The Llano High School football team is exhibiting the traits of a veteran squad.
Drills are efficient with players quickly lining up and getting themselves ready for the next rep. They're showing they know the playbook by the way they're running to their spots and turning the their heads the right way to complete a pass. On running plays, there's no movement until the quarterback asks for it. Then the linemen are creating huge holes for running backs to go through.
There's not a second that's wasted, and that speaks volumes about the mentality of the players and their conditioning.
The Yellow Jackets completed their first week of practices with an intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 10 where coaches lined up the projected starters on both sides of the ball.
Head coach Matt Green exited the field pleased.
"Both sides had their moments," he said. "As the head coach, that's what I want. I do like that both groups had success. We're going to build on the good and improve."
Quarterbacks Luke Davis, a sophomore, and Colton Bailey, a senior, looked sharp as they threw to receivers who ran stop stop routes, slants and to the middle. They also connected on passes to running backs in the flat.
But it was the live scrimmage where the Jackets excelled.
In addition to the holes that were being opened by the offensive line, running backs were quick to hit them. Fans didn't see many blown assignments as the offense stayed on schedule during the battle.
When the defense did get to the ball carrier, it was for a minimal loss. Defensive coaches commended their players for finding the ball and zeroing in quickly to ensure small gains didn't turn into big ones.
Green said the players brought their best to the field and in turn, they brought out the best in each other. So coaches left happy with the results.
"There's been a lot of varsity against the scout team," he said. "Number 1 you like to get out healthy. We feel like we did. There have been college teams that have sustained big injuries. We're going to coach them hard and practice hard. We're trying not to have (injuries) happen here."
And while coaches enjoyed the scrimmage, Green made clear it's important the players continue to bring their best as no one has secured a starting job.
"We have question marks about certain positions," he said. "We have competition for jobs. We know we have depth and we're trying to figure out who our players are."
The Jackets will travel to scrimmage Mason Friday, Aug. 16, with the subvarsities playing at 6 p.m. and varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m.
"Mason will be very physical," Green said. "They're physical and talented. We want to give our kids a chance to play high quality opponents. We need that to see where our kids shape up and where they fit."
