Posted: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:45 AM - 13,337 Readers
By: Rick Cantu
Even when he sleeps, Marshall Womack cannot escape the weighty expectations that come with his team's pursuit of high school football immortality.
"I probably have more nightmares about losing than dreams ," said Womack, a senior left tackle in his first season as a starter for Lake Travis, a four-time defending state champion.
Last season, Lake Travis matched Sealy and Celina as the only schools to win four state titles in a row. Sealy did it in Class 3A from 1994 to 1997 while Celina piled up four consecutive state titles in Class 2A, Division II from 1998 to 2001.
The Cavaliers have won four in a row in Class 4A and are in position to make history. This year's team motto comes as no surprise: The Drive for Five.
Neither Sealy nor Celina won a fifth consecutive state title, and the pressure to keep the streak alive at Lake Travis is as visible as the four silver stars that adorn the sides of the Cavaliers' helmets, constant reminders of the last four state championships .
"We can't expect anything less than winning state again," said senior slotback Cameron Wrinkle . "If we don't get it, we're the class that ruined it all."
If capturing No. 5 is not enough incentive, Lake Travis has another reason to keep winning. The Cavaliers have won 24 straight playoff games, one short of the state record set by Celina during its championship run and a subsequent bidistrict victory in 2002.
The Cavaliers' new starting quarterback, Colin Lagasse, said the team has enough talent to win another state championship on Dec. 16 at Cowboys Stadium, but he warned that it's too early to order more stars for the helmets. "No team wants to be the one that loses, but we're not getting ahead of ourselves," he said.
Second-year head coach Hank Carter said his squad has plenty of challenges ahead. Beaten by Cedar Park for the District 25-4A championship last season , Lake Travis will have four new offensive linemen, and one of its top receivers, Dannon Cavil, recently surprised his teammates by transferring to San Antonio Madison.
Lagasse received valuable experience last season when starting quarterback Michael Brewer, now at Texas Tech, missed three games with a shoulder injury.
The defense returns seven starters and should be solid, but the Cavaliers must plug large gaps left by the departures of linebacker Austin Williams, end Shaquille Marable, tackle Jonathan Roberts and cornerback Omar Duke-Tinson. All-district first-team safety Zach Streuling leads a unit that also returns end Tyler Paulsen, tackle Jude Jeffress, inside linebacker Blake Burdette, outside linebacker Paul Heinen and safety Dane Balazs.
"This team has a lot of athleticism," Lagasse said of the 2011 squad, which tops the American-Statesman's high school preseason power poll. "Maybe not as much leadership, but that's something we have to work on."
Among the new players who will have critical roles is sophomore running back Shaun Nixon . Although he has yet to take a varsity snap, Nixon has drawn recruiting interest from Texas, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oregon and North Carolina. According to Jeff Howe of Hookem.com, Nixon has received a scholarship offer from Clemson, whose offensive coordinator is former Lake Travis coach Chad Morris.
Carter described Nixon as "very physical," and his new teammates appear to agree.
"It takes about half of our defense to bring him down," Wrinkle said. "He just ran over everyone (on the freshman team), and he'd score a touchdown on every other play."
Lagasse has a wealth of capable receivers to target , none better - or taller - than Griffin Gilbert. The 6-foot-5-inch senior, who has committed to TCU, caught 74 passes for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He finished with four receptions for 88 yards in the 27-7 victory over Denton Ryan in the Class 4A, Division I state championship game.
"He's taller than almost every guy who tries to cover him," Lagasse said. "I can throw the ball high knowing that if he doesn't catch it, no one's going to catch it."
The combination of offensive firepower and defensive experience will benefit the Cavaliers in their quest for another state championship. With less than four months to go before the playoffs begin, though, there is work to do - and time to dream. "It's amazing to think about," Wrinkle said. "I just want to carry on the Lake Travis tradition, and it would be amazing to be part of history."
Title No. 1Year: 2007 • Record: 15-1 • Coach: Jeff Dicus
State-title game: def. Highland Park 36-34 in Class 4A, Division II final
Looking back: After a 28-21 loss to Westlake in the second week of the season, the Cavaliers roll to 14 straight victories. … QB Garrett Gilbert sets state records for pass completions (359) and yards (4,827) while throwing for 52 TDs. … WR Jason Bird finishes with a state-record 153 receptions, including 11 catches for 102 yards in the state final. … After the season, coach Jeff Dicus departs for Duncanville.
Title No. 2Year: 2008 • Record: 16-0 • Coach: Chad Morris
State-title game: def. Longview 48-23 in Class 4A, Division I final
Looking back: Chad Morris arrives from Stephenville to become head coach. … QB Garrett Gilbert becomes state's all-time passing leader with 12,534 yards. In final prep season, he throws for 4,851 yards and 55 TDs. … Winning streak stretches to 30 games. … Cavs average 53.8 points per game in six playoff victories.
Title No. 3Year: 2009 • Record: 16-0 • Coach: Chad Morris
State-title game: def. Longview 24-17 in Class 4A, Division I final
Looking back: RB Andy Erickson scores a combined 37 TDs rushing or receiving. … Following Garrett Gilbert, QB Michael Brewer throws for 4,450 yards and 43 TDs. … Winning streak climbs to 46 games. … After a second straight unbeaten season, coach Chad Morris leaves to become co-offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa.
Title No. 4Year: 2010 • Record: 14-2 • Coach: Hank Carter
State-title game: def. Denton Ryan 27-7 in Class 4A, Division I final
Looking back: Hank Carter, team's defensive coordinator in 2009, promoted to head coach. … Winning streak ends at 48 games with 14-10 loss to Aledo in season's third week. … Cavs avenge regular-season loss to Cedar Park with victory in state quarterfinal. … In state final, Lake Travis defense denies Denton Ryan a first down until third quarter.
