Even though we’re just three weeks from the first round of the state football playoffs, it’s still pretty difficult to figure out exactly who Lake Travis will play in the first rounds.
This much is clear – it’s likely LBJ will be the bi-district opponent in the first week, as long as Crockett doesn’t find a way into the playoffs. That’s a long shot, though, as the Cougars are 0-3 in district play.
From there, it’s tough to tell. The area championship opponent will again come from 27-4A, but it may not be state No. 8 Cibolo Steele, after all. Right now, Steele and Alamo Heights are tied for first in the district with records of 4-0. Heights and Steele meet in the final game of the regular season on Nov. 6. If both teams remain unbeaten to that point, the winner will likely end up playing Lake Travis in the second round, barring a major first-round upset.
The best teams so far this season in Region IV are San Antonio Brackenridge (6-1, 4-0), Medina Valley (7-1, 4-0), Port Lavaca Calhoun (6-2, 4-0), Corpus Christi Calallen (7-0, 4-0), Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (6-1, 4-0), Weslaco East (7-0, 4-0) and Mission (6-1, 4-0). Calallen has been the highest ranked of that group, just outside the state top 10.
Maybe half of those teams will go DI in the playoffs.
If you haven’t been keeping up, Lake Travis and Longview do appear to be on a collision course.
The Cavalier coaches and players will not call a state championship appearance a foregone conclusion, but the reality is that Lake Travis remains on the weaker side of the playoff bracket.
Regions I and II meet on the Longview side of the bracket to fight for a state title berth, and Regions III and IV meet on the Lake Travis side. Last week, No. 1 Lake Travis (8-0), No. 5 Angleton (6-0) and No. 8 Steele (6-1) were the only teams in the AP poll’s 4A Top 10 from Regions III and IV.
On the other side, No. 2 Denton Guyer (7-0), No. 3 Longview (7-1), No. 4 Waxahachie (7-0), No. 6 Highland Park (6-1), No. 7 Big Spring (7-0), No. 9 Hewitt Midway (6-1) and No. 10 Lake Dallas (6-1). It’s definitely a tougher road for the Lobos.

Who to watch this week

Kerrville Tivy @ Cibolo Steele
This one should be interesting. If Steele loses, it would likely mean the Knights wouldn’t meet the Cavs until later in the playoffs, rather than the second round like last year. If Steele wins, though, all that’s left is a date with Alamo Heights.

Marble Falls @ Lampasas
With both teams at 1-2 in district play, the winner still holds hope for a playoff spot and the loser gets sent packing. Marble Falls has the greater uphill climb considering the Mustangs still have to face Lake Travis, while the Badgers already have.

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*    W, 57-16
Oct. 9    at Lampasas*    W, 38-7
Oct. 16    Hendrickson*    W, 58-15
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    4-0    8-0
Hendrickson    3-1    5-2
Killeen    2-1    5-2
Hutto    2-2    5-3
Marble Falls    1-2    5-3
Lampasas    1-2    2-5
Dripping Springs    0-4    2-6

This week’s Games
Dripping Springs @ Hendrickson, Killeen @ Hutto, Marble Falls @ Lampasas, Lake Travis – Open

LTHS Statistical Leaders

Rushing    No    YDS    TD    AVG
Andy Erickson    54    542    11    10.04
Michael Brewer    47    274    10    5.83
Michael Pojman    44    171    2    3.90

Passing    C    A    I    YDS    TD
Michael Brewer    148    199    1    2,643    24

Receiving    No.    YDS    TD    AVG
Conner Floyd    41    858    7    20.9
Andy Erickson    33    742    6    22.48
Griffin Gilbert    26    297    4    11.42
Tanner Gillette    23    420    3    18.26

Tackles    No.    TFL    SCK    HURR
Quinton Crow    87    2    1.5    0
Austin Williams    82    2    0    0
Ian Lazarus    65    1    0.5    2
Hunter Akers    58    0    0    0
Trevor Gillette    58    7    1.0    4