Defenses shine in final night of Burnet-Llano 7-on-7 series

The Burnet and Llano football programs played their final May evening of 7-on-7 on May 23 highlighted by the defenses.

While balls were overthrown, underthrown and dropped by both varsity teams, the defenses had their share of batted down passes, knockaways and interceptions.

Because of a lightning delay, the two squads played a total of two games. The first ended in a 12-12 tie, while the other was a 21-6 Llano win.

While the scores look fine, it was the manner in which the Yellow Jackets competed that caught the eyes of onlookers.

The Bulldogs took a 12-0 lead in the first half of the first contest before halftime. That’s when Llano head coach Matt Green challenged his players, who proceeded to play the way he thought they could.

“We outscored them 33-0 (in the second half of game one and in game two),” Green said. “We played pretty well. I was really proud of our kids’ fight and that they made plays.”

With senior quarterback Maddox Green, the coach’s son, graduating this week, the Yellow Jackets are looking for a new starter. Sophomore Briggs Green, the coach’s other son, and junior Bryce Mize are battling for the role. Both showed flashes of what they can do.

Both led the Jackets to scoring drives in the first contest. Briggs Green guided the Jackets to two touchdowns in the second game, and Mize had the other.

While the duo showed the intangibles coaches want — command of the offense, lining up their teammates correctly, moving around in the pocket to force the defense to adjust — the quarterbacks also showed the little things that make a big difference. One was looking in another direction to hold the secondary then throwing the other way to an open teammate. Or showing a signal to a teammate to run a particular route right before the ball was snapped. Even the misses in the end zone were the correct read because the receiver was open.

And while coach Green was pleased with the quarterbacks, he was especially happy with the play of the receivers and secondary. Because of depth, the Jackets were able to rotate players on both sides of the ball that allowed them to stay fresh.

“We have a lot of kids who can play multiple positions,” he said. “It gives you flexibility.”

Junior receiver Ross Prokop shined in the first half of the first contest. He caught several passes, including one for a touchdown that was taken off the board because it took longer than four seconds to complete, to move the chains. Burnet ensured Prokop didn’t experience the same type of success the rest of the evening, and allowed other Jackets to make plays.

“They’re good,” the coach said. “They are our most improved, they are coming along. We have options back there.”

Llano also played Lampasas May 19. The Badgers won the first game 27-26 because the Jackets decided to go for the two-point conversion on the last play of the game for the win and missed. Llano won the second contest 28-19.

Burnet head coach Bryan Wood noted the Bulldogs may have tried for too many long passes and big plays instead of moving the ball methodically down the field.

“We have to catch better,” he said. “Sometimes you get in scenarios in 7-on-7, it’s like playing in your front yard on Thanksgiving where everything is a deep ball.”

Defensively, the Bulldogs did enough to give themselves chances thanks to not giving up too many big plays and catching interceptions.

Wood said the three-week series accomplished what he wanted.

“I thought our kids competed well,” he said. “Our goal was to get together and physically throw and catch and work on coverages.”

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