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

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.

While every year someone says “don’t play down to your competition” we all still do so. The Llano Yellowjackets 41-20 victory at Vista Ridge was a good example. There is no getting around the obvious. Vista Ridge was not very good, and Llano, as all of the Rangers’ opponents the past two years were much better. Still, a hint to the wise. I wouldn’t plan on making Vista Ridge your Homecoming foe next year. Many schools will. Many schools will come away very disappointed.
Vista Ridge has improved 100% since last season, and will do so over the next 12 months. With only sophomores and juniors on their team, the Rangers never really “went away”. Their first drive of the game went 82 yards on 5 plays to take an early lead. Then in the third quarter, the Rangers from their own 10-yard line drove 89 ½ yards to only be intercepted in the end zone, after going 14 plays. A long and impressive drive.
One disturbing fact is the Rangers ran up over 350 yards of offense against the Jacket defense. Too many yards, averaging over 6 yards a snap.
Another disturbing fact: Lano had 7 penalties for 72 yards…in the third quarter!
This is my argument to not schedule teams like the Rangers. Give them enough time and someday they will embarrass you. My opinion too is that Llano is very capable of playing “up” to any foe. This coming February the U.I.L. will do their two-year realignment dance. Good chance our own 27-AAA will stay the same. But, as the case two years ago, both Bandera and Wimberley could move up to 4AAAA because of enrollments. Bandera was approaching 900 kids in high school last year. As an example in 4AAAA, Elgin has 940, and Fredericksburg has 996. Mabank in East Texas comes in at 915 kids in high school.
An article in a West Texas newspaper sent panic through many circles a few weeks ago when it said power house Brownwood might drop down to 3AAA, because with a declining enrollment now at 1049, the U.I.L. might move the numbers up enough to put the 5-time State Champions in 3AAA. If the numbers shifted that much, Lampasas at 980 kids would drop also. You could then vision a Llano, Liberty Hill, Brady, Brownwood, Lampasas newly created district.
The test for Llano is responding to a good Comfort team that could beat you if you give them a chance. Last years’ 47-32 victory in Llano was a “pride” win for the Jackets. The seniors last year refused to give up. This year, Comfort has home field advantage, and home grown quarterback Luke Roberts (6-1, 212 pounds), returning after throwing for over 1600 yards and 14 TD passes a year ago. Llano will not be able to coast through this one, or they will get beat.
The Jackets need the victory to go up 4-1. Then they have an open week to get ready for 27AAA. Every game in the district is losable. Every game is winnable. How the Jackets prepare for Comfort, and prepare mentally will tell how the district comes out. Llano must prepare this week, as if Comfort was the first district game. Win it…win it with solid defense and sound offense, and this week will be the first step back for Llano making the State Play-offs in 2005.
Jordan Clayton had a career game against Comfort. An 84-yard kick-off returns for a TD, and followed that up with two interceptions. To show how defining a moment makes, Jordan’s second interception ended the Rangers resolve to win. Vista Ridge had a total offense output of 39 yards after the second pick. It took the air out of the sails. Great game by the junior.
Running back Shane Pope had his best game in yardage. Quarterback Jordan Leverett was 4 for 4 passing, 46 yards, three TD passes. Davis Willmann in the second quarter for 32 yards, and then two to Pope for 9 & 7 yards. A big play of 55 yards and a TD by senior Branden Long on Llano’s third play from scrimmage was impressive, but for me, Branden is playing better on defense. Same for Willmann, Luke Meador, Sam Whitaker, Zack Lanford, Andy Virdell, and Robert Schendel. These players must now escalate their game. No more taking plays off. This week these leaders must step up.
I still have no real understanding of our offensive line. Wonderful players and young men…size…but still no killer instincts…it takes time for an offensive lineman to get really into this running game. But now, Llano has to find one, or two lineman that they know they can run behind to get the yardage on third and one. No one has stepped up yet. For Llano to be successful, those linemen must be found. Comfort will be a good place to find one.
Llano 12 Comfort 8.