Posted: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:33 AM - 22,983 Readers
By: Rick Cantu
photography by Deborah Cannon
Lake Travis will continue its Drive for Five, moving ahead in the high school football playoffs after its defense saved the season. In a tight struggle at Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Cavaliers defeated district rival Cedar Park 14-9 Friday night .
Lake Travis (14-0) will next play the winner of today's Class 4A, Division I state quarterfinal between Angleton and Pearland Dawson . The Cavaliers' state semifinal will be Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Appropriately, it was the Cavaliers' defense that sealed the victory . Safety Brock Kenyon's interception deep in Lake Travis territory with 52 seconds to play ended Cedar Park's bid for the upset.
"It was an awesome team effort," Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said. "I don't care if it was ugly. I'll take this any day of the week."
Lake Travis extended its playoff winning streak to a state-record 28 games, which includes a run of four straight Class 4A state titles. The Cavaliers won despite going scoreless in the second half, when their defense kept Cedar Park from adding any points, too.
Cedar Park (11-3) was driving for a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but two holding penalties on the Timberwolves stopped the rally. One call wiped out a 25-yard pass from Brian Hogan to Bill Estevanott that had brought Cedar Park at the Lake Travis 11.
While the Lake Travis offense struggled for most of the game, the Cavaliers' defense limited Cedar Park to a season-low 212 total yards.
Among the Cavaliers deserving of game balls were safety Zach Streuling (11 tackles), defensive end Tyler Paulsen (10 tackles), linebacker Corbin Crow (7 tackles) and defensive back Luke Hutton (7 tackles).
"Our offense didn't pick it up tonight," Cavalier receiver Griffin Gilbert said, "but I'm really proud of our defense. It's always tough to face a power team, especially Cedar Park. It's like trying to stop a freight train."
Paulsen praised Cedar Park, particularly Wolves quarterback Brian Hogan, who completed his high school career with a team-high 64 rushing yards plus 79 yards passing . "Brian Hogan is phenomenal," Paulsen said. "He can give you a lot of trouble, but we just had to fight hard and push through."
Lake Travis stopped a pair of Cedar Park drives in the second half on interceptions by Kenyon and Dane Balazs. Balazs' pick was vital because Cedar Park had started a drive at the Lake Travis 37.
The Cavaliers led 14-9 at halftime on the strength of two big plays — a 45-yard punt return by Cameron Wrinkle that set up a touchdown and a 44-yard scoring burst by running back Varshaun Nixon.
Cedar Park took a 9-6 lead in the second quarter on the strength of a 22-yard touchdown pass from Hogan to Ethan Fry and a 32-yard field goal by Austin Randa. Randa's field goal with 5:59 to play in the second quarter gave the Timberwolves plenty to shout about — for 27 seconds.
Lake Travis scored quickly on its ensuing possession when Nixon raced around left end with 5:22 to go in the quarter.
Earlier, the Cavaliers took advantage of Wrinkle's long punt return, taking a 7-0 lead on Baker Mayfield's 17-yard touchdown strike to Gilbert.
This was the fourth time Cedar Park and Lake Travis have met in the past two seasons. Last season, the Cavaliers topped the Timberwolves 21-20 in a 4A state quarterfinal .
