November 25, 2007
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By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
And then there were 16. Sixteen teams are still fighting for that goal to live on for another week. Sixteen teams out of 174 teams in the State that began this process back in August. Actually, the 8 teams in Division I are also still alive. In Division II, there are 16 teams left to keep playing.
Llano’s Championship in the Area game places this team in all sorts of possibilities as far as history is concerned. This week, Llano plays Palacios, in the Regional Semi-final game, 7PM, Friday night, in Seguin. This is game # 13 for the Jackets. Only in 1973, has Llano ever played in game 13. And in game 13 in 1973, Llano lost to eventual State Champion Friendswood. For only the second time since 1913 the Yellowjackets will have a chance to play for the Regional Crown. And for only the second time in history will the Jackets have a chance to play in December. This is history making times for Llano.
Llano’s complete game victory over Devine put the Jackets record at 9-3. This is tied for the third most wins in school history. The Jackets of 1970, 1973, and 1995 each won 9 games. Only the 1994 team with 10 victories, and the 1997 team with 11 have won more.
Where can I begin with this great and overwhelming win Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio? Do I mention that Llano held the Warhorses to 55 yards total offense the first half? Or do I mention that the Jacket offense scored on four of the first five times it had the football, on drives that included 63 yards, 74 yards, and 68 yards? What about the 10 play drive to finish the half and take a 28 to 0 lead into halftime? That would seem important!
Did I mention that Llano rushed the football for 246 yards in the first half? That seemed like a dream this time last week, when season rushing leader Ty Thurman went down with a very painful leg injury. Still, he started this week, and while playing conservatively, rushed 9 times, plus caught a crucial 19 yard pass.
Oh, and did I tell you that senior Austin Freeman relieved Thurman. All he did was rush for a mere 154 yards with two touchdowns. And then that Dickey guy, the one with 138 yards rushing, and four extra points, and two touchdowns, and a school record 97 yard run from scrimmage. Did I mention that?
And Llano’s quarterback…man, what a game. Another touchdown pass to the most unlikely receiver , Wes (Too Tall) Regmund, with a super catch in the back of the Warhorses end zone. That Brooks kid sure keeps a play alive!
And the defense…did I mention that Devine threw the ball 10 times, and did not complete a pass? This guy threw for over 1200 yards last season. Zero against an improving Jacket secondary! And pass rush… give the guy credit, he ran for his life. Llano’s front four blew past Devine’s offensive linemen as if they were in a Luby’s buffet line. And Devine’s running back that had over 400 yards last week? What was his name? Anyways, he was held in check.
Llano’s offensive linemen… they are pretty good. They now hold records for most rushing yards in a season, as well as, in a game and in a playoff game. Also, most points in a season, and have averaged 43 points scored in playoff games! The Jackets averaged 35.8 points in the regular season. Now have scored 445 points in 12 games, for an average of 37 per game. All school records. And still counting!
You know, the records and numbers are wonderful. But the excitement comes in the victories. This is a special Jacket team. This elite Jacket team must keep the dream alive. Records are for “after the game” Not before. Llano’s focus has been the key to winning four of their last five games. Taking their team into uncharted waters will require an even greater concentration from these young men that have set all else aside. I could make sure every player on the field sees his name in print today, but there is a bigger picture here. These players have already seen to it they will always be remembered in Jacket history. Friday night they have a chance to be what every team for 40 years will aspire to. It’s been 34 years since 1973! We write about and talk about that elite team….still today.
This Jacket team is about leaders, and seniors, and an attitude that does not give up. When this season ends in December we’ll talk about those individuals. But as an ending thought, this team has the advantage of having a head coach that has his own records. Coach David Yeager now has a 4-2 play-off record as football coach in Llano. No coach in our history has ever won four play-off games.
Not Gray, not Baskin, not Parchman, not Fuller, not McCormack. Only Yeager in three years. This team has a leader that shows no fear, and leads by example. He leads this team into game # 13. His leadership will help guild this team to a 10-3 record friday night, and Llano will then be playing in game # 14, in December, with only 8 teams remaining to go after a State Championship.
Llano 43 Palacios 9