Back for the second game of the day featuring the Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers vs. the Texas City Stingarees… more football in the Alamo City – good times!

FIRST QUARTER – Austin Lake Travis started the game with a scare by muffing the opening kickoff, which they luckily recovered. The Texas City defense swarmed the Sophomore QB, Garrett Gilbert nearly sacking him in the endzone and then tipping a thrown pass two plays later for the turnover.

Texas City began their first drive on the Cavalier 18 and proceeded to let Jarvis Carraway carry & catch his way down to the Austin Lake Travis 6 yard line. Bada-bing, bada-boom, and one play later Carraway notched the first score of the game. TC 6 – ALT 0

With a fresh possession, the Cavaliers put the early mistakes behind them and moved the ball through the air and on the ground, before stalling at midfied. Gilbert looked the part of a big time QB as they lined up for the fourth and five conversion but surprised everyone by executing a great quick kick that put Texas City down on their own one. One play later, Texas City QB, Robinson fumbled and Austin Lake Travis got the ball back. Two plays later, Gilbert scored on the keeper, but the officials missed the spot. It made no difference as Austin Wrinkle dove in on the next play. TC 6 – ALT 7

Carraway opened the next drive with a big return to the 34 as the Stingarees began their second drive. Texas City looked like they were reliving their state track title as they sprinted all the way down the field on just a few plays. The drive was capped by Carraway’s 34 yard scamper – a play in which he was hit in the backfield, but sprung lose to the right side. Texas City converted a controversial two-pointer. TC 14 – ALT 7

Garrett Gilbert was leading the Cavaliers down the field on the strength of his will and arm strength alone as the first quarter came to an end. TC 14 – ALT 7

SECOND QUARTER Gilbert continued to make believers out of everyone. I for one, have never seen a sophomore QB with the accuracy, toughness, and outright skill of this youngster. Without the support of a solid running game though, it was all on Gilberts arm time and time again on third and long. He didn’t disappoint, spreading the ball to seven different receivers with lightning strikes enroute to another score. TC 14 – ALT 14

With 8:35 remaining in the half, Texas City responded with a welll-rested Jarvis Carraway, but it was Blake Apffel that busted a 67 yard run. Unfortunately, it was called back on a holding call. Carraway responded by breaking off a 22 yarder. Andre Bacon followed that with a 20 yard scamper right up the gut leaving Texas City first-and-goal at the ALT 5. Once again the Cavaliers came up HUGE as Carraway coughed up the pigskin at the 1 yard line!

Gilbert showed no fear passing out of his own end zone to Jess Tolles for a first on the 13. The fireworks continued with Gilbert’s next passs – a 46 yarder to Hunter Armstrong. From inside Stingaree territory, Austin Lake Travis sputtered, turning the ball over on downs.

The weakness of the Cavalier tackling continued to be exploited by the Texas City running back squad. Carraway, Bacon, and Robinson rumbled their way down the field and Robinson capped the 69 yd drive with a TD. TC 20 – ALT 14

With 2:14 remaining in the half, the sophomore sensation was given a chance to show his two-minute drill skills. He responded in SUPER-STAR fashion with an amazing 39 yard bullet to dual-purpose man, Jason Bird. Another missile to Bird put the Cavaliers at the Texas City 21 with 1:17 remaining. One play later, Hunter Armstrong was the recipient of a pro-level strike in the endzone. That drive alone was worth the price of admission! TC 20 – ALT 21

1:01 remained in this barn-burner as Texas City again took over at their own 32. A big sack by ALT’s Tyler Williams left Texas City facing 3rd and 18. An ill-advised punt downing left the Cavaliers with 2 seconds and only 50 yards to go, but they opted to take a knee and their 1 point lead into the half. TC 20 – ALT 21

AND THIS IS JUST HALFTIME, BABY!!!

THIRD QUARTER Texas City started the half with the ball, but the Cavaliers discovered some run defense shutting them down and forcing the punt. On 4th and 11, they were penalized for illegal motion and had to punt from their own 22.

ALT began the drive on the TC 39. One play later, Garrett Gilbert found Austin Wrinkle WIDE OPEN up the middle for his third TD strike. TC 20 – ALT 28

An unsettled Texas City squad took the field in an attempt to regain control of the game. The Austin Lake Travis team stopped them and on 4th and 1 with the punter coming on the field, the Texas City team pleaded with their coach to let them go for it. A dive up the middle sealed the deal and the Stingarees were given new life and a fresh set of downs. A huge open field tackle of Carraway by Brandon Holt left them at 3rd and long and a false start worsened the situation for Texas City. A 42 yard bomb to Brandon Robinson shocked the stadium and left Texas City knocking at the door. Blake Apffel replaced Robinson at QB and tossed a TD score to Lawrence Jamison.
The two-point conversion was no good. TC 26 – ALT 28

Austin Lake Travis responded in typical fashion as Garrett Gilbert added to his impressive stats with a masterful drive. With a series of precision strikes, Gilbert completed the drive with yet another TD. The missed PAT marred the otherwise perfect drive. TC 26 – ALT 34

Carraway and the Stingarees were not ready to roll over and responded with another great drive. Robinson returned at QB and tossed two great passes to Kyle Myers putting them on the Cavaliers’ 6. Carraway fumbled nearly ending the drive, but recovered his own miscue. Carraway earned his 3rd rushing TD and the two point conversion knotted things up once again. TC 34 – ALT 34

With six minuted remaining in the game, Austin Lake Travis set out to take the lead once again. A huge defensive stand by Texas City put ALT in 4th and 2 situation. Gilbert was sacked for a huge loss and a turnover on downs. With a HUGE momentum shift, Texas City took the ball in ALT territory. Robinson dropped back, scanned the field and launched the ball. Riey Percivall jumped in front of the ball an INTERCEPTED THE BALL AND RETURNED IT 70 YARDS for an Austin Lake Travis TD!!! TC 34 – ALT – 41

With the wind completely knocked out of their sails, Texas City got the ball back on their own 13 with 3:40 left to play. One incomplete bomb and a couple of ill-advised runs to Carraway put Texas City at 4th and 2 at their own 24. Jarvis Carraway kept hope alive by powering his way to the 30. The Cavalier defense tightened and once again put Texas City in trouble 3rd and 10. Yet another AUSTIN LAKE TRAVIS INTERCEPTION sealed the deal as they take home an impressive win.

Texas City 34 – Austin Lake Travis 41

Bottom line – fans of this game have just witnessed the coming out party of the best high school quarterback I have seen EVER. In over 20 years of playing, following, and covering Texas high school football… Garrett Gilbert has the tools to become the greatest – and looks to be in the prototype mold for both the college and pro levels as well. He is that good.