Posted: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45 AM - 7,544 Readers
By: Rick Cantu
photo by Rodolfo Gonzalez
Top-ranked Lake Travis began its journey to a third straight Class 4A football championship by dismantling Crockett 58-7 in a bi-district game Thursday night at Cavalier Stadium.
In what amounted to little more than a scrimmage, the Cavaliers improved their state-best winning streak to 41 games. Junior quarterback Michael Brewer was nearly unstoppable, passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns before being removed with five minutes left in the second quarter and the Cavs holding a 55-7 lead.
Lake Travis (11-0) expects a stronger challenge in next week's area playoff against the winner of tonight's San Antonio Jefferson-Schertz Steele bi-district game.
Cavaliers coach Chad Morris told his players the area playoff will be at Nov. 21 at the Alamodome.
"The guys came out excited tonight, knowing it would be their last home game, and I hope we can feed off this emotion (for the remainder of the playoffs)," Morris said.
Lake Travis is expecting to play Steele, which has been in or near the state's top 10 for most of the season.
"We know that everyone circles us on their calendars since Week 1," Brewer said.
On Thursday the quarterback said Lake Travis established "a rhythm" on both sides of the ball.
Crockett might have been intimidated before the game as Lake Travis suited up about 100 players, many who were called up from junior varsity and freshman teams to give them a taste of the playoffs.
Brewer made good use of his time on the field by completing 12 of 15 passes, including a screen to senior flex back Andy Erickson for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Erickson contributed three more touchdowns — all in the first half — on runs of 1, 2 and 25 yards. He gained 146 total yards.
Lake Travis led 41-7 after one quarter and expanded to 55-7 when Brewer completed the first-half scoring with a 19-yard toss to Alex Matthews.
Senior safety Taylor Wrinkle intercepted two passes in the first half, running one back 45 yards for another touchdown.
Crockett's lone highlight was an 81-yard touchdown pass from Paul Wagner to Ryan Vaughn midway through the first quarter.
Lake Travis, leading 55-7 at halftime, played its reserves for most of the second half. The only score of the second half was a 25-yard field goal by senior kicker Kramer Fyfe.
Lake Travis entered the game with an average of 51 points per game. Brewer's three touchdown passes give him 33 for the season — against only two interceptions.
Lake Travis opened the second half with the brother combination of Ian and Griffen Lazarus playing defense. Ian has been a mainstay at linebacker for three years, while Griffen, a freshman cornerback, got his taste of varsity competition.
Senior linebacker Quinton Crow and his brother Corbin, a sophomore linebacker, also played together.
So did Wrinkle and his brother Cameron, a sophomore running back.
"This was a buildup game that shows us what we need to do (in future playoff games)," Quinton Crow said.
The goal is to play on Dec. 19, the date for the 4A state championship, Morris said.
With one down, the Cavs have five more to go to reach their dream.
