Video: Texas WR jukes defender into another time zone
See Lake Travis 4-star wideout Garrett Wilson with the amazing juke and score.
For nearly a decade, the "Battle of the Lakes'' rivalry has been more like a pleasure cruise for Lake Travis (Austin), a winner of 10 straight meetings against Westlake (Austin). The two highly decorated programs meet Friday evening at Westlake's Chaparral Stadium.
The teams met twice last year and Westlake would just as soon forget the 49-7 loss in the regular season as well as a 51-3 beatdown in a Class 6A Division I state quarterfinal. Westlake won the first two series meetings in 2006-07 and has not won since.
It isn't much satisfaction for Westlake that Lake Travis has been a handful for just about everybody else. The Cavaliers captured their sixth state title in 2016. One year earlier, both schools were Class 6A state finalists, Westlake in Division I and Lake Travis in Division II.
Friday's winner has the inside track to the District 25-6A title. Westlake is 2-0 in league play and Lake Travis is 1-0.
Here's a look at the Battle of the Lakes as well as other Week 7 games to watch in Texas:
Nakia Watson, Westlake
Photo by Paul Brick
Matthew Baldwin, a Colorado State pledge, is the latest in a long line of distinguished Cavalier quarterbacks. The senior has thrown for 1,867 yards with a 24-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Garrett Wilson is Baldwin's favorite target with 40 catches for 829 yards and nine scores. Sophomore middle linebacker
Mauricio Trevino and senior outside linebacker
Brayden Roeder each have a team-high 48 tackles. Westlake has been tested despite its 6-0 record. Vandegrift (Austin) put up a fight in a 33-31 defeat two weeks ago. Running back
Nakia Watson, a Wisconsin pledge, and junior quarterback
Taylor Anderson have been offensive leaders. Defensively, Westlake has 10 interceptions with two each by
Drew Webster and
Collin Swallow.
Canadian 5-0 at Childress 5-0, 7 p.m. Friday
The opener of District 1 play in Class 3A-DII should be a dandy. Through its first four games, Canadian made 61 tackles for loss with junior lineman Brenden Wyatt leading the way with 10. Junior quarterback
Casen Cavalier and favorite target
Matthew Lynch keep the Wildcats offense moving. Dual-threat Childress quarterback
Luke Latimer has accounted for 14 touchdowns (eight passing) and 1,429 yards offense.
Joe Dan Gambol has 33 catches for 504 yards as well as three interceptions.
Port Arthur Memorial (Port Arthur) 4-0 at Port Neches-Groves 4-0, 7 p.m. Friday
It's been a struggle to catch up on the schedule for District 22-5A schools in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Memorial, playing its fourth game in 18 days on Saturday, defeated Lumberton 31-19 to remain unbeaten.
Keitha Jones Jr., an SMU pledge, helped the Titans overcome an early 13-0 deficit by running for two scores and passing for another. Port Neches-Groves also enters the showdown with momentum. Junior quarterback
Roschon Johnson, a University of Texas pledge, threw for 299 yards and four scores in a lopsided victory over Baytown Lee (Baytown). Jose Ceja, a junior, rushed for 111 yards.
Midland Lee (Midland) 6-0 at San Angelo Central 5-0, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The hot start by Midland Lee has supporters harkening back to the Cedric Benson glory days of three consecutive state titles in 1998-2000.
Josh Traylor is doing a Benson impression with 1,075 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Last year, Traylor became only the fourth sophomore from Lee to top 1,000 rushing yards, joining Benson in that category. Linebacker
Isaiah Nunez is leading Lee tacklers averaging 14.4 per game. San Angelo Central counts heavily on quarterback
Maverick McIvor, the son of former University of Texas quarterback Rick McIvor. The junior has thrown for 1,554 yards and 21 touchdowns. He's run for 468 yards. Defensively, senior cornerback
Gage Smith has four interceptions for the Bobcats.
Grandview 5-0 at Kemp 5-0, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Grandview rolls into the District 6-3A Division I showdown flying high after a 48-7 thumping of defending district champion Sunnyvale.
Earnest Crownover III, a 2,000-yard rusher a year ago and the son of a former Baylor defensive lineman, had 174 yards on 14 carries. Junior quarterback
Landon Moon failed to connect on only one of 15 passes. Kemp has not yet been held to less than 47 points in five wins. Senior wide receiver/free safety
Kane Johnson is a favorite target of quarterback
Cameron Clamon, a junior who threw for over 2,900 yards and 36 touchdowns in a playoff season in 2016.
Raymondville 5-0 at West Oso (Corpus Christi) 4-1, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The District 16-4A Division II opener matches a pair of teams experiencing a rebirth after combining for only seven wins a year ago. Dual-threat quarterback
Daniel Gutierrez in his third season as a starter has accounted for eight Raymondville touchdowns and over 1,000 yards offense. Taking advantage of 11 turnovers has been a big part of West Oso's success and junior
Craig Clemons has been the most productive with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Bears sack leader is
Juan Ruiz with four.
Sundown 5-0 at Abernathy 5-0, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The District 2-2A Division I title could well be decided in this league opener. Sophomore quarterback
Christian Huey has been a shining light for Sundown with 1,070 passing yards and 520 more on the ground. He's had a hand in 21 touchdowns. Abernathy counters with a sophomore quarterback of its own —
Bryson Daily with 618 passing yards and 360 on the ground. As a freshman in 2016, Daily guided Abernathy to the state semifinals.
Kole Carlisle is the Antelopes' leading rusher with 464 yards and six touchdowns.
West Mesquite (Mesquite) 5-0 at Highland Park (Dallas) 4-1, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The West Mesquite defense enters the District 15-5A showdown allowing only 10.5 points per game. Safety
Dayven Coleman, a UCLA pledge, leads the Wranglers in tackles with 38.
Curtis Williams supplies offensive punch with 837 rushing yards. Highland Park, the UIL's state leader in all-time wins and the defending 5A-DI state champion, depends heavily on the passing of
John Stehpen Jones. The grandson of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has thrown for 1,360 yards and 15 touchdowns. His favorite target is 6-5 senior
Cade Saustad (University of Virginia lacrosse pledge) with 26 catches for 533 yards.
Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 4-1 at Bishop Lynch (Dallas) 5-0, 7:30 p.m. Friday
This is a matchup of 2-0 teams in TAPPS Division I District 1. Since dropping its season opener, Prestonwood Christian has won four straight. Quarterback Wiley Green has thrown for 1,237 yards.
Ricky Baker, a senior, is top receiver with 34 receptions for 453 yards. Only four touchdowns have been scored against Bishop Lynch, the defending TAPPS Division I state champion. Senior free safety
Jeremy Irving leads in turnovers and junior lineman
Warren Walls is sack leader. The Friars winning streak is 13, and the last team to beat Lynch was Prestonwood (45-39) on Oct. 7, 2016.
Nocona 5-0 at Holliday 4-1, 7 p.m. Friday
Nocona has recorded four shutouts. The Indians have forced 13 turnovers and 24 quarterback sacks. Junior linebacker
John Womack is leading tackler with 38. Senior end
Charles Evans has pried loose four fumbles and recovered three. Of its 209 offensive plays, Holliday has rushed the ball 185 times.
Justin Jones, a former transfer from Archer City, makes the Wing-T offense work with 716 yards and 14 touchdowns.
