Llano football season over after bi-district loss to Glen Rose
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BELTON — The Llano High School football team’s season ended in a 35-26 loss to Glen Rose in a bi-district championship Nov. 14.
The Yellow Jackets (5-6) made their first playoff appearance since 2010.
“When I look back on this season, I’m going to have a lot of positives to think about,” Llano head coach Craig Slaughter said. “I think we achieved more than what a lot of people thought. They’re a great bunch of kids. I’m very appreciative of what they’ve done.”
Llano struck first in the game, taking its opening drive 78 yards for a touchdown when senior quarterback Layton Rabb hit senior receiver Chance Ware for a 57-yard score. Junior kicker David Forrister kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.
That lead stood until the start of the second quarter. Glen Rose junior quarterback Colten Lane scampered for a five-yard touchdown to complete a 10-play, 96-yard drive to tie the contest 7-7.
Rabb put Llano back ahead when he scored on a nine-yard run.
But the Tigers then scored two touchdowns to regain the lead. Lane hit junior receiver Hayden Holder for a 41-yard touchdown pass and later scored on a one-yard run.
The first half ended when Llano senior running back Carter Tatsch caught a pass on fourth down with a second remaining. From the Tigers’ 34, Carter caught the pass in the middle of the field after he worked his way there from the left side. Though he reached the end zone, officials said he stepped out of bounds at about the half-yard line and did not signal a touchdown.
The Yellow Jackets tied the game when Rabb found senior receiver Isaac Hutto on an 11-yard touchdown to start the second half.
The Tigers, however, answered immediately when senior receiver Colten Bumpas caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Lane for a 28-20 lead.
After Llano turned over the ball on downs, Glen Rose marched 75 yards for a touchdown. Holder ran up the middle for the two-yard score to make it 35-20 with nine minutes 38 seconds left in the game.
The Tigers got an interception on the next Jackets possession. But Llano senior lineman Eli Tiffin hit Lane from behind to cause a fumble that the Yellow Jackets recovered. Two plays later, though, Glen Rose tipped another ball for an interception.
“The story of the game,” Slaughter said.
After Glen Rose punted, Rabb scored on a two-yard scamper with 1:52 remaining in the contest.
He threw for more than 300 yards with Hutto recording more than 100 receiving yards.
Slaughter said he credits the senior players for their example on and off the field.
“A unique and amazing group,” he said. “They don’t care who gets the ball. You just don’t see that. They’re all about team, team, team.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com