Llano 14 - Liberty Hill 63
Llano 27 - Blanco 13
Llano 10 - Early 13
Llano 19 - Commanche 0
Llano 41 - Vista Ridge 20
Llano 34 - Comfort 20
Llano 48 - Ingram 27
Llano 24 - Brady 26
Llano 35 - Bandera 26
Llano 17 - Wimberly 42
Llano 27 - Poteet 20*
Llano 7 - Cuero 49*

*Playoff Games

Play to Win Archives

2003

2004

LISD Football Records

Play To Win

By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.

For a team that was a preseason pick to come in 5th place in a 6 team district, the over -achieving Llano Yellowjackets of 2005 exceeded all dreams as they fell to a great number one ranked Cuero team Friday night 49-7.

With few exceptions, thousands of fans on both sides in San Antonio’s Northside Stadium would argue that the White and Green Gobblers of South central Texas should end their season four weeks from now in the State final game, just as they did last season when they finished with a 14-1 season record as State Runners-up.

This season started out slow, and the team took several weeks even to take on a personality, much less take on an identity. But the largest strides in progress had to come from the offensive lineman, mainly the seniors, who had been taught and trained to do one thing, and one thing only, and that was to pass block. Under two different head coaches, Craig Agnew in 2001-02, and Scott Langley in 2003-04, the pass happy offense of the Jackets had little to show for the record-breaking pass and catch offense. The record over the four years of throwing the football over 85% of the time was 18-23 with one play-off appearance against 3AAA State defending Champion LaGrange in which Llano fell 56-0.

Pass blocking and run blocking have little in common except the uniform is the same. Seniors Tyler Hoerster and Zack Lanford improved the most, and played the best. My hope is both will get strong all-district consideration. Not far behind were Kyle Miiller who played several positions, including center when starter Jonathan Hill was hurt for two games. Brent Wooten had great plays and his 230 pound frame was ready made for down in the trenches blocking. As the season wore on Daniel Warren and Justin Fry provided valuable back-up play and both improved so much they were used regularly. The point I best liked about the change was Llano Lineman went to a four point stance, meaning the lineman had both hands on the ground before the ball was snapped. This forced the first move to be forward, and not straight up as pass blocking requires.

Llano’s transformation to a running team was not subtle. The 2005 Jackets ended the season with 3368 yards rushing, third best all-time for a team, and only 132 yards behind the best all-time of 3500 yards in 1997. Enough cannot be said for these lineman, and these seniors made the biggest leap to bring the Llano football program to the level it is today…. all in one too short of a season.

Senior Davis Willmann at tight-end saw more blocking than he did passes, but he was great at both. His total Td pass catches will rank him high over-all as next week we will bring you season stats.

The linemen were not the only ones who had to learn to run block. Davis at tight end, as was senior Grant Morgan many times out on the point of attack taking on a rushing defensive end. Grant’s year-end kicking stats will place him very high in most categories in the Jacket record books. Senior Robert Schendel over the season did a wonderful job blocking and picking up rushing linebackers. Robert too was one of Llano’s best special team players, which means he hustled every play. Senior Craig Miller also learned, but his best blocks came at special teams and getting downfield on kicks. Senior Branden Long carried the ball a lot, and his surprising burst of speed really diversified Llano’s running game. Branden had to learn to block too, and he was good at it. Senior Jonryan Passe played quarterback last season, and defensive back. But an injury kept him out most of the year. Yet the last few games his presence was felt, and we saw his speed. Jonryan started at cornerback against Cuero, and played a very strong game. Senior Robert Coffee played everywhere, from blocking back, tight end, to cornerback, to special teams. For a team to be successful, a team needs about 10 Robert Coffees’ He will be missed next season. And last but not least, T.J. Bunnell was the man in the secondary with interceptions, tackles, and at 150 pounds he would stick his face mask into anyone’s’ as they tried to get into the Jacket backfield. T.J. had a great senior year.

It is Saturday morning as I write this. My son Jerrod just left my office. I told him what I was writing. He stood up and said, “Man, today is the worst day ever in the life of those senior football players”. The day after their last game in a Llano Yelowjacket uniform. I know today will be hard for the seniors. But also, today, those seniors will have the greatest of memories to savior forever. This great senior class did more than most of us ever got to do, and that is play in two play-off games. Only four other senior classes in history can say that. This 8-4 Yellowjacket team has nothing but pride to feel. They done us all proud!!!!!

Next week I will try to pull together the season records and stats, with the help of the Llano Coaching staff.