Vandegrift (5-4, 4-1) at Lake Travis (8-1, 5-0)
Cavalier Stadium
Friday, Nov. 4 @ 7:30 p.m.
By SCOTT W. COLEMAN
Four Points News
There’s no more imposing team in Central Texas in Class 6A right now than Lake Travis.
The No. 3 Cavaliers are averaging 52 points a game and have scored 49 or more points in all but two of their games this season. They haven’t allowed but two touchdowns — both in the fourth quarter — at home in since the season-opener to Judson on Aug. 26. In district play, the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents 341-28.
And all of that with SMU-committed quarterback Charlie Brewer playing sparingly as coach Hank Carter had the ability to rest Brewer once the team jumped out to early leads in most of its games this season. Still, Brewer enters the final game of the regular season averaging 229 passing and 411 rushing yards a game. With 28 passing and 34 total touchdowns to his credit, Brewer has yet to throw an interception this season.
Senior running back Maleek Barkley, who played in last year’s 6A, Division II state title game with Brewer and leading receiver Cade Green, leads the team in rushing with 702 yards and 11 touchdowns. Green has 25 catches for 463 yards and seven touchdowns.
To say that Friday’s game will be a challenge for Vandegrift is more than fair.
However, the Vipers are riding a wave of momentum that started five weeks ago with a 55-0 win over Lehman. Vandegrift’s defense, which has played well all season, seems to just keep getting better.
The Vipers have held opponents to 14 points a game, have racked up 16 sacks, 14 interceptions, 11 fumbles and a whopping 58 tackles for loss. If there’s a weakness, though, it’s in pass defense. While Vandegrift has been tough against the run, an accurate and mobile quarterback like Brewer is likely to keep the Vipers on their toes.
There’s little doubt that Lake Travis will get into the end zone on Friday. The Cavs’ explosive offense has literally dozens of so-called ‘explosive’ plays — defined as plays that go for more than 15 yards from scrimmage — this season. A large number of those went for touchdowns.
Vandegrift’s strength on defense is in the trenches. If the Vipers can limit the running game and get pressure on Brewer, they should be able to limit some of those explosive plays.
On offense, Vandegrift will need the best yet from a group that has already been tested by quality opponents several times this year.
While the game won’t be easy, the Vipers are in a great position to challenge the Cavaliers for supremacy in District 25-6A on Friday.