Lake Travis Routs Westlake in Great Lake Showdown

Cavaliers in position for District 14-6A Title

AUSTIN - In front of a sold-out crowd, the #6 Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in district with a convincing 35-14 win over rival and fellow state power house #7 Austin Westlake Friday night at Chaparral Stadium. The win is also the Cavaliers’ eighth in a row over their long-time rivals.

Throughout the night, junior quarterback Charlie Brewer and the Cavaliers’ offense made big plays at critical times and took advantage of defensive lapses by Westlake. On the other side of the ball, the Lake Travis defense wreaked havoc on junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger and the Westlake offense.

On the opening drive, Brewer connected with junior wide receiver Cade Brewer to score a 32-yard touchdown which put the Cavaliers up 7-0.  Brewer took advantage of a missed tackle by Westlake junior linebacker Jack Clayton.  After both teams went three-and-out on their ensuing drives, the Cavalier defense came up big, recovering a Westlake fumble at the Cavalier eleven-yard line.  Fortunately for the Chaps, the Westlake defense held strong and forced Lake Travis to punt.

The Chaparrals gave the ball right back to the Cavs on the next possession when senior wide receiver Reid Klubnik was ruled to have fumbled the ball.  The home crowd felt it was a poor call as his knee appearing to be down before the ball came loose.  Despite starting the drive on the Westlake 23-yard line, the Cavaliers were forced to settle for a field goal.  Lake Travis took the a 10-0 lead after the Westlake defense stifled the Cavaliers inside the Chaparral 15-yard line.

Following the field goal, the Lake Travis' defense stood strong again stopping Ehlinger a half-yard short of the first down on fourth and one.  Westlake's defense responded in kind to keep the game close. After driving inside the Westlake 10-yard line, Lake Travis was again forced to settle for a field goal. Austin Lake Travis took the 13-0 lead into halftime.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Westlake cut the Lake Travis lead to 13-7 with a 75-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard quarterback keeper by Ehlinger. The Chaps defense again stifled the Cavalier offense on the next drive.  On the drive, Westlake's "D" held Lake Travis to (-16) yards including a sack by senior defensive lineman Elias Garcia.  Again the story of the night was defense when Westlake once again attempted to put points on the board. The Lake Travis defense forced Westlake to go three-and-out.

The Cavaliers then put together a 65-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown run by junior running back Santiago Villegas which, along with a successful two-point conversion, gave the Cavaliers a 21-7 lead.  In such a tight defensive struggle, the two touchdown lead seemed to be the back-breaker.

From that point on, Lake Travis was in complete control of the game. The Cavaliers added two more touchdowns courtesy of a 37-yard pass from Brewer to junior wide receiver Cade Green and a 15-yard keeper by Brewer to put the Cavaliers up 35-7 late in the fourth quarter. The defense, meanwhile, stifled the Chaparrals forcing them to two three-and-out possessions and one four-and-out possession. Sam Ehlinger did connect with Reid Klubnik for a seven-yard touchdown on the game’s final possession; but by then, Lake Travis had already sealed the win.

With the win, Lake Travis improves to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in district. The win also makes the Cavaliers the favorite to win the District 14-6A title. Up next for the Cavaliers is a home contest against district foe Austin Bowie (7-1 overall, 5-1 district.)

Westlake, meanwhile, falls to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in district. Next week the Chaps will travel to Austin Del Valle (2-6 overall, 2-4 district).

by Steve Thomas

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