Playoff powers await Pearsall, Cotulla in playoffs

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | November 10, 2022

COTULLA COWBOYS VS. LIANO YELLOWJACKETS THURS., NOV. 10 AT BARRY FIELD IN HONDO

Despite losing three of the last four games, Cotulla Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Marcus Booker is hoping his team can come together for one night and play Cowboy football against state-ranked Llano Thursday evening, November 10 at Hondo.

Cotulla lost a 41-14 decision to district champion Jourdanton in the regular season finale, but nothing was on the line for either team as playoff seedings had already been set the week prior. Llano rolled to a 49-6 decision over Ingram Moore in its finale to cap a 10-0 season.

“They are ranked number five in the state,” Booker said of his bi-district opponents. “I just hope my guys embrace the challenge of playing them and understand the opportunity they have in front of them.

“We just have to take care of the football and not hurt ourselves; we only have to be better than them for two hours Thursday night. Anything can happen in those two hours, we just have to be ready for the ups and downs of the game.”

The Yellowjackets, area finalists a year ago, come into the contest as prohibitive favorites. Llano went two rounds deep a year ago but were state semifinalists in 2020. This year, expectations are high for the Yellowjackets, as they return 18 of 22 starters from that area finalist squad.

The team rolled through the regular season with their only narrow wins coming in an eight-point victory over Burnet and an 21-14 decision over Randolph.

The run-first Yellojackets have amassed nearly 3,000 yards rushing but quartback Matt Green has also passed for over 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns.

“We always want to stop the run and force a team to pass,” Booker said of this week’s approach. “Offensively, we’re going to change up a few things and hopefully get them to think out there, because if you are thinking then you are usually a step slower. I know we have a great chance to win if we just don’t beat ourselves.”

Cotulla opened up its season red hot, winning five of its first six games, including a season-opening win over Corpus Christi West Oso, in which the Cowboys held running back Elijah Huff to a season-low 116 yards. Huff has decimated defenses this year to the tune of 2,419 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The Cowboys then hit an offensive slump, averaging a mere 15 points per game over its last five contests. Cotulla averaged 38 points an outing in its first five games this year.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Barry Field in Hondo.

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