Llano football looking for first win of 2013 with Bangs contest
[box]GAMETIME
Llano Yellowjackets vs. Bangs Dragons
WHEN: Sept. 6 with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Yellowjackets Stadium, 400 Texas 71 East in Llano
RECORDS: Llano is 0-1; Bangs is 0-1[/box]
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — Last season’s victory against Bangs did so much more for the Llano High School football team than just put a slash in the win column.
The victory ended a nine-game losing skid that started in 2011. And while it wasn’t very long, the victory began a two-game winning streak with a 34-26 win at Bandera.
And just like 2012, the Yellowjackets (0-1) are coming off a loss to Wimberley 31-14.
Llano welcomes Bangs (0-1) on Sept. 6 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
“We are hungry for a win,” Llano head coach Craig Slaughter said. “I know I am.”
Bangs lost 61-33 to Clyde on Aug. 30. The two teams were tied at 7-7 after the opening quarter. But the Bulldogs outscored Bangs 34-7 in the second period.
Slaughter said the Dragons feature plenty of talented players, including senior J.T. Newton. He lines up at quarterback, free safety and punter.
“The Newton kid in Bangs is really solid,” Slaughter said.
Bangs finished 2012 with a 9-4 record and reached the Class 2 Division I regional semifinals.
Slaughter said he is looking for more from the Yellowjackets in this game.
Against Wimberley, Llano took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when junior receiver Jalen Bauman caught a 75-yard pass from senior quarterback Layton Rabb for a touchdown.
But the Texans responded by scoring 28 unanswered points with 22 coming in the second quarter. In all, Wimberley had 382 yards of total offense and got another touchdown when Stephen Gonzales ran an interception 16 yards to the end zone.
The Yellowjackets rushed 15 times for negative-5 yards, but Rabb completed 19 passes for 293 yards.
“We have to play much more physical and execute better,” Slaughter said. “Need to get (senior running back) Carter Tatsch loose and in space more.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com