Llano football team heals, works on basics in bye week
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — After five games and with two offensive starters unable to finish the contest against Fredericksburg last week, an open date couldn’t have come at a better time for the Llano High School football team.
The Yellow Jackets (2-3) lost to the Billies 16-13 on Sept. 27. Players have been focusing on the basics of the sport during the week and are getting some much-needed rest, head coach Craig Slaughter said.
“Fundamentals and working on our execution,” he said.
Slaughter won’t be sending any coaches on scouting trips Oct. 4 because it’s a District 8-3A bye week with no games scheduled.
Instead, the Yellow Jackets have gotten an early start on examining the other district members, which include Liberty Hill, Lampasas, Gatesville, Burnet and Brownwood. Llano is at Liberty Hill on Oct. 11.
Against Fredericksburg, the Yellow Jackets came back to tie the contest 7-7 in the third quarter thanks to a 51-yard pass and catch from junior quarterback Holden Simpson to senior receiver Chance Ware. Then, the two teams exchanged touchdowns. Senior receiver Isaac Hutto hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Simpson to trim the deficit to 14-13. Llano decided to go for the two-point conversion, but the pass failed with 5 minutes 33 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Jackets defense forced a punt at midfield, which was downed at Llano’s one-yard line. The Billies recorded a safety on the next play with 3:55 left to seal the victory.
“It was a great game,” Slaughter said.
Simpson completed 12 of 21 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns for Llano. Senior running back Carter Tatsch had 15 carries for 34 yards, while Hutto caught four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown and Ware had three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Senior quarterback Layton Rabb was still recovering from an appendicitis and didn’t play. Meanwhile, Tatsch left at the half because of an injury, Slaughter said.
jfierro@thepicayune.com