come down this February. Llano should stay in 3-A. We hear Lago may go up to 4-A. Yeks….could end up in Jackets old District with Navarro, and Wimberley. If the District were to lose Lago, Jackets might be pushed further South into area of San Antonio and a completely new District. Hondo, SA Cole, Randolph, Ingram all could be in the mix.

When the All District team is announced, I will comment more on the 2021 seniors. 21 wins in two seasons by these guys. Very special.

The Llano Yellowjackets fell to San Diego in the Area game last Friday night at Matador Stadium in Seguin. The final score of 35-27 reflects a close game, but with the Jackets taking the lead only once, when the Jackets went ahead 21-20 with 7:38 in the fourth quarter after a Jackson Dillard interception and an unbelievable return to the end zone where nearly every San Diego player had an opportunity to stop Jackson, but to no avail.

I have been keeping statistics for 49 years. I have never seen stats like this game.

Let’s walk thru a few numbers:

Llano kicked off to San Diego where the Vaqueros marched 61 yards in 13 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. San Diego kicked to Llano’s Sam Sueltenfuss who headed up field and then to the sidelines, where he was crushed to the ground with a dislocated elbow, and lost the football. The Vaqueros traveled the short 17 yards to the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Score 14-0. Llano had yet run an offensive play.

At this point, San Diego had run 21 plays. San Diego had 14 points. The Jackets had allowed 76 total yards, for an average of 3.6 yards per play.

The second quarter was just as strange. Llano took the kick-off, and with the running of junior Carson Kuykendall, marched down the field in 10 plays to score. Junior Miguel Hernandez went out for the game after a targeting call and Miguels 8 yard run. Jackson hauled in a 5 yard reception from senior quarterback Maddox Green, and Carson scored from 3 yards out. Score 14-7 San Diego with 8:32 left in the half.

The Jacket defense held on three plays and forced a punt. Llano’s ball on the 48 yardline. 10 yards on a run by Maddox. 11 more Yards on three runs by Carson. Ross Prokop makes a catch for 14 yards and a first down to the 28 yardline. And the offense stalls out, so in comes junior Bryce Mize and trys a 27 yard field goal but is off just a mite.

Llano ran 21 plays and had 97 total yards. San Diego ran 28 plays and had 89 yards, for 3.18 yards per play. Really very good defense, and the Jackets average of 4.6 yards per play is all winning football.

Had you asked defensive coordinator Matt Anastasio before the game if holding San Diego to 89 yards of offense in the first half was OK? Bet he would have jumped on it.

The slow the game down formula for the Vaqueros worked very well. In the third quarter Llano made a first down after the kick-off and Carson got 22 yards on three runs. But a loss play and an incomplete pass forced the Jackets to punt. San Diego put together another slow series of plays. And 14 plays later scored and took a 20-7 lead. The Vaqueros converted on 4 third down plays. Still outstanding play from the Jacket defense. Senor Zach Watson did yoemans work in the middle of the line. Senior Matthew Whitley made several stops. Seniors Aiden Guido and Jenin Bastyens were in on key stops. Llano ran 8 plays in the third quarter. The defense held the Vaqueros to 61 yards in the third quarter.

Carson ran the ball 6 times for 40 yards beginning in the fourth quarter. Ross had a 12 yard catch from Maddox. Bryce kicked good and Llano closed the gap to 20-14 after Carson’s TD. Then on the next series, Dillard comes up with the play of the game and again Bryce kicks good. Llano leads 21-20.

So…the worst thing that can happen….San Diego runs the kick-off back for a TD and takes the lead back 28-21. An exchange of punts puts the game in the final minutes. And San Diego breaks a long 53 yard TD run and takes a 35-21 lead with 1:29 left in the game. Jackets never stopped trying. Maddox completes a 40 yard pass to junior Caden Bauman and the next play hits Briggs Green for the final score of 35-27. Junior great Jaxon Rhea was helped off the field in the first part of the fourth quarter. Maddox and Carson were moving slow. Tough physical game, and played hard by all. And a hard one to get over.

For the record, Carson had over 300 yards rushing in two play-off games. Maddox 4 TD passes. Sam had 149 yards and two TDs in the Marion game. A tribute to excellent line play.

8-3 is a very good season. By a team that kept the home field winning streak in tact to three seasons and 14 in a row.

The seniors won 21 games in two seasons. Most in school history. Other great senior classes were the 1994 and 1995 classes and they won 19. As did the 1996 and 1997 teams with 19 wins. Two District Championships. Traveling in pretty elite company here. Our small but special senior class have set the bar high. The seniors and this year’s team were fun to watch. Looked so forward to every Friday night. And as time goes forward, the seniors will too, see how special they were.

Of great note: Head Coach Matt Green won his 40th game as head coach over 5 years. He is just behind Coach David Yeager who has 43 wins in 7 seasons, earlier in the decade. When you have time, go to the school record book…type in Play To Win by Mikel Virdell…two catagories….School Records and Season records….fun to look back.

Will slowly start working on the record book. Alot will be added, plus still working on going back…way back and picking up numbers and players from the past that had wonderful accomplishments. Let me know when I miss something. And thanks for all the memories.

The 2021 Llano Yellowjackets beat Marion in Bi District for the second time in as many years in a hard fought 53-26 victory played in Pflugerville Friday night.

The Jacket defense again shut out their opponent in the first quarter of the game, and having only allowed 3 points all season in the first quarter. But the score was a bit deceiving. Marion played hard to the end, and in the fourth quarter narrowed the score to 31-26. But with 10 minutes left in the game, Llano scored 22 points from that point which included an on side successful kick, recovered by junior Isaiah Bush. Carson Kuykendall scored from 10 yards out with Bryce Mize kicking the extra point. Senior quarterback Maddox Green scored from 4 yards out, and then threw for the two point conversion to Carson. Sophomore Alex Kachura scored the final TD with a 16 yard TD catch from sophomore Briggs Green playing at quarterback. The 53 points scored by Llano is a school record for most points scored in a Play-Off game.

Llano looked like we were on cruise control by the end of the first half, and leading 25-13. But Marion had other ideas.. scoring 13 points early in the fourth quarter.

The Jackets changed the attack somewhat in the fourth quarter. While senior quarterback Green had 184 yards passing in the first three quarters, Llano shifted more to running the football in the final stanza. Carson had his best game rushing as he finished with 23 carries and 184 yards and 3 TDs. Junior Miguel Hernandez finished with 16 carries and 86 hard fought yards. Maddox also had 48 yards rushing along with three Td passes.

Junior Sam Sueltenfuss lead all receivers with 5 catches and 149 yards and 2 TDs. catches. Jackson Dillard had 2 catches and 18 yards. Sophomore Parker Parrish had one catch for an 11 yard TD catch. Ross Prokop had a catch and Brock Fly carried the ball once. Llano finished with over 500 yards in offense.

The defense played steady and with little drama. I know these defenders did not want to give up 26 points, but I really think coming off the “off week” that we started slow. And do give credit to Marion. They played to the end and played hard. Llano still had 6 sacks…Junior Kyle Gilliland, and senior Kaden Raborn had their first sacks of the season. Very strong games from Isaiah and sophomore Fitz Kennedy. Senior Jenin Basteyns had one of his best games. Jaxon Rhea was stud, helping to block, getting a sack, and causing havik. Junior Hayden Manahan lead the defense and the number of tackles. Aiden Henderickson and Ricky de la Torre so tough on the outside. Senior Matthew Whitley had a good game playing at times both ways. So too Zach Watson. And again, two interceptions helped turn the game. Both Caden Bauman and Briggs Green stopped drives with their interceptions. Fitz Kennedy, and Sam may have both had their best games.

Llano plays San Diego this Friday night in “Area” game. San Diego is 9-1, and came in second in their district. They won their district last season, so this winning thing is not new to the Vaqueros. Expect a strong run game with good and big offensive lineman. We all meet Friday night in Seguin at Matador Stadium. I guess we have all learned that any team at this level can win. The Jackets will have to show up early and play late to win this Area game. Experience will help, but it will not always make the difference. Penalties need to be at a minimum. The Jackets have done so well taking care of the football. Only 7 losses in 10 games. The defense can keep us in any game. Our offense is scoring at a 34 point pace. Llano wins # 9 in a tough one. 9-2 looks nice headed to Thanksgiving.

The Llano Yellowjackets travel to Pflugerville Friday night to take on Marion in the Bi District contest. Llano played Marion last year in the same contest and the Jackets won that game, played in Kerrville.

Marion carries a 7-3 record into the game. Llano, District Champions in 13-3AAA, are 7-2, and went undefeated in district play. Llano’s offense scored 125 points and the defense surrendered only 12 points in 4 District games.

The Jacket offense is lead by senior quarterback Maddox Green. Green has over 1,500 yards passing this season, and has thrown 17 TD passes, with only 3 interceptions. Maddox has caught a TD pass, and run for 183 yards.

Juniors dominate the next group of statistics. Junior Carson Kuykendall has 668 yards rushing, and 124 yards receiving. Junior Miguel Hernandez has 575 yards rushing and 79 receiving yards. Junior Brock Fly has 127 yards rushing.

Yellowjacket receivers are many: Junior Sam Sueltenfuss has 29 receptions and 494 yards, with 8 TD catches. Junior Ross Prokop has 31 receptions and 380 yards. Coy Kelso has 12 receptions and 176 yards, but most amazing is his 5 clutch TD catches. Junior Jackson Dillard has 9 catches and 179 yards and a TD. Miguel with 16 catches, Jenin Bastyens with a catch, Brock with one, Parker Parrish 3 catches, Ulisses Marinez has two catches and 36 yards rushing. And much injured Jordan Coronado is back in the saddle and can catch and run. Llano had 12 players catch a pass so far this season, and 12 to carry the football. Jackson Dillard also has thrown a TD pass to Maddox. Lots of weapons.

The offensive line has become special. Senior Zach Watson leads a small group, and all have played exceptional…Seniors Matthew Whitley maybe the best. Juniors Ross Edwards, Daniel Sandoval, Jaxon Lange, and Hudson Godfrey are playing like seniors.. And sophomores Dylan Kennedy, Donavan Simmons and Tanner Howell are tremendous. These players have helped Llano average 32 points per game.

The defense has been outstanding. As a fan, I’m just as comfortable when the other team has the ball as when the Jackets have the ball. Our big four control the games. Junior Jaxon Rhea and senior Zack Watson have been monsters, and many times both are playing on both sides of the ball. Linebackers Hayden Manahan and Ricky de la Torre better than last year. But after that, so many players have stepped up to make great plays and make for a great defense. Few better than Issaiah Bush and Aiden Hendrickson. Have played so hard. And River Smith has been doing it all. River really cloggs up the middle with Rhea and Watson. Makes life easy for the linebackers. Love seeing senior Kaden Raborn getting plays and making plays. Sophomore Donavan Simmons-Rodriguez and Tanner Howells are getting better every game. And juniors Cole Franklin and Daniel Sandoval are playing at a high level. Senior Matthew Whitley is playing on defense some, and he is good. Sophomores Parker Parrish and Jordan Coranado are sure future starters.

The secondary has 12 interceptions, lead by junior Caden Bauman with 4. Sophomore Fitz Kennedy has two with two sacks. Very good young player. Senior Aiden Guido is having a strong senior year. Isaiah has two interceptions, as does Jackson. Coy, Hayden and Sam are very good in the secondary. Briggs Green also has an interception. Great young sophomore.

The Jackets cannot sleep on Marion. They have beat seven pretty good teams this season. And after last years game, you can be sure this too is a revenge game for the Bulldogs. They return 15 starters from that team. So there will be plenty of players that remember. Llano’s offense can score anytime. Our defense can stop anyone. Our confidence should be at the top of the charts, but not over confident. Few mistakes, and Llano brings home # 8.

The Jackets sweeping the 13-3A District for the second year in a row secures a place in history for these 2021 senior Jackets. Only the 1975 and 1976 teams won outright District Crowns, making only the second time this has happened. The 2021 team outscored their District foes by a score of 125 to 12.

The Jackets beat Lulling Friday night 43-2 and extended their home field winning streak to 11, going back to the last game in 2019. The Jackets “open” date is this week, and will play the fourth place team in District 14, Class 3-A. Several teams in that District could make the play-offs, with Marion or San Antonio Cole most likely. That game will likely be played on Friday, November 12th.

The 7-2 Jackets are averaging about 34 points per game. The defense has allowed 111 points this season, for an average of 12.3 points per game. Excellent numbers on both sides of the ball.

Llano was able to jump out early against Lulling. Leading 27-0 after the first quarter, and tacking on 16 more in the second quarter, it was a game easy to watch. Lulling blocked Llano’s extra point after the Jackets 5th TD, and ran it all the way back for the 2 points. But flags went everywhere. The officiating crew decided that each team had an infraction. But instead of waving the play to be a do over, they granted the two points to Lulling. That might be the right call, but not sure. Head Coach Matt Green spoke several minutes with the referees. By his body language, I’m pretty sure he thought the same. But Coach Green was in a bad spot. You’re leading 34-0 in the middle of the second quarter. Do you really want to make a big, big deal out of the two points? Our gentleman of a head coach walked away. Score 34-2.

The Jackets ready themselves for a play-off run. And while this is a veteran group. there are only 3 senior starters. 9 total seniors, and includes ones that could not even suite up due to injury. I count 9 starters from last years 13-1 team. This team knows what to expect in the play-offs. They understand how short the game can be, and understand that losers go home. A veteran team, with veteran coaches can and should have high expectations. This team is fun to watch. There is much fun ahead.

Many players had great games against Lulling, and better said, had great plays. But just as important, everyone played. Everyone contributed. And those plays can make a big difference in the play-offs. Next week we’ll talk about the meaning of the Bi-District game…give a little history, and mention a few players that have been difference makers in on this Championship year.

The Llano Yellowjackets defeated the Blanco Panthers Friday night 35-0 in a game that secured the District Crown for the Jackets for the second year in a row. Llano plays Lulling at Jacket Stadium this Friday, and a victory there gives the Crown to Llano out right.

This will be only the second time in school history that Llano has won two district championships in a row. In 1975 and 1976 Llano won back to back Championships. The 1975 team, Coached by legendary Coach Ken Gray won the Championship for the second time in three years. The Jackets lost in Bi-District and finished with an 8-3 record. Those seniors had a 14-1 District record over three years.

The 1976 team was Coached by John Baskin. Baskin had been head coach at San Saba for many years. He left San Saba to become offensive coordinator in Llano with his old college teammate Ken Gray, where both played at Howard Payne. Llano played Rockdale in Bi-District, and lost 10-9 on a field goal with :37 seconds left in the game. The Jackets finished the season with a 7-4 record.

Rockdale went on to win the State Championship in 1976. At the end of the season, the Head Coach at Rockdale was interviewed by the Austin American Statesman newspaper. Asked which team in the playoffs was Rockdales’ toughest opponent? The Coach did not hesitate. “Llano. Llano was the toughest, we played.”

Of further interest to some, Llano’s quarterback was Shelby Wright. Shelby was All-District at safety his junior year. His senior year he was All District at quarterback. Shelby went on the play football at Tarleton State,. His sophomore year he lead Tarleton to the championship in the TAII Division, and Shelby was named National Player of the Year. Shelby was inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame in 2019 posthumously.

In 1970, and 1971 the Jackets each Won the District, but the 1970 team, which finished 9-0-1 tied with Brady, and Brady got the nod to go to the play offs, as the Bulldogs won the 21-21 game on penetrations. The 1970 team is still regarded as one of the best in school history. 7 players from that team had the opportunity to go on and play college football. It was not until the mid 1970s that two schools in a District went to the play offs.

Back to reality! Blanco was ranked ahead of Llano before our game Friday night. Plus, Blanco picked the Jackets for their Homecoming. What had we gotten our selves into? What ever it was, the Jackets knew the formula for getting the job done. The Jackets 35-0 win was complete.

The defense faced the Panthers on 10 series of plays. The Jackets defense twice held on fourth down. Five times the Panthers were forced to punt. Llano got two fumbles, and one interception. Blanco was held to about 140 yards of offense. Jacket linebackers lead by junior Aiden Hendrickson, and Fitz Kennedy were deadly. Ricky de la Torre and Hayden Manahan unblockable. The reason those linebackers are so good is Jaxon Rhea, Zack Watson, Matthew Whitley, Daniel Sandoval, River Smith, Cole Franklin and Kaden Raborn stuffed the running game trying to make yardage thru the line. It became a rough night for the Panthers. Parker Parish had a great night. As did Brock Fly and Hudson Godfrey….all playing their roles….and this bunch can claim a special number…so far only 10 points allowed in District play…109 for the season! Talk about winning numbers. This defense will keep Llano in any game going forward.

Not to forget the secondary. Caden Bauman continues to lead team in interceptions and another one Friday night. Sophomore Briggs Green is such a sure tackler. With Sam Sueltenfuss and Jenin Bastyens, Isaiah Bush, Aiden Guido, and Ryan Turner this is a tough group to have a passing game against. Super play by all.

The offense had a great, complete game, and I think senior quarterback Maddox Green had his best game as a Jacket. 16 of 21 passing for 168 Yards. 2 Td passes. 32 yards rushing, plus caught a 9 yard pass for a touchdown. The rushing game was spot on. Carson Kuykendall had 11 rushes and made 5 first downs. Miguel Hernandez carried 15 times and produced 4 first downs.

c Green completed 16 passes to 5 receivers. Jackson Dillard the longest with a 41 yard catch. Ross Prokop with the most, with 5 catches. Coy Kelso with 4 catches, 37 yards and another great catch deep in the end zone for a TD catch…Carson 3 catches and 23 yards. And leading Jacket receiver for the season, Sam Sueltenfuss 3 for 45 yards and a TD catch. This is a strong receiving group, and they each make the other better.

Extra applauds to Ricky, Isaiah, Guido, Briggs, Brock, Dillard, Parker and River Smith…all special effort on special teams. Love Miguel’s punting. Not bad…not bad at all!!

Our offensive line is just pretty darn good. Center Jaxon Lange is outstanding. Senior Zack Watson a beast. Senior Matthew Whitley so tough and solid. Juniors Ross Edwards and Daniel making few mistakes…Others like Donavan Simmons and Dylan Kennedy playing like veterans. And Jaxon Rhea coming in to block is a mismatch for most. Tanner Howell is already good and getting better. These guys protect Maddox and make the run game go. And Ulisses Martinez has shown to be a good blocker downfield…good effort.

Lulling will play their hearts out to beat Llano. Their record shows it has been a long season, but Lulling played Blanco hard and close two weeks ago. Can expect the same at Jacket Stadium Friday night. But Llano must keep improving, and not look ahead. Playing hard is important also, as the Jackets’ “bye” week is following week. The Jackets do not need to take two weeks off. Work hard, practice hard, get to 7-2 record, and win that District Crown with back to backs…for the first time in 45 years. That is special.