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Tag: Battle of the Lakes 2019

Cavs win Battle of the Lakes

Written by Steven Ryan on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

The Battle of the Lakes played out like a true rivalry between two great teams as Westlake and Lake Travis traded blows in a heavyweight bout that went down to the wire. In the end, the Cavaliers came out barely ahead in a 26-25 triumph Friday at Cavalier Stadium in Lakeway, TX

“We would answer, then they would answer,” said Lake Travis senior quarterback Hudson Card. “Those are the games that we look forward to. Being a rivalry and a one-point game, it’s crazy. I’m just happy with the way we fought and came out victorious.”

Card passed, ran, caught and kicked his team to victory in an all-around performance for the ages. He completed 20-of-31 passes for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against a Westlake defense that wasn’t making it easy on him. 

He also led the Cavs in rushing, caught a key third-down pass on Lake Travis’s game-winning touchdown drive, and pinned a punt inside the five, which was followed by a game-changing safety.

The play everyone will remember, however, is the go-ahead touchdown pass to Grayson Sandlin. Facing 2nd & goal from the 9, Card threw a fade on an option route to the 6-foor-4 Sandlin, and Sandlin (11 catches, 99 yards) came down with it even as Westlake all-district cornerback Leo Lowin was all over him.

“I just knew the way he was playing me all game, I knew Hudson would put it where I needed it. That’s all it took,” Sandlin said. “It’s incredible… It’s the best feeling in the world, honestly.”

After getting dominated in the trenches last year, Lake Travis matched Westlake’s physicality and shut down the Chaps’ offense in a first half that had few fireworks beside a 30-yard touchdown pass from Card to senior Kyle Eaves (five catches, 89 yards, two touchdowns). Card rolled right, got the entire Chap defense to move with him, and then launched a ball downfield to a wide-open Eaves on the opposite side of the field.

“We just installed a lot of stuff early in the week to stop their run and it was working,” said senior Lake Travis linebacker Maui Traveino. “They told us to be physical and do that and it was working… Last year we definitely were not being physical enough and this year the seniors really stepped up.”

Westlake made some key halftime adjustments, however, and opened the second half with back-to-back touchdown marches to take a 17-10 lead. The Cavs picked back up some momentum when Raleigh Erwin and Trey Wright met at the quarterback on a zero blitz for a safety. Eaves got behind the Westlake defense on a play-action pass the next possession to put Lake Travis back ahead 19-17.

The Chaps got a third second-half touchdown when sophomore Cade Klubnik hit senior Jackson Coker over the middle for a 20-yard score, but with all the chips on the table in the final minutes, came up short on a 43-yard field goal.

“We finished the half with a lot of momentum and then they took the third quarter and owned it,” said Lake Travis coach Hank Carter. “In the fourth quarter we got it going a little bit and luckily were able to finish with the win.”

Battle of the Lakes:15

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

AUSTIN — The budding rivalry between Central Texas powerhouses Westlake and Lake Travis is one that doesn’t need any additional fuel added to the fire.

But that didn’t stop former Cavalier Baker Mayfield from pouring a can of gasoline onto the blaze back in June when he took a shot at former Chap and current Longhorn Sam Ehlinger.

“He couldn’t beat Lake Travis, so I don’t really care [about] his opinion on winning,” Mayfield said. “Westlake is a great program, but the two best quarterbacks to come out of there are Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Sam can stay down there in Texas.

“That will stir the pot. He doesn’t like me, and I hope he knows I don’t like him either.”

To fans and competitors on either side of the “Battle of the Lakes,” those kind of feelings are nothing new — and they’re often mutual. 

In each of the past two seasons, the Chaps have earned bragging rights, including last year’s surprisingly one-sided 44-14 drubbing at Chaparral Stadium. Westlake’s 21-14 win in 2017 snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Cavaliers, who still lead the overall series 10-4.

Last year’s matchup decided the District 25-6A championship and pundits expect the same stakes for this season’s meeting, although Lake Travis is the early favorite to get back in the win column and claim the 25-6A title this time around.

It’s not difficult to see why. The Cavs bring back 15 starters from a team that went 12-2 in 2018 and advanced to the Class 6A Division I state semifinals. 

Quarterback Hudson Card, a Texas commit, is back to lead an explosive Lake Travis passing attack, and despite the loss of all-everything receiver Garrett Wilson, there are plenty of targets for Card to zero in on. Versatile wideout Kyle Eaves leads the charge, and teammates Lake McRee and Grayson Sandlin have the size to play either receiver or tight end.

Lake Travis QB Hudson Card targets his receiver in the Battle of the Lakes match-up in 2018 vs Westlake. Photo: Texas Sports Monthly- Stan Martin

Running back Weston Stephens also returns, as do linebackers Maui Trevino and Nick Villarreal. Meanwhile, sophomore defensive back Derrick Johnson could become an impact performer right away.

The Chaps will look to replace graduate Taylor Anderson at QB and the heir apparent looks to be either Kirkland Michaux or Drew Willoughby. Both got playing time in 2018 due to injuries, and whoever wins the starting battle will likely rely on weapons like WRs Mason Mangum and Jackson Coker.

Westlake, which was 13-2 last season and made it to the 6A DII state semifinals, also welcomes back standout defensive backs Sage Luther and Leo Lowin, defensive end Bobby Duncum and offensive tackle Connor Halverson. Running back Jax Crockett was lost to an injury during the 2018 postseason, but he appears poised to pick up where he left off as a sophomore. The 15th meeting all-time between Lake Travis and Westlake is set for Friday, Oct. 11 at Cavalier Stadium.