CUERO òòò½ÊÓƵ“ Jordan Whittington missed the first five games of his senior season with an injury.
But Whittington hasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t needed long to make his presence felt.
Whittington accounted for 217 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns òòò½ÊÓƵ“ all in the first half òòò½ÊÓƵ“ in his second game back to lead Cuero to a 55-16 District 13-4A, Division II win over Llano on Friday night at Gobbler Stadium.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI feel like Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m back into it,òòò½ÊÓƵ Whittington said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI still feel like Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m not 100 percent back where I should be, just skill-wise. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m not hurting anymore. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s just getting in condition, and Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m not cutting as much.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Whittington, a University of Texas commit, returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown, ran 37 yards for a touchdown out of the Wildcat formation and caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Michael Barta to help the Gobblers sprint out to a 48-3 lead at halftime.
Texas commit Jordan Whittington discusses Cueroòòò½ÊÓƵ™s 55-16 win over Llano.
— Mike Forman (@mikeforman21)
òòò½ÊÓƵœHeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a really dynamic player,òòò½ÊÓƵ Cuero coach Travis Reeve said of Whittington. òòò½ÊÓƵœHe made some huge plays in really all phases of the game tonight. He had a great game.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Reeve was pleased with No. 5 Cueroòòò½ÊÓƵ™s overall performance as it improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in district.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI thought the way we played tonight reflected how we practiced this week,òòò½ÊÓƵ he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe were at a new level tonight. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m really proud of our kids and how they came out and took care of business.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Gobblers scored on six of their seven first-half possessions and pulled their starters after the second possession of the third quarter when the clock ran continuously until the Yellow Jacketsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ final possession of the game.
Keiran Grant scored on runs of 3 and 27 yards, Chance Albrecht added touchdown runs of 10 and 2 yards and Barta threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Devin Whittington, who had four receptions for 52 yards.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe team òòò½ÊÓƵ“ I felt like tonight we clicked,òòò½ÊÓƵ Jordan Whittington said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe can only go up from here. This was a great week of practice. It was the best Wednesday weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had since Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been here. The energy weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got òòò½ÊÓƵ“ itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a new little defensive run-out now.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Cueroòòò½ÊÓƵ™s defense allowed Llano (4-3, 0-2) only two first downs through the first three quarters.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt really didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t start today,òòò½ÊÓƵ said defensive end Justin Ficklen. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt actually started this week Monday. We came out here and had the best week of practice weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had all year. Honestly, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s one of the best practices Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been a part of all four years. We came out here and had an edge about us òòò½ÊÓƵ“ the cold weather, I think, brought something out in us. We showed up and played like that all week.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Yellow Jackets had 40 yards of offense through three quarters and settled for a 22-yard field goal by Diego Miguel after Kaleb Dodson intercepted a pass and returned it to the Cuero 3-yard line.
òòò½ÊÓƵœOur defense played great,òòò½ÊÓƵ Reeve said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThey kept them out of the end zone. We gave them the ball at the 3-yard line off a turnover and kept them out. The defense played outstanding. It just keeps getting better and better.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Cuero on the field at Gobbler Stadium.
— Mike Forman (@mikeforman21)
Jordan Whittington has played on varsity since his freshman year but believes this yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s team has the ability to surpass what the others have accomplished.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe worry about the team we play that week,òòò½ÊÓƵ he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœBut weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not playing to beat (Austin) Eastside Memorial or beat Wimberley. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re playing to solidify our thing so people will know this is what weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got coming. If we keep practicing and preparing how weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re doing, I think weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got it.òòò½ÊÓƵ
