Lake Travis throttles Brennan in Texas high school football regional semifinals

Balanced attack, suffocating defense too much for Bears in 34-7 UIL third round postseason San Antonio vs. Austin showdown

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Austin high schools have dominated San Antonio football teams in recent years.

Lake Travis (11-2) was not going to be an upset statistic in the Texas high school football regional semifinals on Saturday afternoon, especially not San Antonio Brennan — even after giving up the game's first points.

The Cavaliers rode a shutdown defensive effort and big second quarter to a 34-7 win over Brennan at the Alamodome. 

The Cavaliers move to the TX-6A Division I regional final next week and will face either the winner of their rival Austin-Westlake or Laredo United, who play Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Alamodome. 

"I think San Antonio has a rich tradition in football, obviously as they still have some teams playing and we know how good that Steele team," said Cavalier head coach Hank Carter. "But, I am really proud of our kids and what they were able to do today against a good Brennan team."

Nico Hamilton finished with 221 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 27 carries for the game, and the Cavaliers' defense contained the Bears' as it cruised to a 24-7 halftime lead. 

Not to be out-done, the Lake Travis offense came right out and moved the ball straight down the field against the Brennan defense. 

The Bears defense held up in their own territory forcing the Cavaliers to a 33 yard field goal by 2026 place kicker Braydon Doane to cut the Brennan lead to 7-3.

But the Bears' offense could not generate and sustain another drive in the first half, as the Cavaliers defense was too much.

After the field goal on their first offensive drive, Lake Travis was able to reel off touchdown drives on three of its next four drives.

Quarterback Chaston Ditta found senior wide receiver Cole Munneryn for a 29-yard seam post for the Cavalier touchdown giving Lake Travis the lead at 10-7.

On the Cavaliers' next possession, the Austin powerhouse facing a 4th and 1 to start the 2nd quarter, Hamilton burst through the defense for a 49-yard house call to break the game wide open. 

Hamilton added his second score of the first half at the 5:26 mark of the second quarter on a short two-yard TD run to cap off a drive where he had 60 yards rushing. 

Lake Travis took a 24-7 lead into the final halftime break and came right out of the gates as Ditta hooked up with a wide open Munneryn for a 46 yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 31-7.

Through the third quarter, Lake Travis was able to continue to contain the Brennan rushing attack and continued to just use their senior bell-cow running back, Hamilton to work the clock.

The Cavaliers sophomore place kicker, Doane, added his second 33-yard field goal to give Lake Travis a 34-7 lead with 6:00 remaining in the game. 

Brennan scored the game's first touchdown on a 60-yard burst down the right sideline by sophomore running back Micai Thompson to give the Bears a 7-0 lead.

The Bears defense held up in their own territory forcing the Cavaliers to a 33-yard field goal by 2026 place kicker Braydon Doane to cut the Brennan lead to 7-3.

-- Ryan Childers | @sblivetx

File photo by Clara Sandoval.

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