2012 LSG Team Preview — Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers

By Michael Wright
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Updated: August 26, 2012

2012 LSG Texas High School Football Team Preview — Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers

Team: Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers (15-5A)

Colors: Red/Black/Silver

1st varsity season: 1984

Enrollment: 2,217 -- 6th largest in the district out of 7 schools

2012 Schedule:
@ Converse Judson
New Braunfels Canyon
@ Round Rock Westwood
A&M Consolidated
Austin High **
@ Austin Bowie **
Austin Akins **
@ Austin Anderson **
Austin Del Valle **
@ Austin Westlake **

Coach: Hank Carter (2 years) 30-2-0 (#3 in All Time Wins at Austin Lake Travis); 30-2-0 all-time coaching record

Returning Lettermen: 35

Returning Starters: Offense: 5 Defense: 4

Key Players:
* QB Baker Mayfield 2nd Team All-State (TSWA) & DIST OFF MVP & 2nd Team All-Texas 3,788 yards 45 TDS passing, 754 yards 10 TDS rushing TOP 30 QB
* WR Zach Austin 72 catches 1,375 yards 16 TDS receiving 1st Team All-District
* LB JR Luke Hutton 101 tackles 1st Team All-District
* DB Brock Kenyon 1st Team All-District
* RB JR Varshaun Nixon 1,262 yards 20 TDs rushing TOP JR
* OL Hunter Siddons Committed to North Texas
* DL Spencer Staples
* DL Connor Shannon 82 tackles 6 sacks

2011 JV Record: 9-1

Notes:
* Have now won 5 consecutive state championships (most in state history)
* Since 2008, only 11 of their 62 wins have been by less than 10 points and they have only lost 3 total games since then
* Until 2007, no Lake Travis team had reached the third round of the playoffs
* The Cavaliers had just four winning seasons since 1985 and were 0-10 in 2002
* Since 2008 only 11 of their 62 wins have been by 10 or less 3 of those to Cedar Park
* Kellie McKnight article
* Lone Star Cup Winners
* Broke the all-time record in 2011 for most consecutive playoff victories and are still going
* Made the #3 spot in Chris's Top 5 Championship Stories

Mike Says: The Cavaliers will now take their success and championship rings and move up to Class 5A. They should have no problem rolling through the new district except for Austin Westlake and they have a 4 game winning streak over them. This years team will once again be led by QB Mayfield who made all-state teams last year even though he was not the teams starting quarterback at the beginning of the season. Other first year 5A teams have made championship game appearances (Southlake Carroll, Denton Guyer and Cibilo Steele) so a shot at #6 is not out of the question. The Cavaliers will need to rely heavily on their tradition more than ever this year.

Chris Says: Austin Lake Travis is nothing short of phenomenal. While there is a lot of doubt whether they can climb up to Class 5A and still compete at the same level, don't be fooled. This team is that good. This program is that good. When you have players like Baker Mayfield and Zach Austin, you can play at any level. I expect the Cavaliers to look solid this year. They won't go through the season undefeated because every game become the Super Bowl for their opponent, but come playoff time, I would not be surprised to see them still standing at state championship time.

Last Years Record: 16-0 overall 6-0 District

2011 Games:
vs Austin Westlake (9-3) (at DKR Memorial) (W 35-7)
vs Pflugerville Hendrickson (9-3) (W 43-14)
at Aledo (14-2) (W 62-35)
at Kerrville Tivy (11-3) (W 56-14)
vs Dripping Springs (9-4)* (W 54-16)
at Austin Vandegrift (8-4)* (W 42-10)
vs Cedar Park Vista Ridge (3-7)* (W 51-20)
at Leander Rouse (2-7)* (W 62-19)
vs Marble Falls (4-6)* (W 57-0)
at Cedar Park (11-3)* (W 24-21)

Playoffs: Division I Champions
vs Austin McCallum (7-4) (at Lake Travis) (W 58-7) Bi-District
vs Smithson Valley (10-2) (at Alamodome) (W 42-21) Area
vs CC Flour Bluff (8-5) (at SA Heroes) (W 58-15) Regionals
vs Cedar Park (11-3) (at Austin Royal-Mem) (W 14-9) QuarterFinals
vs Pearland Dawson (12-3) (at Alamodome) (W 45-14) SemiFinals
vs Hewitt Midway (12-3) (at Cowboy Stadium) (W 22-7) Championship

Championship Game

Championship Game Ranked #14 in our 2001 Games Of They Year rankings

History:
* Ranks #5 (Up 18 spots from 2010) in the 2012 LSG Team Of The Decade Rankings
* 8 CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASONS (all 8+ wins, before that no 8 + win season since the school opened in 1984)
* 11-7 since 1994 vs Dripping Springs in the “Bonfire Battle” LT has won the last 9 in a row
* 4-2 since 2006 vs. Austin Westlake in the Great Lake Showdown
* 9-1 since 1998 vs. Marble Falls including winning by a combined score of 151-21 over the last 3 years
* 8-0 since 2004 vs. Pflugerville Hendrickson and have won them by a combined score of 325-108
* All-Time Playoff Record : 32-4
* 30 consecutive playoff wins
* Playoff Appearances (9) 2000,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011

Bi-District -- 2004, 2006
Area -- 2000, 2005
State Champions -- 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Championship History: (5) 5-0
2007 4A Division II Austin Lake Travis 36, Highland Park 34
2008 4A Division I Austin Lake Travis 48, Longview 23
2009 4A Division I Austin Lake Travis 24, Longview 17
2010 4A Division I Austin Lake Travis 27, Denton Ryan 7
2011 4A Division I Austin Lake Travis 22, Waco Hewitt Midway 7

Last 5 year record: 77-3

Last 10 year record: 107-27

Did you play for the Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers? You are eligible for The Brotherhood of Texas High School Football. <---click to be honored