Week 1: Westlake

Chaparrals in 2008: 9-5, 6-1, 5A DI region finalist

Last year’s game: Lake Travis 38, Westlake 17

The only team that foiled a perfect season for Lake Travis in 2007 (Westlake) got clobbered on its home field for the first time by the Cavaliers. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert led the way, throwing for 215 yards and running for another 82, scoring four total touchdowns.

Game Preview

Say what you want about the fledgling rivalry and what it means to each school, this is still going to be one of the biggest games in Central Texas this season.

That’s the way it’s been for three years, and it doesn’t look that will change anytime soon.

“This is really a lot of fun this week,” Lake Travis head coach Chad Morris said. “We tell the kids that they won’t see this kind of atmosphere again until we’re deep in the playoffs. We need to enjoy it. Soak it up.”

It’s the kind of game where you throw the records out the window. Trouble is the records only consist of one game for each team anyway. Westlake fought off Cedar Park for a 24-14 win at A.C. Bible Stadium, while Lake Travis toppled Westwood 55-31 at Round Rock ISD Stadium.

“We’re excited about the game. We’re going to get their best, and it’s going to be fun. Sure, we have bigger games down the road, but this is the biggest possible game we could play this week,” Morris said. “We’ve had a great work week to this point, and the kids are ready.”

Westlake has a new coach and a new spread formation offense, one that is built to work just like Lake Travis’ offensive onslaught. New head coach Darren Allman brings a defensive mentality to lend support to that offense.

“They’re really similar to us offensively now, they’ll spread it out a little bit and stay in the shotgun 95-percent of the time,” Morris said. “Quarterback Tanner Price is obviously a division one commit to Wake Forest and Louie Swope, a division one commit to SMU, will be all over the field for them. You’re going to see mirror image teams really.”

And even though Lake Travis has experienced the most success of late, the Cavs found something to help ensure there is a chip on their shoulder.

“One thing we’ve talked about is that the last time Lake Travis lost a home game was to Westlake three years ago,” Morris said. “So we’re out to fix that. There’s a lot at stake, but so what, it’s going to be two football teams going at it and having a good time.”

Who to watch this week

Lake Travis: Andy Erickson, RB/WR

All eyes will be on the new centerpiece of the Lake Travis offense, one week after he tallied up over 300 yards of total offense, wreaking havoc on an overwhelmed Westwood defense.

Westlake: Louie Swope, S/KR/PR

Can Swope be the Chaps’ perfect foil to Cavs’ speed demon Erickson? Westlake will have to find a way to break big plays before they happen, and Swope will be the last line of defense.

This week’s Games

Killeen vs. Killeen Shoemaker, Hendrickson vs. Burnet, Dripping Springs vs. Wimberley, Hutto @ Travis, Lampasas @ Rockdale, Marble Falls vs. Crockett

LTHS Statistical Leaders

Rushing            No            YDS            TD            AVG

Andy Erickson            9            164            1            18.22

Michael Brewer            9            21            2            2.33

Passing            C            A            I            YDS            TD

Michael Brewer            17            23            0            379            4

Receiving            No.            YDS            TD            AVG

Andy Erickson            7            163            2            23.29

Conner Floyd            5            82            0            16.4

Tanner Gillette            2            97            1            48.5

Tackles            No.            TFL            SCK            HURR

Quinton Crow            14            2            0.5            0

Austin Williams            11            0            0            0

Trevor Gillette            8            2            0            0

Shaquille Marable            8            2            0            0

Taylor Wrinkle            8            0            0            0

Ian Lazarus            7            1            0.5            0