Lake Travis slips past Vandergrift in Bi-District playoff game
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 7:14 p.m. CT Nov. 10, 2023
KADYN LEON POINTS TO THE CROWD AFTER SCORING A TOUCHDOWN
AUSTIN - With a 21-17 lead with under a minute left in the first half Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter wasn't satisfied with the idea of taking it easy and going to the locker room with a four point lead. Instead he sent out his offense with a sense of urgency, hoping to get the opportunity to add points before the break.
After completing a short pass to tight end Sam Self it was quarterback Cam Fitzpatrick pulling the ball down and taking off for a gain of 34 yards and a first down at the Vandergrift 38 yard line.
CAM FITZPATRICK PICKS UP BIG YARDAGE ON A RARE SCRAMBLE
On the next play he found Self again for a 36 yard catch and run that set up Nico Hamilton to plunge in for a touchdown, giving Lake Travis a 28-17 lead at halftime.
HAMILTON FINDS A CLEAR PATH INTO THE ENDZONE
"It's not too often where me running with the ball is our best option." Fitzpatrick said after the game. "The guys around me are the real playmakers and it's just my job to get them the ball."
Fitzpatrick did that too, throwing for 285 yards and three scores. Nico Hamilton, who has had a light workload the past two weeks, carried the ball early and often, finishing the game with a season high 31 carries for 191 yards and a score. Top receivers were Kadyn Leon with four receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns and Sam Self who caught four passes for 103 yards. Dylan Cullers also chipped in a touchdown reception.
Vandergrift drew first blood when Charlie Reed connected on a 45 yard field goal late in the first quarter. Lake Travis took the lead just over a minute later with a 21 yard Fitzpatrick o Leon touchdown strike.
The second quarter was action packed with the team exchanging scores. First it was Lake Travis extending their lead with a Fitzpatrick to Cullers touchdown pass from just a yard out. Vandergrift answered when Deuce Adams connected with Jase Skoglund for a ten yard score. Fitzpatrick and Leon answered with a 50 yard scoring strike. Adams then found Miles Coleman from three yards out before Hamilton scored to make it 28-17 Lake Travis just before the break.
Things weren't quite as hectic in the second half with the first points coming on a 26 yard field goal by Braydon Doane midway through the third quarter, putting Lake Travis up 31-17.
Vandergrift would not be denied, scoring late in the fourth quarter when Deuce Adams found Eli Adams for an 18 yard touchdown. Lake Travis would be forced to punt late, giving the scrappy Vipers a chance. However, it was Tyler Mitchell busting through the Vandergrift line and dragging down Adams for a sack that ended the game.
MITCHELL SECURES THE WIN WITH A SACK
Lake Travis will host Johnson next week after they took down New Braunfels by a score of 36-31 earlier today.
