No. 2 Lake Travis enters 2024 season as one of Central Texas' top football teams
A closer look at the Lake Travis Cavaliers, the No. 2 team in our Central Texas preseason countdown.
No. 2 Lake Travis
2023: The Cavaliers went 11-3 overall, 8-2 in the regular season and lost to rival Westlake 21-14 in the fourth round of the playoffs.
2024: Optimism is high with the return of several key starters from last year. The strength of the team is a defense led by DE Gus Cordova, who has committed to USC. Among other players who should make an impact are DE Carter Buck (40 tackles in 2023) and DB Chance Brooks (56 tackles, 3 interceptions). Starters returning — 6 offense, 5 defense
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Notable losses: RB Nico Hamilton (Wyoming), TE Sam Self, OL Mo Oratokhai (Northwestern), LB Markus Boswell.
About the Cavaliers: Even though Lake Travis has good players returning, coach Hank Carter says he oversees "a different set of kids." The Cavs should be tough on the trenches on both lines. The defensive line has three players who have been offered FBS scholarships. This was a unit that allowed only 13 points a game. If East Carolina-bound QB Chaston Ditta continues to make progress, Lake Travis should be in the running for a District 26-6A championship.
Betcha didn't know: This will mark Carter's 17th year with the program, his 14th as head coach and 11th as the athletic director. He has been on the coaching staff for five of the team's six state championships, three as the head coach.
Key game: Westlake, Oct. 25 — So what else is new? Westlake is ranked as the No. 1 team in Central Texas in the American-Statesman's Top 10 poll. Lake Travis is No. 2. In their last meeting, the Chaparrals edged the Cavaliers 21-14 in the fourth round of the Class 6A DI state playoffs. This year's game is at Lake Travis.
— Rick Cantu
RELATED: Central Texas high school football countdown: No. 3 Wimberley Texans
Central Texas top 10 countdown
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Central Texas' top 2024 preseason teams: No. 2 Lake Travis
