2012 football highlights for James Bailey Lake Travis

2012 football highlights for James Bailey Lake Travis

2012 highlights for James Bailey at Lake Travis football

2012 highlights for james bailey lake travis football

video from Day 1 of 2013 Texas State 7 on 7 Championship

video from day 1 2013 texas state championship

Video from Texas State 7 on 7 Championship 2012

Video from Texas State 7 on 7 Championship 2012

Dave Campbell's Pre-Season Review for Lake Travis

Dave Campbell's LTHS pre-season review

FOOTBALL

Magazine: Cavs enter year as one of state’s best

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football tabs team No. 14

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Photo by Roy Mata

Lake Travis quarterback Dominic DeLira, who enters two-a-days as a candidate for the starting spot, eludes the rush of defender Allen Gerik at a May practice.

By Habeab Kurdi

Austin Community Newspapers Staff

Lake Travis football’s fate should fare better in its second season playing in Class 5A.

That’s the conclusion that Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine came to when putting out their annual preview edition of the magazine, which recently hit the newsstands.

The Cavaliers were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round during their inaugural campaign at the state’s highest level, but there were a myriad of injuries to key players - particularly receiver Zach Austin and running back Shaun Nixon - that kept the squad from fulfilling its potential.

This year, the magazine’s prediction issue, which comes out every summer, tabs Lake Travis at No. 14 in the preseason Class 5A Top 25 rankings. However, in the coaches’ poll, Lake Travis is ranked No. 9 and Westlake isn’t listed in the top 10.

The Chaparrals, who reached the state semifinals a season ago, are slotted in at No. 8 in Class 5A by the state’s most heralded and well-read football guide.

In the Class 5A preview, Westlake’s Darren Allman is selected as the coach of the year.

Lake Travis’ Luke Hutton got the nod as preseason defensive MVP for District 15-5A, which also includes district rival and longtime foe Westlake.

The preseason offensive MVP for the district is Westlake quarterback Jordan Severt, who recently committed to play collegiately at SMU.

In Lake Travis’ second Class 5A campaign, Westlake is predicted as the district champion a year after the Cavs were predicted to be in that spot, and things should be very tight between the two teams once again, with the title likely to be decided in the regular-season finale between the schools at Lake Travis High School.

Lake Travis is slated to finish second, Bowie third and Del Valle fourth in the preseason district ranking. Following them are Austin High, Anderson and Akins.

DCTF predicts that Westlake, should the Chaps land in the Division II playoffs as expected, will make the state semifinals again - and win. After that, the magazine has tabbed the Chaps as the 2013 state champions, besting Katy in the finale in late December.

The Cavs clearly have a shot to play into December this year after a one-year hiatus, with six defensive starters returning and plenty of players on the offensive side of the ball that had significant playing time a year ago.

The biggest shift will be at quarterback, with Baker Mayfield no longer in the fold, but a new quarterback is nothing new at Lake Travis, where the system and the coaching, along with hard work by the new signal caller, usually translates into another dynamic offensive season.

Along with Hutton, Zach Davies, Hagen Patterson and James Bailey lead what should be a stout defense.

Nixon, who is headed to Texas A&M after graduation, will play out of the backfield and line up at receiver, and there won’t be any surprises if he winds up the MVP of District 15-5A and submits a stellar campaign once again.

Practice is right around the corner, when August dreams can become December realities.

photo from Lake Travis SQT 2013

Texas High School Football: 2013 Preview Guide: District 15-5A Defense

Texas High School Football: District 15-5A Defense Preview

Home / Preview Guide / 2013 Preview Guide: District 15-5A Defense

2013 Preview Guide: District 15-5A Defense

• By TexasHSFootball
• • 1
• Updated: July 2, 2013

2013 Texas HS Football Preview Guide: District 15-5A Defensive Outlook
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2012 District Standings
Lake Travis (9-2, 6-0)
Austin Westlake (10-5, 5-1)
Austin Bowie (7-5, 4-2)
Del Valle (4-7, 3-3)
Austin High (3-7, 2-4)
Austin Anderson (1-9, 1-5)
Austin Akins (1-9 0-6)

2013 Pre-Season Defensive Ranking
1. Austin Westlake
2. Lake Travis
3. Austin Bowie
4. Austin High
5. Del Valle
6. Austin Anderson
7. Austin Akins

Top Defensive Players: 15-5A
DL – Zach Davies (Sr.) – Lake Travis
DL – Luke Womack (Sr.) – Austin Westlake
DL – Robert Navejas (Sr.) – Austin High
DL – Tim Satterwhite (Sr.) – Austin Akins
DL – Christian Mendiola (Jr.) – Austin Anderson
DE – Feno Pearson (Jr.) – Lake Travis
DE – Blake Allen (Sr.) – Austin Anderson
DE – Michael Islava (Sr.) – Lake Travis
DE – Will Griffin (Sr.) – Austin Anderson
LB – Hudson Hall (Jr.) – Austin Westlake
LB – Luke Hutton (Sr.) – Lake Travis
LB – Breckyn Hager (Jr.) – Austin Westlake
LB – Darius Bender (Sr.) – Del Valle
LB – James Bailey (Jr.) – Lake Travis
LB – Luke Womack (Sr.) – Austin Westlake
LB – Hagen Patterson (Sr.) – Lake Travis
LB – Teddy Lowery (Sr.) – Austin Akins
LB – Jerald Ramirez (Sr.) – Austin Akins
LB – Aaron Medina (Sr.) – Austin Akins
LB – Connor Gabriel (Sr.) – Austin Anderson
LB – Aaron Marshall (Sr.) – Austin Anderson
LB – Joe Davis (Jr.) – Austin Bowie
LB – Zach Kanz (Sr.) – Austin Bowie
LB – Alex Curtis (Sr.) – Austin Bowie
DB – Jack Meredith (Sr.)  Austin Westlake
DB – Tyler Walker (Sr.) – Austin Bowie
DB – Vincent Wilson (Sr.) – Del Valle
DB – Bennett Huddleston (Sr.) – Austin Westlake
DB – Tate Shaw (Sr.) – Austin Westlake
DB – Chris Elizondo (Sr.) – Austin High
DB – Mason Choate (Sr.) – Austin High
DB – Desmon Barrett (Sr.) – Austin High
DB – Cedric Williams (Sr.) – Austin Akins
DB – Nick Vega (Sr.) – Austin Akins
DB – Malik Smith (Sr.) – Austin Akins
DB – Gavin Graham (Jr.) – Austin Anderson
DB – Caleb Bardin (Sr.) – Austin Anderson
DB – Preston Oliver (Sr.) – Austin Bowie
DB – Max McGarah (Sr.) – Austin Bowie
DB – Kenneth Caldwell (Sr.) – Del Valle
DB – Ashloyd Rodriguez (Sr.) – Del Valle
DB – Vincent Wilson (Sr.) – Del Valle

The Blitz
The one thing that has allowed teams like Lake Travis and Austin Westlake to thrive in the playoffs and dominate over the years has been the defense. While the offense gets all the publicity, the defense puts in the work and the lays the ground work for their successful runs. The 2013 season is no different in that perspective as both Austin Westlake and Lake Travis have some very talented offensive recruits taking the spotlight. The Westlake Chaparrals have one of the more overall experienced teams heading into the 2013 season and should be the overall favorite in the district. The Chaparrals have a pair of juniors, Hudson Hall and Breckyn Hager, sitting at linebacker that could develop into very special talents over the next couple years. Along with Hall and Hager, DB Jack Meredith and DL Luke Womack are expected to be top contributors on the Chap defense. As for Lake Travis, LB Luke Hutton is due to have a monster senior season and is considered to be the district’s best defensive player with 140+ tackles in carrying over from his 2012 junior campaign. Outside of Hutton, the Cavaliers have DT Zach Davies, DE Feno Pearson and LB James Bailey to help run the game plan against opposing offenses. The question mark that surrounds the Cavs will be in the backfield, where they will be starting new faces throughout. And while Lake Travis looks to solve their defensive back problem, Austin Bowie will be aiming for the same up front on the lines. Bowie in an overall sense, could be the one team that spoils the party for Westlake and Lake Travis. A trio of linebackers in Joe Davis, Zach Kanz and Alex Curtis could be just what the Bulldogs need to make it through the district schedule, but DB Tyler Walker, is probably the best defensive player on the Bowie roster. At times, the Bulldogs may struggle but the defense should be good enough to make it into a playoff spot. The battle for fourth could be between Austin High and Del Valle, just as it was in the 2012 football season. Not only does Austin High back a good chunk of their starters, the Maroons could be the one sleeper team of the 2013 season. DB Chris Elizondo and DL Robert Navejas are two of Austin High’s players to watch.  If the defense does improve from its 34+ points a game allowed, which it should, the Maroons should have no problem grabbing at least a fourth place finish with third being a very good reality. The Del Valle Cardinals found themselves in the playoffs last season by virtue of beating Austin High 44-3 in Week 9 of the 2012 season. Four of Del Valle’s seven losses were within one scoring possession. A repeat of that feat may be in order if the Cardinals intend to make the post-season but it maybe more difficult said than done. Look for LB Darius Bender and DB Vincent Wilson to be the main leaders of the Cardinal defense. If Del Valle’s defense plays like it did last season, the district race between the Cardinals, Austin High and Austin Bowie could become rather intriguing.