Llano football welcomes Randolph to determine first in district

The Llano High School football team is hosting Universal City Randolph in a contest featuring the only two undefeated teams in District 13-3A Division I.

By the end of the game that kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, only one team will leave Llano Stadium still unbeaten.

The Ro-Hawks (6-0, 2-0) beat Blanco 21-7 Sept. 29 after surviving a 21-14 overtime win against Marion Sept. 22 for their two district wins.

Llano head coach Matt Green called the contest “a really good opportunity.”

“They feel good about where they’re at,” he said. “We have to get ourselves ready to play, and we have to worry about us. We have to put ourselves in the best position to win. We have our plate full. We’ll have to play very well. Our kids play well at Llano. We’re hard to beat here. We’ll have the 12th man in our corner.”

The Ro-Hawks (6-0, 2-0) are led by junior quarterback Collin Stucki, who has completed 40 of 74 passes for 699 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions and has 24 rushes for 33 yards and a touchdown. Junior Lee McMooain, III has nine receptions for 227 yards and two scores and Deshon Cobbins has seven catches for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

Sophomore Cody Howard has 95 carries for 490 yards and six scores and six receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, while senior Aaron Davis has 32 rushes for 280 yards and two scores and eight receptions for 167 yards and four touchdowns, and junior Sam Oakland had 26 rushes for 216 yards and three scores.   

“They want to run the ball down hill,” Green said. “They have a quarterback who can throw it. They have wide receivers who have speed. They know they’re talented, and they’re a load.” 

The Jackets will rely on junior linebacker Tate Morgan, who has 57 tackles, an interception and a sack, senior linebacker Fitz Kennedy, who has 33 tackles and two sacks, senior defensive back Charlie White, who has 34 tackles and two interceptions, and senior linebacker Dusty Miller, who has 28 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Oakland leads the Randolph defense with 40 tackles and an interception. McMooain has 34 tackles and senior Austin Young has 30. 

“Defensively, they’re very strong, they’re very physical,” Green said. “They’re pretty confident in what they’re doing. Oakland is a very big, good-looking player. They have big guys upfront.”

Llano will counter with a powerful rushing attack led by junior running back Trey Mote, who has 57 rushes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, Kennedy, who has 60 carries for 245 yards and six scores, and Miller, who has 16 rushes for 105 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Jackets have 242 carries for 1,212 and 16 touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Colton Bailey has 56 rushes for 268 yards and two touchdowns and has completed 51 of 84 passes for 524 yards, four scores and six interceptions.

Senior receiver Alex Kachura has 20 catches for 290 yards and two scores, while junior receiver R.J. Coplin has 22 receptions for 236 yards and three scores.

Though Randolph has played some tough opponents, Green noted his Jackets have, too.

“We are improving,” he said. “I’m seeing our kids play with more confidence. They’re gaining experience that can only be gained by playing. Our kids have been tough and have been very resilient. This team has done a great job of hanging in there and staying with it. We expect to be in this game. And we have to play well to do it.”

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