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Chaps Break the Streak

photos: Steve Thomas, video: Allen Perkins

Westlake Tops Lake Travis in Battle of the Lakes

For the past twelve years, the Austin Westlake Chaparrals and the Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers have met at least once per year in the Battle of the Lakes. Despite its young age, the rivalry has been as bitter and intense as much older rivalries. The rivalry has also featured some major talent, especially at quarterback. Westlake alumni of the rivalry include Philadelphia Eagles second-string quarterback Nick Foles and Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Lake Travis alumni include former Super Bowl champion and current Carolina Panthers practice squad quarterback, Garrett Gilbert and Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and Heisman-hopeful Baker Mayfield.

The timing of this year’s Battle Lakes was appropriate given that Ehlinger and Mayfield will face off in Saturday’s Red River Showdown.

After Westlake won the first two meetings, Lake Travis had won ten consecutive games in the series. Last year the Cavaliers dominated the Chaps twice, once in the regular season 49-7 and then a 51-3 rout in the 6A D1 Region IV Final.

Friday night, the Chaps entered the game at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in district. Lake Travis, meanwhile entered the game at 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district. The Cavaliers lone loss on the season came in the season opener to Converse Judson. While the Cavaliers had been averaging 50 points/game, their defense had also been allowing 35 points per game.

To open the game, the Chaps drove methodically down the field; and senior running back Nakia Watson capped off the drive with a twelve-yard touchdown run to put the Chaps up 7-0. The Westlake defense then forced the Cavaliers to go three-and- out, but junior defensive back/wide receiver Garrett Wilson intercepted Westlake senior quarterback Taylor Anderson’s pass near midfield on the ensuing drive. Wilson nearly turned his own interception into points, but he was unable to haul in senior quarterback Matthew Baldwin’s deep pass. Wilson made up for the drop two drives later, however, when he tied the game at 7-7 on a 74-yard touchdown catch. Baldwin then scored on a three-yard touchdown keeper midway through the second quarter to give the Cavaliers a 14-7 lead going into halftime.

After the Westlake defense forced Lake Travis to go three-and- out to start the second half, Taylor Anderson scored on a 22-yard touchdown keeper to tie the game at 14-14. The Chaps had a chance to go ahead by three early in the fourth quarter, but senior kicker Gabriel Lozano missed a 33-yard field goal attempt to leave the game tied.

Lake Travis then drove deep into Westlake territory thanks in large part to a 58-yard pass from Baldwin to sophomore wide receiver Hudson Card. On the next play, however, senior defensive lineman Braden Cassity sacked Baldwin for a four-yard loss. Senior defensive back Matthew Sams then ended the Cavaliers’ drive with an interception. On the next drive, Anderson gashed the Lake Travis defense on a 46-yard keeper; and Nakia Watson put the Chaps ahead 21-14 on a one-yard run three plays later.

The Cavaliers returned the ensuing kickoff to the fifty yard line and appeared to be in good position to tie the game. After successfully converting on fourth and five on an end around play, the Cavaliers faced fourth and six again four plays later with under one minute to play. Baldwin connected with Wilson on a six-yard pass, that seemed to be a first down inside the Red Zone.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats as officials brought out the chains for a measurement. Fans on both sides of the ball held their breath before Wilson was ruled to be just short of the first down marker. With that, the Westlake faithful erupted in celebration as the Chaps broke the losing streak against Lake Travis.

With the win, Westlake improves to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in district. The Chaps have a bye next week before travelling to Kyle to take on the Kyle Lehman Lobos on October 27. The Lobos are 1-6 overall and 0-3 in district. Lake Travis, meanwhile, falls to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in district. The Cavaliers will host Kyle Lehman next week.

by Steve Thomas

Westlake taking the field at halftime
#1 Hudson Cord (Lake Travis) on a return
#5 Taylor Anderson (Westlake) scores
Westlake Celebration
Westlake Sign

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