Llano rises to challenge in facing Marble Falls football

The Llano High School football team defeated Marble Falls 20-13 Sept. 13 in the Yellow Jackets’ home opener.

Turnovers led to points during each half with Llano (2-1) using one to score a touchdown and the final interception to line up in victory formation.

“The kids did a phenomenal job,” Mustangs head coach Keri Timmerman said. “We made some critical errors. I think that’s on us. We gotta get better and the other thing is we have a bunch of kids playing both ways, and that’s tough on a hot night like this.”

Trailing 13-7 at the intermission, Llano head coach Matt Green said his locker room speech wasn’t about scheme.

“I felt that we played very timid,” he said. “I felt that we did not play confident, we didn’t make plays, and we just looked a step slow. And hesitant, and I was very upset with our kids at halftime, as upset as I’ve been with a Llano team since I’ve been here in eight years. And I challenged them, and I haven’t challenged a team like that in a long time. I told them this is not about the Xs and Os; this is about what’s in your chest, it’s about your heart. You’re either going to lay down or you’re going to go out and you’re going to win the game. Our kids responded. They showed what they’re made of, they showed their mettle.”

A missed Llano field goal midway through the first quarter kept the game scoreless until the Jackets took over at their own 39-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Luke Davis directed a 14-play, 61-yard drive that ended when senior running back Trey Mote scored on a five-yard run. Senior Tate Morgan added the extra point to give the Jackets a 7-0 advantage with 7 minutes and 31 seconds left in the half.

The Mustangs (1-2) immediately responded by covering 64 yards in five plays. Senior quarterback Colton Minor hit senior receiver Kole Becker on a five-yard touchdown pass. The key play was a lateral pass to junior running back Joaquin Aguilar, who ran 58 yards. Jett Martich kicked the extra point for the 7-7 tie with 5:31 left in the half.

A couple of series later, Marble Falls senior linebacker Noah Lyon caught an interception on the Llano 40. Minor and Becker only needed one play — a skinny post — to take the 13-7 lead at the half.

That lead was sealed when the Mustangs got another interception with 91 seconds left in the half.

“Our defense did a great job,” Timmerman said. “We talk about takeaways all the time. I think the kids are growing and learning. Just being able to stretch the field and that just keeps everybody a little softer. They had to change their coverage because of us, and I think that’s a big deal. I think we took advantage of opportunities when they came, I think we missed some. Playing a spread offense and not having thrown the ball for five years. It’s kind of hard to do that and Colton did a phenomenal job coming in and stepping up, and I’m proud of that kid. It’s hard to do what we’re asking them to do.”  

Llano junior linebacker Carsten Hays started the second half by catching an interception and setting up the offense on the Marble Falls 39.

Eight plays later, junior running back Brayton Shaw scored from two yards out for the 14-13 advantage with 8:54 left in the third quarter.

Though the Mustangs fumbled on their next possession, the defense forced Llano to turn the ball over on downs on its possession.

The Jackets forced Marble Falls to punt, and that’s when they went to the rushing attack and eating the clock. The result was another Mote touchdown from 19 yards out. That play ended an eight-play, 70-yard drive.

The Mustangs’ first possession of the fourth quarter led them to the Llano eight-yard line, but they couldn’t get any closer. On fourth and goal, the pass fell incomplete.

Llano junior cornerback J.D. Friday caught an interception with 1:37 left in the contest to seal the outcome and allow Davis to get in victory formation.

“I thought they did a great job game-planning us,” Timmerman said. “I think they scored 46 on Lytle and ran all over them and (Davis) is a great quarterback and hard to contain.”

Davis completed 12 of 21 passes for 113 yards and had nine rushes for 52 yards, while junior receiver Graham Prokop led with a 41-yard reception. Mote had 25 rushes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, while Shaw had 14 carries for 79 yards and a score. Llano finished with410 yards of total offense.

Green noted that Davis wasn’t himself during the week. So getting the rushing attack going was the priority.

“We knew we had to run the ball and we had to tempo to get Marble Falls tired, and we did,” he said. “Let’s run the ball down their throats and let’s tempo them, and we did. Our defense comes out on the first possession and creates the turnover. We go score and here goes the momentum.”

Aguilar had 19 carries for 74 yards, while Minor completed 10 of 24 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Becker caught five passes for 90 yards and two scores. Marble Falls finished with 281 yards of total offense.

Timmerman noted his players gave it all they had.

“I thought we played our tails off,” he said. “Our kids did a great job. This is what we needed. That is a good football team. (Llano is) physical and we played step for step with them and really at times had a chance to win.” 

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