What could be better than in Llano when football begins? Few things in my opinion, but then this makes year number 35 in covering the Yellowjackets under the banner of Play To Win. Even in the two years that I did not write for the public, 1990, and 2006, I was able to keep stats, and keep up with the little facts and figures that make this so much fun. Certainly with the help of head football coach David Yeager in statistics, what makes 2007 so much fun to look forward to, is this team has a chance, to be very special.

Many years, teams had the opportunity to be good…some to be great. Yet injuries, and mishaps, and even suspensions of players have taken the wind out of opportunities teams have had. So with the wind at our back, lets get started for 2007.

2006 season could only be considered a heartbreaker. No other way anyone could describe the “what if” for the season. Maybe, the loss of 195 pound tailback Josh Yocum with sprinters speed was not enough to lose. By mid season the Yellowjackets 6th all-time rushing leader Shane Pope goes down for the last part of his senior season from a major knee injury. His 2,262 yards rushing in parts of 3 seasons and counting, was a killer. How would Llano survive? Simple fans like myself could see no rainbows.

But 2006 turned a different corner, and with it brought a newness, and amazement to every Jacket fan. Nearly over-night, the offensive line got better. Or maybe knew that had to get better. And the result was a school record 3,786 rushing yards on 634 carries. Three underclassman running backs startled the Llano fans, and made history. And while the fame always goes to the guys who carry the football, and the guys that score the touchdowns, the Yellowjackets not only were grooming running backs and rushing records, but they were planting seeds for 2007, with a line that may even make their own headlines.

If you have the time, you might go to my real estate web-site where LHS Footballs stats are located. Under the heading of “Average Yards per Carry”, you find at number 6…all-time…Curtis Hartman…1990…his 1500 yards that year was at a pace of 6.85 yards per carry. In 2006, please take Note on four returning Llano Yellowjacket running backs.
Lance Dickey-205 carries-1270 yards-6.2 Yards per carry
Austin Freeman-28 carries-196 yards-7.0 Yards per carry
Ty Thurman-172 carries-1101 yards-6.4 Yards per carry
Wesley Regmund-62 carries-388 yards-6.26 Yards per carry
The Yellowjackets have returning, 3,008 yards in experience!!!. This has not happened since 1970, when two of the best running backs in Llano history both had over 1000 yards in their junior seasons….Burns Laning and Micky Virdell. ( Again, go to the history charts and see where those guys ended up-Both played college football).

Also returning, are players that scored 202 points last season. We have had seasons when we did not score that many points.
Fun will come in watching lineman like Michael Anderson, Andre Ratliff, Robert Ivey, Jarred Francis, Kyle Frizzell, and Seth Hensley, all returning lineman with size and can move. And there will be others.

Head football Coach David Yeager has a 15-9 record in Llano after two seasons. He is 2-2 in the playoffs. Only Coach Karl McCormack had a better record after two seasons, going 20-4 in 1997-98. Two other great Jacket Coaches in the past, Hall of Famer Ken Gray was 15-8-1 in his first two seasons of 1973-74, and John Baskin was 15-6 in his first two seasons of 1976-77.

One last thought. Llano is ranked 25th in the State in Class 3A in Texas Football magazine. My question to many of you that enjoy catching me in mistakes. Is that the highest Llano has ever been ranked “at the beginning of the season”? I think so. Let me know.

One of the greatest blessings I have had over these past 35 seasons is being able to stay in contact with players from the past. So many e-mail me, and correct me, and it has been a blessing beyond words. The great Shelby Wright, and Corby Walker, and Greg Joy just to name a few. Even much much older guys like Gilbert Wagner and Joe Bill Watkins help keep me in line and keep info pretty accurate. Please e-mail. I’ll print the ones I can. See you Friday Night, in Llano, and we play an old nemeses; Marble Falls. The Class 4A School will be here for revenge. Llano’s upset last year on their home field was hard for the Mustangs to take. But look for this year to be about” Llano 27 Marble Falls 8.