Week 5: Hutto

Hippos in 2008: 6-4, 2-4, did not make playoffs

Last year’s game: Lake Travis 55, Hutto 20

Hutto jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, marching down the field on its first drive of the game, but Lake Travis fired back, scoring on two plays on the ensuing drive. The Cavs never looked back, blowing out the Hippos in a game that, at the time, many felt would be the Cavs’ biggest district challenge.

Game Preview

Lake Travis head coach Chad Morris isn’t interested in a repeat to the start of last year’s game against Hutto. But he’s more than hopeful for a repeat of the final score. After the Hippos jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, Lake Travis blew them away en route to a 55-20 win.

Hutto’s tricky option offense will again present problems for the Cavaliers’ defense, but Morris is confident the defense learned its lesson last year.

“[Hutto] ran more wishbone sets last year than they have been this year, but it doesn’t change much,” Morris said. “We have to play smart assignment football against a team like this. If we do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”

The Cavaliers are already in good physical shape, outrunning a talented Killeen team midway through the second quarter in last week’s win.

“It was around then that I asked our offensive line if Killeen’s defensive line was firing off the ball like they were at the beginning of the game,” Morris said. “They told me it wasn’t even close to the same. At that point, I knew we had them.”

Lake Travis will lean on the same premise this week against a Hutto team filled with two-way players that the Cavaliers hope to leave gasping for breath before they even have a chance to keep the game close.

The Hippos have plenty of talent, but depth has been an issue since moving up from 3A, and barring lapses on Lake Travis’  part, that lack of depth should spell Hutto’s demise.

Who to watch this week

Lake Travis: Defense

Stopping the option offense the Hippos run comes down to sticking with assignments. The Cavaliers’ success depends on great preparation and execution.

Hutto: Nehemiah Hicks, DE

Hicks is one of the best football players in the state, and is a force on the defensive side of the ball. The Texas A&M commit plays offense, too, but the scheme doesn’t utilize his talents well.

Inside the numbers

Date            Opponent            Time/Score

Aug. 30            at Westwood            W, 55-31

Sept. 4            Westlake            W, 42-21

Sept. 10            at Cedar Park            W, 54-17

Sept. 18            at Boerne            W, 52-0

Sept. 25            at Killeen*            W, 56-31

Oct. 2            Hutto*            7:30

Oct. 9            at Lampasas*            7:30

Oct. 16            Hendrickson*            7:30

Oct. 30            at Dripping Springs*            7:30

Nov. 6            Marble Falls*            7:30

* – District 25-4A Game

District 25-4A Standings

Team            District            Overall

Lake Travis            1-0            5-0

Marble Falls            1-0            4-1

Hendrickson            1-0            3-1

Hutto            0-1            3-2

Killeen            0-1            3-2

Dripping Springs            0-1            2-3

Lampasas            0-0            1-3

This week’s Games

Killeen @ Dripping Springs, Hutto @ Lake Travis, Lampasas @ Hendrickson, Marble Falls – Open

LTHS Statistical Leaders

Rushing            No            YDS            TD            AVG

Andy Erickson            39            388            6            9.95

Michael Brewer            32            180            8            5.63

Michael Pojman            28            134            0            4.78

Passing            C            A            I            YDS            TD

Michael Brewer            92            126            1            1,681            16

Receiving            No.            YDS            TD            AVG

Conner Floyd            26            546            3            21.0

Andy Erickson            22            588            6            26.7

Griffin Gilbert            18            194            2            10.7

Tanner Gillette            14            233            3            16.6

Tackles            No.            TFL            SCK            HURR

Quinton Crow            47            4            1.5            0

Austin Williams            42            1            0            0

Hunter Akers            37            0            0            0

Ian Lazarus            32            1            0.5            2

Shaquille Marable            31            5            1            1