MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 16 Lake Travis

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.

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.



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At 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



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School size: Class 5A


Enrollment: 2,200 (approx.)


2010 finish: 16-0, Class 4A-I state champions


Head coach: Hank Carter


Career record: 30-2




Years at school: 5 (2 as head coach)


Notable players coached:
QB Garrett Gilbert (Texas, SMU)

QB Michael Brewer (Texas Tech)

TE Griffin Gilbert (TCU)

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No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 4 (defense)

Key losses:
WR Griffin Gilbert



ATH Colin Lagasse

DB Zach Streuling

LB Blake Burdette

Key returners:
QB Baker Mayfield

RB Varshaun Nixon

WR Zach Austin



DL Spencer Staples

LB Luke Hutton

Key newcomers:
DL Zach Davies

WR Tyler Payne

RB Romeo Kelso

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Toughest game: Westwood. Last season, Westwood was the only other team (besides Lake Travis) to defeat Cedar Park, which Lake Travis edged narrowly in the region final. This fall, Westwood and Lake Travis will hook up in Week 2.



Question mark: Will this year’s defense be comparable to last year’s defense? Sure, Lake Travis will put up points at a prolific clip. But at times last season, it was the defense that carried the Cavaliers. It will be mostly inexperienced to start the season.

Local look: Westlake, Lake Travis’ crosstown rival, is the only team that remains on the Cavaliers’ schedule. After losing to Lake Travis 35-7 in last year’s opener, Westlake won eight of its next nine games, allowing a touchdown or less in six of those games. This year, the teams meet in Week 9, and Westlake should be much more competitive.

Overall outlook: The highly debated jump from Class 4A to Class 5A is probably overstated, at least in the case of Lake Travis. During its incredible run, Lake Travis has beaten a number of teams that have towed the line between 4A and 5A. Odds are better than not that Lake Travis is looking for a seven-peat by this time next year.

Coach quote: “We’re excited [about the jump to Class 5A.] It’s a new set of challenges for us. We’ve been playing some 5A teams all along. We’re just going to worry about ourselves.”
- Head coach Hank Carter

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