The play-offs started with a bang last week. Now it’s time for round two. I went to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of
Texas State University in San Marcos to see the Lake Travis Cavaliers in action
against the Smithson Valley Rangers. I
saw Hank Carter’s Lake Travis team the second week of the season. They were coming off a home loss to Converse
Judson to start the season and needed double overtime to beat Cibolo
Steele. Since that night, the Cavs have
ripped off nine straight wins. They
knocked off San Antonio Madison last week 56-7.
At 10-1, they are ranked #5 in Texas 6A football. Larry Hill is in his 20th year as head
coach of Smithson Valley. This summer he
was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor. He leads a team with an 8-2 record that is on
a seven game winning streak. They
defeated San Antonio Warren 53-7 in first round play last week. The Rangers are ranked #18.
A cold front had moved through Texas earlier in the
day. It was dry, but there was a strong
wind out of the north and the temperatures were falling.
One play-off game is in the books. Four more wins and your team gets to play for
the state championship at Jerry’s World.
This should be a good one. . .
I got some barbecue before I got to the stadium. While the teams finished putting
on their game faces, let me show you how I got my game face on. . .
The
Barbecue
Austin traffic was horrible on a Friday night, so it
was well after dark when I got to San Marcos BBQ located at 2601 Hunter Road in
San Marcos. They do not have a big sign
out front, so I missed them the first time I drove past. If I had the windows of the minivan opened,
maybe I could have found them from the smell of barbecue cooking.
Unfortunately for me, they were out of pork ribs when
I got there. I was able to order some
moist brisket and sausage. The brisket
had a nice, dark bark and a good smoke ring cooked into the meat. It was juicy and full of smoky flavor, but my
slices were a bit stringy, the result of being cut with the grain instead of
against it. The sausage had a nice snap
to it and was not greasy. It was full of
spicy flavor and not too many fillers.
They offered a sweet and a spicy sauce.
Both were flavorful and good compliments to the meat.
San Marcos BBQ is a typical Texas barbecue joint –
nothing fancy, no pretense, just good food.
The guys and girls working there on a Friday evening were friendly and
nice to talk with. A nice place to
gather with friends and family. I will
need to stop by when the sun is shining so I can sample their pork ribs. I rate San Marcos BBQ as a single Hook ‘Em.
The
Game
With a cold front having moved through Texas earlier
in the day, it was 57 degrees at kick-off.
Smithson Valley received the opening kick-off and headed into the
wind. They went three and out and were
forced to punt. A short kick into the
wind gave the ball to Lake Travis on the Rangers 35 yard line.
On the Cavs first play, quarterback Charlie Brewer
found Cade Green open on a deep slant good to the Rangers 5 yard line. Maleek Barkley carried the ball wide right
for a touchdown. The extra point was no
good leaving the score 6-0.
 |
| Maleek Barkley scores first touchdown of the game |
The Rangers could not sustain a drive and were forced
to punt. Passes by Brewer and runs by
Barkley moved the ball into the Rangers red zone. Smithson Valley had a chance to end the
drive, but dropped a sure interception.
Brewer scrambled up the middle and was tackled on the 5, then threw to
Green for the touchdown. The extra point
made it 13-0.
The Rangers returned the kick-off to their 19. Quarterback Josh Adkins threw to Josh Dillon
over the middle for big yardage past midfield, but Dillon was stripped of the
ball and Lake Travis recovered. In the
second quarter, the Cavs drove downfield again.
They settled for a 22 yard field goal to extend their lead to 16-0.
Late in the second quarter, Brewer was sacked on third
down and the Cavs had to punt into the wind.
Adkins passed to Trevon Moehrig-Woodard on the left sideline. He broke a tackle, got a good downfield block
from Davis Grochett and scored from 60 yards out. The extra point made the score 16-7 with 1:20
before half time.
 |
| Trevon Mowhrig-Woodard turns a sideline pass into a 60 yard touchdown |
Lake Travis took possession on their 28. Brewer’s pass in the flat to Garrett
Bressette was almost intercepted, but Bressette picked up first down
yardage. Brewer threw deep to Cade Green
who drug a defender into the end zone for a 46 yard touchdown. The Cavs went to halftime leading 23-7.
 |
| Cade Green drags a defender into the end zone |
The third quarter opened with Lake Travis going three
and out and punting into the wind. From
the Cavs 41 yard line, Adkins threw a wide receiver screen to Levi Williams to
get the drive started. On fourth and 2, Adkins
ran up the middle and picked up 3 yards for a first down on the 19. Two plays later, Adkins handed the ball to
Woodard on sweep to the right. He pulled
up and threw a halfback pass to Williams in the end zone. The Rangers went for 2, but Woodard was
dropped for a loss. With 7:09 to play in
the third quarter, the Cavs led 23-13.
 |
| Woodard throws a halfback pass for six |
The Cavs mounted a long drive, using runs by Barkley
to pick up yardage and burn up clock.
Barkley scored, but Lake Travis was called for holding and the touchdown
negated. They settled for a 28 yard
field goal to extend their lead to 26-13.
The Cavs were content to trade punts with Smithson
Valley as the game moved into the fourth quarter. They kept the ball on the ground to move the
chains and wind the clock. Maleek
Barkley scored again to push the score to 33-13 with just 6:15 to play.
The Rangers mounted one last drive. Adkins threw to Josh Dillon for a 46 yard
gain to the Cavs 39, then threw to Edwin Martinez for first and goal on the
1. Adkins scored from the 1, then threw
a pop pass for the two point conversion to make it 33-21.
With only 2:37 left to play, the Rangers only hope was
an onsides kick. Lake Travis fell on the
ball on their 48 yard line. After being
tackled for a two yard loss, Barkley burst through a hole in the middle of the
line and romped 54 yards for a touchdown.
The Rangers could not pick up the bouncing kick-off and the Cavs
recovered on the 6 yard line. They ran
out the clock to win 40-21.
Congratulations to Smithson Valley for their fine
season. They played hard, but fell behind
early and could never make up the lost ground.
They had no answer for Maleek Barkley who gained 189 yards on 20 carries
and scored three times. Lake Travis
moves into the Sweet Sixteen where they will face the Los Fresnos Falcons next
week.
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