Jackets leader shows his heart in victory

With the Yellowjackets winning, 32-29, against Fredericksburg Oct. 3, Llano took over at the 35. 

After the first play yielded only a yard, quarterback Trey Brooks faked a handoff and ran to his left. 

As he got closer to the first down marker, he was rammed. However, he did not go down.

Finally, after he ran for
15 yards, Brooks was hit
low and then high, the only way the quarterback was going
to be tackled.

The first down made the Billies use their last timeout and ensured the Yellowjackets earned their first District 8-3A win of the season.

Brooks was limping after the play but stayed in the game to kneel down a couple of times. He was careful not to put much weight on his foot, but there was no question Brooks’
effort was the difference in the contest.

“Trey is just a winner,” head coach David Yeager said. “He’s got that ability to make plays.”

He did not overestimate his quarterback’s worth to the team, especially when the offense needs to make a play and come away with a victory.

“The bottom line is I want the ball in Trey Brooks’ hands,” the coach said.

Brooks made another play earlier in the game that will not be listed in the stats book.

The Yellowjackets trailed, 14-12, in the second quarter. Brooks led Llano on a scoring drive that was capped by Estevan Aviles’ 38-yard touchdown run.

Llano lined up for a two-point try. However, the Jackets were moved back five yards because of a penalty. 

So from the seven, Brooks faked the handoff, ran to his right and dived in for the two points to tie the game. 

But a holding call negated the run.

Even though the points were wiped out, Brooks’ effort was all heart.

Just like the 15-yard run to seal the win.

Just like the kneel-downs to ensure Llano did not have a turnover during the most routine of plays that sometimes comes back to haunt offenses based on the center-quarterback exchange. 

Brooks could have left the game when he stood up limping. He tried to walk off the pain but was unable to. Instead, he did his job and did not ask his teammates for help in standing after the kneel-downs. 

On Tuesday, Yeager said Brooks was using a boot on the foot and added his status for the showdown against Burnet Friday is uncertain. 

But knowing Brooks and his heart, bet on the quarterback playing simply because he lives by the athletes’ mantra – if you can walk, you can play. 

And Yeager knew better than anyone at the end of the Fredericksburg win the importance to beginning league play with a victory.

“That’s the best stat of the night,” he said. “We want to be 1-0 and not 0-1. We just want to keep it going.”