Llano’s comeback win vs. Salado caps off homecoming week
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
LLANO — Llano Independent School District crowned a new homecoming king and queen and honored the 2015 Hall of Fame class Oct. 2, but it was the football team’s 27-24 comeback win against Salado that capped a festive week.
“It was a crazy game,” Yellow Jackets head coach Craig Slaughter said. “We started out this thing about to take control. We had some terrible possessions, and next thing you know, we’re down. The kids didn’t anticipate it; I didn’t anticipate that.”
Trailing 24-20 with four minutes 50 seconds left in the contest, the Yellow Jackets took over at their 44.
On that drive, Llano sophomore running back Mason Greenwood carried for nine yards and three yards, while senior receiver Brent Greenwood caught a 27-yard pass. After a defensive holding call, Mason Greenwood ran for six yards and then another six yards. Then, new starting quarterback Ben Walling, a sophomore, capped the drive by scoring on a one-yard quarterback sneak as his teammates pushed him over the goal line. The eight-play, 56-yard drive took 3:05 off the clock.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles fumbled the ball after taking a few steps and Llano senior cornerback Cody Miller recovered the ball in midair.
Though the Jackets had to punt, they forced Salado to use all its timeouts. The Jackets defense made one final stand, resulting in the game ending on an incomplete pass.
“It’s amazing. There’s nothing in the world like momentum,” Slaughter said. “When the boys came in, you feel it.”
The first quarter was all Llano as the Yellow Jackets built a 14-0 lead thanks to a four-yard touchdown run by Mason Greenwood and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Miller.
The Llano defense also contributed with two interceptions by Brent Greenwood and another by senior cornerback Matt Agee.
But the Eagles began the second quarter with a safety to trim the deficit to 14-2. Then, they forced a couple of Llano punts to keep the game close while the offense found its rhythm.
That happened two minutes after the safety.
Salado senior receiver Tyler Stairs caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ryan Kyburz to cut the lead to 14-9 with 5:03 left in the second quarter.
Salado’s final touchdown of the half came on a five-yard pass to senior receiver Coby Chambliss from Kyburz with 10 seconds remaining to take a 16-14 advantage into the locker room.
Slaughter said coaches talked about a couple of plays during the intermission, though the main message was that each athlete needed to play better.
The Llano offensive struggles continued for much of the third quarter, but the defense kept the game within reach, allowing only one touchdown in the second half. Kyburz found Chambliss on a 71-yard pass when he put the ball where only the receiver could catch it for a 24-14 lead with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
The Jackets answered the touchdown with one of their own in the final two minutes of the quarter. Mason Greenwood scored on a 28-yard run to cap a 52-yard drive and trim the deficit to 24-20. His number was called on four of five plays, and he was responsible for 47 yards.
After the Jackets’ first possession of the fourth quarter ended in a punt, Slaughter said he realized he had about two possessions left, so he made each play count. He also was pleased with Walling’s performance.
“He’s calm under pressure,” he said. “The pass to Cody Miller was a great throw. I thought he did a good job.”
As he thought about the key plays of the contest, Slaughter said he believes fans of both squads got their money’s worth.
“That’s as fun as it can be,” he said. “Mentally, you feel like you’re going to win. It’s as fun as a high school game can be. (Winning a close game and a blowout) is better than a soul-crushing defeat. It’s just a great high school game and fun to watch.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
FIRST QUARTER
L – M. Greenwood 4-yard run (kick failed), 8:51
L – Miller 20-yard pass from Walling (John Heflin two-point run), 1:07
SECOND QUARTER
S – Safety, 10:54
S – Stairs 13-yard pass from Kyburz (Alex Carmona kick), 5:03
S – Chambliss 5-yard pass from Kyburz (Carmona kick), :10
THIRD QUARTER
S – Chambliss 71-yard pass from Kyburz (Jake Harvey caught two-point pass), 5:49
L – M. Greenwood 28-yard run (kick blocked), :09
FOURTH QUARTER
L – Walling one-yard run (Colton Center kick), 1:45
TEAM STATS
Salado — Total yards, 325; interceptions, 3; fumbles-lost, 2-1 ; penalties-yards, 8-72
Llano — First downs, 14; total yards, 252; rushes-yards, 43-165; passing, 87; interceptions, 0; comp-att-int, 5-11-0; fumbles-lost, 0-0; penalties-yards, 7-54
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING – (Llano), M. Greenwood 30-180-2 TDs, B. Greenwood 1-11, Dorian Green 1-5, Walling 11-(-31)
PASSING – (Llano), Walling 5-9-87-1TD
RECEIVING – (Llano), B. Greenwood 1-27, Jaden Napolez 1-21, M. Greenwood 1-9, Miller 1-20-1 TD, Wyatt Baumann 1-10