Play to Win - Llano High School Football

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Play To Win

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

Llano felt like Devine the week before, when the Llano Yellowjackets could do no wrong, and the Warriors continued to step in it! Llano’s first defensive series was that way with the Palacios Sharks Friday, a week ago at Seguin. The Sharks great running back Henry Solis ran tough, and when we thought we could stop the run, over the top for a 53 yard pass completion and the TD.

Llano takes the ball, losses 18 yards on three tries, and here we go again. 7 plays and another TD. 14-0 with 4:32 left in the Quarter. And then Llano settled down. From this point to the last gun, Llano would outscore the Sharks, and 20 to 17, and had more yardage, 309 to 235. But Llano could not erase the first 7 minutes of the game. In my last article, I mentioned Llano had the opportunity to win. They played well enough to win for 41 minutes.

The play on defense was at times inspired. Seniors Nathan Dudley and Sam Whitaker wanted to win so badly. Their motors were at full speed. While I did not see the film, or talk with a coach, Cody Feitz played a great game. And that was our hope, that Llano’s seniors would step up and play their best. Seth Simpson, another senior had numerous tackles, and he was really aggressive. And on both sides of the ball, Dusty Lockhart played like the all-district center I believe he is. Senior Jared Francis playing both ways had a game he can talk about when he gets old. Great effort on his part. And two players that I hope get all-district recognition is Tye Siegenthaler and Kyle Frizell. Both had tough jobs against the vicious running attack of the Sharks. They held their own, and both had great games. Two seniors I will really miss.

The offense averaged 5.1 yards per carry running the football. That average will win most games. But Llano averages over 6 yards for the season. Those inches made a difference against the Sharks. What can one say about Austin Freeman that does not sound giddy?
Austin rushed 16 times for 85 yards. If there is a hero in Llano’s three play-off games, here is one to consider. Coming into the play-offs to replace one of the great Jackets of all time, Ty Thurman due to injury. Austin had 47 carries for 347 yards rushing. A 7.38 average per carry.
This is what you call stepping up by a senior that until the last few games of his senior year, was nearly a forgotten player. A tremendous effort by a player found to be really special.

Other than our offensive lineman, no player is more taken for granted than senior Lance Dickey. He helped put Llano back into the game at the end of the second quarter. Rushing for two first downs, and pulling Llano to a 21-14 score. Lance may hold the school record in rushing yards in play-off games. But this year, Lance rushed 46 times for 378 yards, for an unbelievable 8.2 yards per try, in three play-off games.

#2 on your program, and #1 in your hearts, senior Wes Regmund played lights out football all year long. His 10 carries for 68 yards against the Sharks produced 4 first downs, and his 21 yard run in the first quarter was Llano’s longest rushing play. But in my opinion, he was best on defense. Few secondary players came up as quick and as were sure tackling as Wes. A sure all-district choice, another super senior on this 2007 team.

Llano’s senior offensive lineman are the best. Say what you may, no one has put together the rushing yardage this offensive line has…ever. For two years in a row, the numbers knock your eyes out. Over 4300 yards rushing in 13 games. Nearly 900 yards more than the #3 best all-time. Granted, there may be individuals with better credentials, but as a team, everyone else can file to the back of the room. Senior Michael Anderson was just awesome. Seniors Seth Hensley, Robert Ivey, along with Dusty, and Jared, you have senior that had so much pride in their work, these numbers will likely last well past our lifetimes. Blocking by Siegenthaler, Frizell, Brady Vestal, and Michael Reeve, as well as Sam, you have the markings of one super group of seniors that played as one, whomever was in the game, and whomever was carrying the football. And what a record for future lineman to hope to obtain. What a benchmark! This team will be looked at in awe!

The 9-4 record of the 2007 Jackets will be one of the top team records of all-time. Yet one senior that may be the face of this 9-4 team is running back Ty Thurman. His injury late in the season seemed like a killer to this team. But, it wasn’t. Yet, Ty’s 1.334 yards rushing for the year, 6.54 yards per carry, and 23 touchdowns will all be in the record books along the side of Grantham, Fain, and Fraser.

Both Ty and Lance will be in the top 10 rushing all-time for the season, and both will be in top 6 career rushing yards. Llano has not seen the likes of two such talented backs in the same backfield since Burns Laning and Micky Virdell in 1970. When you consider Wes’s 593 yards and Austin’s 522 yards, these four are alone in a very small classroom.

This is the article I do not like to write. The good-by to our seniors. Man, how do you replace Wes, Kyle, Ethan, Tye, Cody, Brady, Austin, Jared, Seth(S), Robert, Lance, Seth (H), Nathan, Michael, Ty, Michael, Sam, and Dusty? You don’t. You just remember them, and we will. These Jackets are now “exes”. And their few days left at LHS can continue to be productive. And that is to continue their leadership ways and encourage next years players.

Next year? We can start thinking about that 2008 team. There are more than just a few pretty good players returning. It could be fun. My next article will be up in about a week. It will be review of the statistics, and a rewriting of the record books…with all the updates. Then a few days later we will talk about the 2008 team.