Llano football in battle with Brownwood for postseason spot
Llano High School's Sawyer Stiles (left) fights off a block by Burnet's Travis Freeman as Bulldogs running back Trenton Hafley (right) looks for a hole in the Yellow Jackets' 35-14 loss to Burnet Nov. 1 at Bulldog Field. Llano fell to 2-2 in District 8-3A. The Jackets will fight for a playoff berth when they play Brownwood on Nov. 8 at home. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
[box]GAMETIME
Llano Yellow Jackets vs. Brownwood Lions
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8
WHERE: Llano Stadium, 400 Texas 71 East in Llano[/box]
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — One playoff berth has been secured in District 8-3A, which means the Llano High School football team still has a chance at the postseason when the Yellow Jackets welcome Brownwood on Nov. 8.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Llano Stadium, 400 Texas 71 East.
But that also means the Lions (4-5, 2-2) are looking for a win to move on to the playoffs, said Yellow Jackets head coach Craig Slaughter. And he’s “very glad” his squad doesn’t have to travel to play.
“Home game in week 10,” he said. “Fighting for your spot. Looking forward to it.”
The Lions are led by quarterback Chris Keesee, who has completed 197 of 279 passes for 2,371 yards and 19 touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Braxton Kilgo has 129 rushes for 700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Receiver Conner Howard has caught 64 passes for 848 yards and eight touchdowns.
And though Brownwood is known for its passing attack with the spread offense, Slaughter said it’s the Lions’ run game that has his attention. That’s because of what happened during the Yellow Jackets’ 35-14 loss to Burnet on Nov. 1.
The Bulldogs rushed 40 times for 257 yards.
“I’d feel better if we’d stopped the run better,” he said. “Scares me to death right now.”
Burnet took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Senior running back Carter Tatsch tied the game on a three-yard run in the second quarter. But the Bulldogs scored two touchdowns before halftime for a 21-7 lead.
Llano (4-5, 2-2) scored its last touchdown of the game on a 44-yard pass to senior receiver Isaac Hutto from junior receiver Jalen Bauman. Bauman took the pitch from senior quarterback Layton Rabb before he threw the football. Burnet scored the final two touchdowns.
“Burnet played how they always play,” Slaughter said. “They were very patient offensively. They ran the ball much more than expected. They won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We would have had to play really well and get a break or two. We had too many three-and-outs.”
Rabb completed 20 of 32 passes for 252 yards. Hutto caught seven passes for 118 yards, while Tatsch had 15 rushes for 35 yards.
If the Jackets defeat Brownwood and Burnet beats Lampasas, then the Lions will face defending Class 3A Division I champion Stephenville in the first round of the playoffs.
“So it means a ton to Burnet,” Slaughter said.
And Slaughter is happy his squad still has a chance to get into the postseason in the final week of the regular season.
“I just want a good effort and clean executed game,” he said. “It’s the last game for the seniors at Llano Stadium.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com