Once again, the Battle of the Lakes lived up to the hype.
In the state’s capital, Westlake held off Lake Travis in a 20-14 victory at Cavalier Stadium in their third consecutive win against the Cavaliers. It was the first time the Chaps scored a victory at Cavalier Stadium since 2006.
Westlake starting quarterback Paxton Land scored the game’s first touchdown on a 19-yard dash. Lake Travis pulled even with a 1-yard score by Nico Hamilton with 9:26 left in the second.
The Chaps defense and run game stepped up in a night when their passing efforts were essentially nonexistent. Land came out of the game in the second quarter, replaced by sophomore Rees Wise, who dealt with his own struggles.
Westlake running back Jack Kayser managed a 40-yard touchdown dash in the third quarter. Kayser was a stud all night, accumulating 157 yards and a score on 28 carries.
Still, the Cavs still fought back, pulling within a score again after tight end Josiah Thomas hauled in an 11-yard score with 10:35 left.
However, Lake Travis never got the ball back.
Westlake performed a master class at controlling the clock, culminating in a Spencer Barnett 53-yard field goal that lifted the Chaps to the win; it was the kicker’s second field goal from 50 yards or more this season. In the team’s opener, Barnett booted a 59-yarder against Fort Bend Ridge Point.
Lake Travis ended the contest with less than 250 yards of offense, while averaging a mere four yards per carry.
Next up, Westlake continues their hot streak against Del Valle. With only one blemish on their record, Lake Travis heads into bye, before playing Del Valle on October 6.
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