Week 2: Aledo
Bearcats in 2009: 15-1, 4A DII champs
Last year’s game: DNP
Lake Travis took on Cedar Park last year in its third game, and romped to a 54-17 win. Meanwhile, Aledo lost its only game of the year, a 28-27 result against Weatherford on the road. Since then, both Lake Travis and Aledo have dominated 4A football like no one else.

Scouting Report

Ignore, for a moment, the fact that Lake Travis will not field its best team this Friday against Aledo and focus on the Bearcats for what they are – arguably the best football team in the state.

Because that’s exactly how Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter and his staff are looking at it. Now is not the time for excuses, especially after all of the build-up for this showdown.

“The biggest thing is that Aledo is a quality opponent,” Carter said. “We’ve been excited about this game for months, and we can’t help the injuries. All we can do is prepare the kids that are healthy and able to play, and I feel like the kids are confident and excited about Friday night.”

When talking about the Bearcats, the conversation starts and ends with junior running back Johnathan Gray. Gray carried the ball 372 times in 2009 for a staggering 2,798 yards and 50 touchdowns. In his last game against Weatherford – the only team to beat Aledo in 2009 – Gray rushed for 210 yards and five touchdowns.

“It’s unbelievable that he’s just a junior,” Carter said. “He’s so physically mature, very fast, makes hard cuts and is very hard to tackle. [Steele’s] Malcolm Brown is a big, physical back that will run you over. Gray has good size but with major speed and power.”

If Brown is a Charger and Kenny Williams is a Mustang, Gray is a Porsche – all the horsepower of the bigger models with twice the handling.
And that’s just on the ground. He also caught 10 passes for touchdowns last year.

“There’s not enough you can really say,” Carter said. “He’s got great eyesight, great hands and the scheme they run maximizes the times he’s going to touch the ball. It’s going to be a tough challenge.”

It’s even tougher because the Bearcats can throw the ball, too. The attack is about as balanced as they come with junior quarterback Matt Bishop steering the offense. And they’re pretty stout on the defensive side of the ball.

“Steve Wood is a friend and a great defensive coordinator,” Carter said. “Aledo has sound defenses every single year. You can always depend on that. They run a 4-3 and sometimes get in a 4-2-5 look. The kids do a great job. They’re always in the right place in the right time. They make you earn it.”

Lake Travis will have to tomorrow. Maybe more than ever.

Who to watch this week

Lake Travis: Defense
The Cavs face the most balanced offensive attack they’ve ever seen, one week after getting scorched on the ground.

Aledo: Johnathan Gray, RB
If Gray duplicates Kenny Williams’ effort, but with a better supporting cast, the Bearcats will end Lake Travis’ streak.

Inside the numbers

Date    Opponent    Time/Score
Aug. 28    Westlake!    W, 32-21
Sept. 3    at Hendrickson    W, 34-24
Sept. 10    Aledo    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 17    Kerrville Tivy    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24    at Dripping Springs*    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8    Vandegrift*    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15    at Vista Ridge*    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22    Rouse*    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29    at Marble Falls*    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4    Cedar Park*    7:00 p.m.
! – DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
* – District 25-4A Game
District 25-4A Standings

Team    District    Overall
Lake Travis    0-0    2-0
Cedar Park    0-0    2-0
Marble Falls    0-0    2-0
Vista Ridge    0-0    2-0
Dripping Springs    0-0    1-1
Vandegrift    0-0    1-1
Rouse    0-0    0-2

This week’s Games
Rouse vs. Hendrickson, Marble Falls vs. Burnet, Dripping Springs vs. Manor, Vista Ridge @ Del Valle, Cedar Park vs. Leander, Vandegrift @ Boerne

LTHS Statistical Leaders

Rushing    No    YDS    TD    AVG
Michael Brewer    26    106    1    4.08
Michael Pojman    18    67    1    3.72
Turney Maurer    8    51    0    6.38

Passing    C    A    I    YDS    TD
Michael Brewer    47    84    1    596    3

Receiving    No.    YDS    TD    AVG
Griffin Gilbert    17    274    1    16.11
Michael Pojman    7    64    1    9.14
Turney Maurer    6    54    0    9.00

Tackles    No.    TFL    SCK    HURR
Zach Streuling    22    2    0    0
Austin Williams    18    1    0    0
Blake Burdette    15    2    0    2
Jonathan Roberts    13    0    0    0