September 2, 2007
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By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
If Llano were a nation in itself, beating Marble Falls would be pretty big deal. Not the biggest deal. But you throw in a little self pride, and you know what a “great trading partner” Marble Falls is to Llano, then it is pretty big stuff. It would be like Canada whipping up on the U.S., and then selling then all their medical needs for a few weeks. Marble Falls has a high school enrollment of 1,127, while Llano sits 523 students. Should not be a fair contest.
The Jackets and Coach David Yeager now have beat the Mustangs two years in a row, and a win is a win. The 26-14 final score that included an hour of rain and lightening delay was everything hoped for, and appeared to come away without an injury to anyone in the 4AAA against 3AAA matchup that jump started the season that began for the second year in row in August.
The Jackets kicked off the to Mustangs, and for 10 plays the host were on their heils. Two pass plays of 14 and 43 yards kept the Mustangs drive alive, but when the drive got to the Yellowjacket 4 yard line, Llano proved too tough. Llano’s defense lead by Michael Anderson and Sam Whitaker on the front line, and Nathan Dudley, Tye Siegenthaler, and Lance Dickey playing pass defense, Llano held.
Llano wasted little time in showing why 2006 was no fluke in breaking the LHS school record in rushing as a team in one season. The Jackets fed the ball to seniors Ty Thurman and Dickey for 14 straight running plays, before a fumble ended the drive at the 18 yard line of Marble Falls.
Thurman’s runs of 12 and 13 yards were
the longest, and one making the first down on fourth down with great line blocking
from 290 pound junior Andrew Ratliff, seniors Seth Hensley, Anderson and Royce Haines.
It is hard to think that Llano could again surpass the over 3700 yards rushing of
last season, but it will depend on these senior lineman if that happens. Every yard
will count. Every block will be needed to keep up such a pace.
On the next play, Marble Falls fumbled, and #14, senior Austin Freeman from his
linebacker position picked up the ball and before anyone knew what had happened,
was in the
end zone and Llano took the lead that it never gave up. Dickey’s extra point
was good and the score was 7-0 in the early part of the second quarter.
Llano played defense on the next possession, and a sack by senior Kyle Frizell set up the first punt by the Mustangs. Llano’s Dickey had a 15 yard run on the first play, and then quarterback junior Trey Brooks dropped a pass off to Thurman for a 14 yard gain. From the 17 yard line, Llano’s Dickey tried a field goal that was a bit wide right.
Llano’s defense again played very good. Senior safety Cody Fietz made a very good tackle coming up in run support, and Haines got another quarterback sack for Llano.
Llano last possession of the half became a 12 play 63 yard drive, with three passes by Brooks. Senior Wes Regmund took a drop off from Trey for 7 yards. Feitz, Dickey, and Thurman carried the load, making 4 first downs. Then on the last play of the half, Trey hit junior Walker Woolman for his first varsity touchdown. Llano went into the dressing room ahead 13-0.
Llano’s Jordan Ashabranner knocked down the kick-off from a low kick and recovered
it on the 44 yard line to set Llano up in excellent field position. Excellent heads
up play by Jordan. Thurman hit thru the middle for 15 yards. Dickey made 6 more,
and off to the races went Thurman on a 35 yard gallop and Llano lead 19-0 with 9:31
still to play in the quarter.
Marble Falls finally got untracked with their big 228 pound junior quarterback,
Thor Woerner. Woerner took his team 58 yards in 6 plays to score and that put the
score
at 19-6. After the kick-off, and a fumble, and three more plays, the rain came
in sheets. For most of the next hour it rained. The field was being soaked, and
the
players were getting stiff. Not a great situation, but word I heard is that Coach
Yeager would not even think of extending the game to Saturday morning. It would
be played when the storm passed. And it did pass. And at 10:35 PM the game resumed.
Everything just gets out of whack when your preparation is changed and your timing changes. Both teams felt it. But for about one quarter and ¼, the game played out. Llano scored first, with senior Dickey scoring from 10 yards out. Again good blocking was the key. Junior Justin Logan made a block. Junior Logan Davis’ named was called several times. Same for Llano’s Captain of the game, Nathan Dudley. Still, the Mustangs were able to score on a long 62 yard TD pass with 6:58 remaining. Final score , 26-14.
Llano plays Comanche this week. The Indians can be very tough. And their
new Coach is from Katy, Texas, one of the best programs in the State. Size
that with 215
pound linebacker Eric Martinez, and Llano lineman and backs have their hands full.
Llano
has won four of the past five contest, but last year will mean little if the Jackets
don’t show up with their chin straps tight.
Llano’s win over Marble Falls was a mixed bag. A few first game mistakes expected.
Best thing I saw was the discipline. While Llano had 8 penalties, less than 60 yards,
it was a good start. The Jackets can’t kid anyone. They have a major tough
schedule in front of them. Half of the regular season will be played by the end of
September. No foe is expecting to lose to Llano. On this kind of ride, the best you
can do is saddle up boys, and bring ‘em on.
Llano 25 Comanche 12
2002 Llano 27 Comanche 45
2003 Llano 16 Comanche 13
2004 Llano 20 Comanche 14
2005 Llano 19 Comanche 0
2006 Llano 35 Comanche 14
Just a footnote: Errors….Never !!! 2006 saw two great performances by two juniors. Running back Lance Dickey had 1270 yards on 205 carries….good for 12th place all-time for a single season. And Ty Thurman had 1101 yards on 172 carries, good for 16th best all-time single season. But the most glaring is the absence of Aaron Rode in 1999, with a 1274 yards rushing on 164 carries. # 11 all-time.
My apologies that this updated info did not make the back
page of the home game programs. But, most important, those fine seasons
are in the record books. You can go to www.virdellrealestate.com and click
on
Play To Win to find LHS records.