Posted: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:10 AM - 8,317 Readers
By: Rick Kretzschmar
There's an obvious difference for the offense of the Lake Travis football team from 2008 to 2009. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert led the Cavaliers to a 48-23 win over Longview in the 2008 Class 4A Division I state championship game, capping an outstanding high-school career by accounting for 436 total yards and six touchdowns.
In 2009, Gilbert is backing up Colt McCoy for the University of Texas, but Lake Travis continues to post big numbers as the Cavaliers average 49.1 points and 482.8 yards per game.
A more subtle difference between 2008 and 2009 is Lake Travis isn't blowing away opponents like last year. A year ago, Lake Travis' average victory margin was 40.4 points. This year, it's a still-impressive margin of 31.2 points.
However, the offense has shown signs of vulnerability. Lake Travis didn't score in the fourth quarter of an area playoff against Cibolo Steele, holding on for a 27-20 win.
The key when Lake Travis' offense matches up against Longview's defense Saturday in the 2009 Class 4A Division I state championship game is which unit can smooth out the chinks in its respective armor. In Longview's case, will it bring a defense that held eight opponents to 14 points or less this season — and carried the load in a 14-13 area-playoff win over Hewitt Midway — or a unit that has had flaws in its last three playoff games, allowing an average of 26.3 points and 341.3 yards per game?
When Lake Travis runs the ballMichael Brewer and Andy Erickson are better known for what they do in Lake Travis' passing game. Running is a secondary role for both players, but they're pretty good at it.
Brewer has taken over at quarterback and is a solid running threat, picking up 585 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. Longview coach John King said Brewer is a better runner than Gilbert.
Lake Travis runs a spread-option attack, and Erickson has been a constant big-play threat running the ball. Erickson has rushed for 1,024 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
Longview defensive back Alonte' Darden said Longview's defensive line must do a good job holding ground. Nose tackle Bubba Vactor has been solid in holding the line with 68 tackles and 13 for losses this season. He recorded a team-high 10 tackles last week against Denton Guyer. Defensive end Jeremiah Farley, who has verbally committed to Houston, has 38 tackles, eight for losses.
Longview's linebackers have been excellent recently. Diop Johnson has 75 tackles, including 13 two weeks ago against Waxahachie. Chris Weaver has 62 tackles with a team-high 17 for losses.
"We have to keep their quarterback contained from running outside the pocket, because he could run or pass," Darden said. "We need no gaps. They ran free a little too much last year."
Vactor said Lake Travis has good size on its offensive line and it could be the best he has played this year. Ian Kelso (6-0, 265) anchors the line.
When Lake Travis passes the ballThe battle between the Lake Travis passing game and the Longview passing defense could be the one that decides the game.
Brewer has passed for 4,252 yards and 41 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Erickson has 56 receptions for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Conner Floyd has 65 receptions for 1,255 yards and eight touchdowns. Lake Travis has four receivers with at least 40 receptions and 500 yards each, including Garrett Gilbert's younger brother Griffin Gilbert (43 receptions, 522 yards).
While the numbers scream big plays, Longview defensive back Joe Brown said Lake Travis can wear a team down one short pattern at a time.
"They do a lot of 10-yard sideline routes. It's more of a timing thing, and their quarterback puts it right on the money," Brown said.
Longview has allowed more than 200 passing yards in each of the past two weeks. The Lobos yielded a 99-yard touchdown pass against Waxahachie.
A common tactic from Longview's opponents is to match up a tall receiver against 5-6 Longview cornerback Addison McGee, but McGee has frequently played larger than his height. McGee has 18 pass breakups and a team-high seven interceptions.
"It's all in the mind. I like to play big," McGee said. "When they go up for the ball, I like to be right there with them. I look forward to that every week."
While the Lobos have allowed yardage of late, they have maintained a recent trend of punishing receivers after receptions. Brown leads Longview with 105 tackles while probable college prospect Darden has 98 tackles.
Darden said his team has to tackle better than it did in the 2008 title game and up the ante on punishing receivers who make catches.
"We have to get every tackle, and have a little more pop in our hits."
OverviewThe 2008 game was a bad day for Longview's defense as Lake Travis rolled for 502 yards.
With another potent offense returning, shutting down such an offense may be asking too much.
If Longview's defense is clicking, however, it could have an effort that keeps Lake Travis in check, similar to what Cibolo Steele and Alamo Heights did earlier in the playoffs.
The key for that containment could be more internal than what Lake Travis does.
"It's hard to remember how many breakdowns we had last year. It felt like eight or nine," Vactor said. "If we make a mistake, we have to nip it in the bud."
photography by Les Hassell/New-Journal Photo
