By Max Thompson

What a run.

I took over as the Lake Travis View sports editor in the spring of 2007, and since then, I’ve watched the Cavaliers go 31-1, win two state titles, and change the high school landscape in Central Texas.

But now that the run will be put on hold until next August, and with it, a changing of the guard, I think it’s necessary to put things in perspective.

Lake Travis head coach Chad Morris wasn’t shy about what the team has accomplished in 2008 following its state title victory.

“This has to be one of the best 4A teams in the history of Texas high school football,” he said.
And you know what, he’s got a pretty good argument, not only for this year’s team, but for two years of dominance at a pretty tough level.

Let’s take a look at this year’s team alone.

The Cavaliers scored a total of 784 points in 2008. That’s good enough for fifth all-time in the state of Texas. Big Sandy’s 1975 team holds the all-time record with 824 – in 14 games, no less. Lake Travis is now tied with Waco’s 1927 squad, and finished just five points shy of Mart’s 1999 group that scored 789. Not bad, especially when you consider that outside of Mart, no other team in the top five set its mark after 1994.

Lake Travis defeated its opponents by an average of nearly 33 points per game. Think about that. Five scores. The closest win of the season was the opener against Westwood, when the Cavs held on for a 27-20 victory. Since then, only three teams – Cedar Park, Evangel Christian and Cibolo Steele – have lost by less than 21.

Five Cavaliers made the all-state team. They were quarterback Garrett Gilbert, receiver Cade McCrary, lineman Paden Kelley and linebackers Quinton Crow and Harry Hatch.

Two players are heading to the University of Texas – Kelley and Gilbert, with a few other seniors still sifting through offers.

It was a year of milestones for the program, as the Cavaliers beat Westlake for the first time in three attempts, and went undefeated for the first time.

The Cavaliers dominated a district that produced two regional finalists in Killeen and Hendrickson, and a Dripping Springs team that fell just short of an area title. That means the district accounted for 13 wins in the 4A playoffs. A district that presented little to no challenge to Lake Travis, as the Cavaliers won its district games by an average of nearly 45 points per game.

Since an 0-10 2002 campaign, the Cavaliers have gone 61-15, won five straight district titles and finished the 2008 season as not only the No. 1 4A team in Texas, but the No. 4 team in the nation.

Cavalier players now hold (unofficially) six all-time state records.

And the future looks bright.

The Cavaliers bring back defensive leaders Quinton Crow and Ian Lazarus, and plenty of offense with Andy Erickson, Conner Floyd, Ian Kelso, Will Hawk, Taylor Doyle and Michael Brewer all returning.

Both junior varsity teams were district champions, as well as one of the three freshman teams.

Of course, it won’t be easy. It never is, despite how the team makes it look each week on the field.

“It takes so much hard work, so much dedication, so many hours away from your family, but it’s worth every bit of it,” Lake Travis head coach Chad Morris said after Saturday’s championship win. “It’s a huge deal to get here, I’ve been here five times. It’s a bigger deal to win it. I tried to stress that to our kids.”

The expectation won’t change next year, which just shows how far the Cavaliers have come. From no wins in 2002, to an atmosphere where anything short of a state title is a disappointment.