Judson Once Again Handles Lake Travis
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Updated: September 4, 2017
Last Season This Didn't Stop the Cavaliers
Converse, Texas- Two Texas Blue Bloods. One of the states most storied programs versus the Texas’ shining new power. A five-time state champion versus a recently crowned six-time state champion (1st in 6A). Lake Travis has a new state championship star on their T decal to join the 5 on their L.
One of the states most potent aerial attacks against what might be the state’s most talented offensive backfield. Lake Travis with their multiple uniforms against the Rockets with their famed diamond J logo on grey helmet background.
In one of opening weekends marquee matchups, the Lake Travis Cavaliers could not avenge their only championship season loss against Lone Star Gridiron’s 2017 #1 Converse Judson Rockets, 65-45.
Big things are expected this season for the Judson Rockets and Coach Sean McAuliffe. Last year the Rockets led by stud Quarterback Julon Williams scored 22 points in the 4th Quarter to give the Cavaliers their only 2016 loss, 35-28. This year the game was not nearly as close.
Coach McAullife had this to say about the big win and lofty expectations this season, “Well anytime you get to play the caliber of an opponent like Lake Travis, defending state champion and you come out on top is a pretty good marker of where we are at as a program and the direction we are heading. It’s a big win for us and a feather in our cap. Moving forward its something we can build on and we can fix the things we need to fix.”
Austin Lake Travis got the ball first. The Cavaliers and new starting QB Mathew Baldwin ( 1st career start after 2016 Charlie Brewer moved on to Baylor ) came out slinging. Last year in limited duty, Baldwin went 66 of 88 passing with 10 TDs and no interception.
On his starting drive this year, he went 4-7 aided by a big 41 yarder to star junior receiver Garrett Wilson. To score, he found tight end Kyle Wakefield in man coverage with Judson outside linebacker Shae Colvin for 14 yards and pay dirt. The drive saw no running plays (a theme for LT on the night) and a 1:52 off the clock. The Cameron Dicker (UT commitment) PAT made it 7-0.
Judson answered right back in a minute and 34 seconds. On 4th and 4 from the LT 30, Julon Williams found a streaking Kishaun Fisher down the left sideline. Fisher beat double coverage for the first Judson TD of 2017 and the 7-7 tie.
The next LT drive stalled at the Judson 30. Kicker Cameron Dicker came on and showed why he is considered one of the best in the nation. He nailed a 47 yard kick to put the Cavaliers up 10-7.
Both offenses were red hot in the first half. Judson managed to convert nine of its first eleven drives into touchdowns. LT’s Baldwin went for 21-40 for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Baldwin’s (who has pledged to Colorado State) only mistake in the first half was an interception to senior safety Rashad Wisdom. Wisdom returned it 72 yards for a pick 6 and it was 14-10 Rockets.
Baldwin and Wakefield hooked up again for their second touchdown of the half with a 5 yarder as the lead switched back - 17-14 Cavaliers.
Julon Williams and track star Kenyon Morgan needed one play to answer back. Morgan was 10 yards ahead of the defender as he hauled in the Williams pass to make the score 21-17.
This pinball scoring continued and the score at the break had the Rockets pull out to a 10 point advantage, 42-32.
The second half was more Julon Williams with his talented backfield mate Sincere McCormick providing a kick. Judson has four tailbacks that would start at 95% of the high schools in Texas. Williams too, would likely run for 2, 000 yards for most other teams if he did not have to rely on his stable of stud ball carriers. The Rockets stretched their lead to 27 points during the second half. No one in the state predicted such a lead in this power matchup.
Williams showed off his legs scoring on three consecutive drives with runs of 22, 40 and a dazzling 69 yarder that moved him over the two century mark rushing and 3 touchdowns. Williams, many publications top offensive player of the weekend, threw for 268 yards and ran for 221 yards in front of a national television audience. He showed off for the state and country on opening weekend withfive touchdowns and then committed to the University of Houston Cougars two days later for an exclamation point.
Coach McAuliffe had this to say about his four-year starting QB performance, “The proof is in the pudding!!! That guy is unbelievable. He checked us out of a play tonight that really wasn’t a very good call. Threw a hitch out there that went for 20 yards and turned the chains over. He’s kind of coach on the field. When things weren’t looking good for us defensively he’s the guy on the sideline rallying us. I’ll gladly take him hopefully for 15 more games.”
Indeed. The season is young but aspirations for the Judson Rockets go long this year.
Lake Travis will face the other San Antonio super power next week in Judson’s 27-6A arch rival Cibolo Steele who rolled San Antonio Madison on Friday night, 36-3
Judson will play San Antonio Brennan. Brennan lost by a touchdown on Saturday against San Antonio Reagan, 34-27.
By Glenn McCarthy
@GlennMcCarthy44
Players of the Game
Offense- Quarterback Julon Williams
Defense- Safety Rashad Wisdom
Scoring Summary 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Lake Travis 10 22 6 7 45
Converse Judson 14 28 20 3 65
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