SMHS FOOTBALL
The Rattlers will play their final non-district game of the season as San Marcos makes the trip up to Austin in a showdown with the Lake Travis Cavaliers.
The Rattlers are looking for their first win of the season after falling to the San Antonio Wagner Thunderbirds 40-17.
Lake Travis enters Thursday night’s showdown with a 3-0 record, coming off a 41-20 win over the Midland Legacy Rebels. The Cavaliers also have wins over the Arlington Martin Warriors and the Rockwall Yellowjackets.
Lake Travis is led by quarterback Chaston Ditta. The senior quarterback has passed for 663 yards and five touchdowns. In the Cavaliers win against Midland Legacy, Ditta passed for 156 yards.
Ditta’s main target in the passing game has been wide receiver Patrick Colby. The junior has caught 13 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
On the ground, running back Vann Hopping has been the main focal point, rushing for 437 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hopping rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns in Lake Travis’ win against Midland Legacy.
The Cavalier defense has held opposing offenses to just 24.7 points per game, led by linebacker Easton Arid who leads the team in total tackles with 36 along with 21 solo tackles.
Lake Travis enters the 2024 season looking to be back in contention for the 6A Region IV title. The Cavaliers finished in third place in district play last season behind Austin Westlake and Dripping Springs but played for the regional title in the playoffs.
The series history between San Marcos and Lake Travis dates back to 2000 when both teams were paired in the same district with the Cavaliers making the jump from 3A [now 4A] to 4A [now 5A].
In the first ever meeting between the two teams, the Rattlers trounced all over the Cavaliers for a 47-0 victory. San Marcos later would capture their first district championship since 1966.
Meeting again for the 2001 season, the Rattlers again trounced the Cavaliers 45-7.
The next realignment cycle saw San Marcos move to 5A [now 6A] while Lake Travis remained in the same conference.
The two teams would not meet again until the 2020 season when both teams were placed in the same district. By the time teams would meet, Lake Travis evolved into a powerhouse, winning six state championships including five in a row from 20072011.
Lake Travis defeated San Marcos in the 2020 season 65-0.
The next year, the Cavaliers defeated the Rattlers 45-6.
The San Marcos-Lake Travis series is currently tied at 2-2.
Kickoff for the Rattlers- Cavaliers game is set for 7:30 tonight at Cavalier Stadium at Lake Travis High School in Austin.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
