The short story: Lake Travis will once again be nearly unstoppable through the air. A jump up in classification isn't expected to slow the Cavaliers.
Photo by Jim Redman
Is
Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) the best football program in the state of Texas?
One could certainly make the argument.
The Cavaliers have won a mind-boggling five consecutive state championships at the 4A level, a brand of football that would compete with the largest classification of football in practically every other state. Lake Travis has won state titles with three different head coaches during that span, and with Hank Carter back at the helm in 2012, it is showing no signs of slowing down, even as the program makes the leap to the state’s vaunted Class 5A.
Nobody from Lake Travis racked up more receiving yardslast season than Zach Austin.
Photo by Jim Redman
Carter has the luxury of returning quarterback
Baker Mayfield on offense. Mayfield is continuing the tradition of Lake Travis quarterbacks putting up video game stats, throwing for 3,788 yards and 45 touchdowns. The team also returns the best tailback the program has had recently in junior
Varshaun Nixon, who’s already receiving Division I interest.
Romeo Kelso may also see some reps.
MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 High School Football Early ContendersAt receiver, Lake Travis needs to find a replacement for Griffin Gilbert, who hauled in 18 touchdown passes last year.
Zach Austin, the team’s leading receiver yardage-wise (1,340), is ready to step in at the clear No. 1 receiver.
With three starters back up front, Lake Travis will once again assault opposing defenses, both through the air and on the ground. Defensively, there is less experience back, but some key playmakers do return.
The defensive line, with
Spencer Staples and
Connor Shannan, should be the unit’s strength early on. Newcomer
Zach Davies, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Indiana, could see some action.
The linebackers will be led by
Luke Hutton, who started all 16 games last year as a sophomore.
Hagen Patterson and
Nico Escalante will likely join him. The secondary, with Brock Kenyon and Hunter Streuling, should also be solid.
Local look: "I think that Lake Travis will be the favorite for the Class 5A, Division II championship this year and they probably would have won that championship at any point over their five-year run."
- Danny Davis, Austin Statesman
