Yesterday marked the beginning of a journey. The coming of such a feat isn’t simply handed out, nor is it easily earned. To get to this moment, time and effort was habituated and every ounce of sweat and blood that a player could possess was offered up. These young men willingly gave up their mornings and afternoons for a belief that their passion for the game of football would pay off.
Last night, on November 11th, the 2016 UIL State Championship Playoffs kicked off. At Cavalier Stadium, fans gathered to watch Lake Travis High School and Madison High School go head-to-head for a chance at a Bi-District title. Lake Travis was 6-0 in the district and 9-1 overall, continuously shutting down their past opponents in routine fashion. The Cavaliers are ranked 48 in the nation and 5 in the state of Texas. They have been proving their skill-depth and strategizing techniques consistently and have faltered little in the components that make up a state-bound team. Madison High School was 2-4 in their district and 4-6 overall. Madison has had some big wins and has continued to show improvement throughout their district season. The recent hiring of John Campbell, Madison’s new coach and athletic coordinator, has re-shaped how the Mavericks play football and officially put their team on the map.
Lake Travis started off in high-gear in the first quarter, scoring two touchdowns within the first few minutes and managing to create a gap in between them and their opponents score. Finishing the 1st Quarter 34-0, Lake Travis continued to put up a strong front. Madison’s defense kicked up a notch, halting the Cavalier’s momentum to an extent, though not enough to keep the high-octane team from putting up points on the board. Lake Travis quarterback, Charlie Brewer, completed a 23 yard pass to Cade Brewer for a touchdown with 4 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. The Cavs led 42-0 at the half and showed no signs of slowing down. The Lake Travis’s defense remained energized and stubborn, shutting down Madison’s offense with ease and without mitigation. With 8 minutes to go in the 4th, Matthew Baldwin completed a 16 yard pass to Connor Hawley for another touchdown, increasing the Cavaliers score to 56-0. Finding an opening in the LT defense, Madison’s running back threw a halfback pass for a score, putting 7 points on the board. Lake Travis has once again defeated their competitor with well thought-out execution and style.
As further games go for the Cavaliers, the road to State only increases in difficulty from here on out. Smithson Valley, a tough competitor that will no doubt challenge Lake Travis’s winning streak, is scheduled to play the Cavs next week. This is where all of the the team’s hard work and diligent preparation will not only be tested, but will hopefully pay off.
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