Lake Travis Snaps the Streak, Dominates Rival Westlake 31–10 in Battle of the Lakes
AUSTIN The drought is over. For the first time in five years, the Lake Travis Cavaliers walked out of Chaparral Stadium with bragging rights in hand, dismantling Westlake 31-10 in Friday night’s renewal of the Battle of the Lakes.
The win not only snapped a six-game losing skid to their crosstown rival but also kept Lake Travis unbeaten at 8-0, solidifying their grip atop the District 26-6A standings.
Emotions High Before Kickoff
Before the first snap, the night carried extra meaning for the home crowd. Westlake legend and NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees returned to midfield for the pregame coin toss, where his iconic No. 15 jersey was officially retired. The ceremony charged both sidelines with emotion, setting the tone for a heated rivalry clash.
But once the game kicked off, it was all Lake Travis.
McBride, Hopping Lead the Charge
Quarterback Luke McBride orchestrated a near-flawless performance, carving up the Westlake secondary for 270 passing yards and three touchdowns. His rhythm with Westin Smith proved deadly, connecting twice on long strikes in the second half that turned the game into a runaway.
Running back Vann Hopping was a force early, gashing the defense for 149 yards on the ground, including a 20-yard scoring sprint and an 18-yard touchdown reception before exiting with an injury in the third quarter.
Defensive Domination
If McBride set the tone, the Cavaliers’ defense finished the job. Anchored by Carter Buck up front and Owen Aird at linebacker, Lake Travis suffocated Westlake’s offense recording 10 sacks, limiting the Chaps to negative-9 rushing yards, and allowing just 249 total yards all night.
Even when early turnovers gave Westlake life a Thompson Bennett interception and Pasquale Maurici fumble recovery the Cavalier defense slammed the door each time.
Westlake’s Lone Spark
Westlake quarterback Rees Wise found Braden Riddell for a 13-yard touchdown just before halftime, trimming the deficit to 13-7. But that was as close as the Chaps would get. Every second-half possession was met by a wall of black helmets and relentless pressure.
What’s Next
With momentum at their backs, Lake Travis (8-0, 4-0) looks like a legitimate title contender as they prepare for Akins on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Westlake (6-2, 3-1) will look to regroup when they face Del Valle next week.
For now, the Cavaliers own the city and the long-awaited bragging rights are back on the south side of the lake.
