Llano says goodbye to one district rival, adds another in new football district

CAPTION: The Llano High School football team welcomes Florence to the new football district beginning next season. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

The night before the University Interscholastic League announced realignment, Anna Green asked her husband, Llano Independent School District athletic director Matt Green, for his wild card scenario of who the governing organization of extra curricular activities might put in the same district with Llano High School.

“Florence,” he said. “Because they’re in our non-football district. The UIL works in a pattern. (The Buffs) can connect to us in football.”

Green’s prediction was correct as evidenced by the UIL moving Florence (370 students) into District 13-4A Division I and moving San Antonio Cole to District 14-3A Division I. Long-time rival Blanco, based on its enrollment number of 358, moved down to District 13-3A Division II.

Realignment was announced Feb. 1.

“The Jackets have been benefitted,” Green said of Florence moving to the football district. “It gives you new blood. It’s always fun to play a new opponent.”

Green called moving Cole out a shock, noting the Cougars finished 4-2 in district play with losses to Blanco 41-14 and Llano 37-0.

In other words, Green added, the Cougars reeled off four consecutive wins after losing to Llano in the district opener in October.

“They go on a tear and beat everyone in district including (University City) Randolph (35-32),” he said. Randolph and Blanco shared the district crown.

The rest of District 13-3A Division I remained intact with Ingram Tom Moore (422), Luling (411), Marion (490) and Randolph.

“I love the district we’re in,” Green said. “Randolph comes back, Ingram is a program that’s on the up and up. We’ve played Marion four years in a row. They’ve always been tough.”

Green also released the 2024 football schedule though sites and times haven’t been finalized with each opponent.

The Yellow Jackets will scrimmage Mason and Brady. They open the season against Lytle (502) Aug. 30, then face Comanche (373) Sept. 6, at home against Marble Falls (1,167.5) Sept. 13, Jarrell (951) Sept. 20 and Comfort (364) Sept. 27 to end the pre-district schedule. They open district play at Florence Oct. 4, welcome Luling Oct. 11, take the district-wide bye Oct. 18, at Randolph Oct. 25, host Marion Nov. 1, and finish at Ingram Nov. 8.

Since the district has an even number of members at six, Green suggested the district members each take the same bye week. But instead of taking it after the predistrict schedule has wrapped, the Llano skipper encouraged the coaches to consider playing two district contests and taking the bye on week eight so they have three games left before the start of the playoffs. And they agreed.

“Maybe we’re a little fresher,” he said.

The athletic director noted that Blanco not staying in the district with Llano wasn’t surprising. That prediction was made during the football season when officials begin to tell each other of the projected enrollment number, which is due in late October. Blanco is now in District 13-3A Division II with Comfort (364 students), Lexington (354), Rogers (258) and Thrall (274).

Blanco remained in the non-football district — District 5-3A — with Llano, Brady, Comfort, Florence and Ingram.

“All of our teams have been successful as a program,” Green said. “We’re continuing the climb. Familiarity is a good thing. We have been having success. I believe that familiarity is a good thing as a whole. We’re very excited.”

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