Here to Prove.

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FOOTBALL
Edmundson re-aggravates injury, Hamilton carries Lake Travis to win over Anderson
Dan Pollard American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 1:46 p.m. CT Oct. 15, 2022

AUSTIN — Lake Travis QB Bo Edmundson has been dealing with a back injury all season. The injury was re-aggravated in the first quarter of Lake Travis' win at Anderson.

Lake Travis once again leaned heavily on runningback Nico Hamilton and receiver turned QB Kadyn Leon, taking home a 45-21 win.

Edmundson kept on an option play midway through the first quarter and was seen reaching for his back following a three yard gain. Edmundson stayed in the game for a few more plays before badly missing on his first pass attempt. He again reached for his back and did not return to the game.

Hamilton ran for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries while Leon added 39 yards on the ground. Sophomore Marcion Williamson ran for 73 yards on just four carries. Junior Sam Self added a rushing touchdown as well. Leon threw for just 46 yards but did find senior receiver Nico Triant for a touchdown.

"We're going to have to wait and see what the doctors say. We'll meet with them, we'll talk with Bo and his family and then we'll evaluate everything once we have all that information." Head Coach Hank Carter explained when asked if Edmundson would be available next week against Dripping Springs.

Lake Travis' stout defense held Anderson to just 18 rushing yards but did allow senior Fred Dale to throw for 215 yards and three scores in the win. Dale found seniors Fernando Deleon and Cole Canaday for touchdowns as well as sophomore Ed Small.

Kaden Bender added a punt return touchdown for Lake Travis and senior kicker Hunter Rioux converted six PATs and a 25 yard field goal.

"We certainly have been fortunate to have the running game going like it has been when we have been without Bo." Coach Carter said. "We're going to have to way to not be one dimensional if this is going to be an ongoing thing for him."

Lake Travis is currently 4-3 following the win. They finish up the regular season with games against Dripping Springs (6-1) and Austin (2-5).

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FOOTBALL
Dripping Springs holds off Lake Travis in shootout
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 1:46 p.m. CT Oct. 22, 2022

AUSTIN — With QB Bo Edmundson likely out for the rest of the season and the Lake Travis passing game struggling with WR turned QB Kadyn Leon at the helm Coach Hank Carter and the offensive staff decided to make a change heading into their game against Dripping Springs. Junior Cam Fitzpatrick got the start at QB while Leon returned to his role as the teams top receiver.

Fitzpatrick threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, one of them to Leon as Lake Travis put up over 400 yards of offense and 31 points in a loss to Dripping Springs, who scored on the last play of the game to secure a 38-31 win.


LAKE TRAVIS QB CAM FITZPATRICK STANDS IN AND DELIVERS A PASS

Runningback Nico Hamilton ran for 175 yards and a pair of scores for the Cavaliers.

Dripping Springs took and early lead with senior runningback Kade Curry scoring on their first possession and senior QB Austin Novosad connecting with junior Kyle Koch after a Lake Travis punt.

Hamilton scored on a 48 yard run late in the first quarter to make it 14-7 Dripping Springs going into the second.

Fitzpatrick, who looked a bit nervous on Lake Travis' first possession, settled right in in the second quarter, connecting with Niko Triant for a nine yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter to tie the game.


LAKE TRAVIS' NIKO TRIANT CELEBRATES A TD CATCH

Dripping Springs answered with an eight yard TD run by sophomore Jack Tyndall to go back on top 21-14.

Lake Travis' Hunter Rioux connected on a field goal just before halftime and Dripping Springs' Walker Wright capped their first drive of the second half with one of his own to make the score 24-17 Dripping Springs.

Hamilton scored his second touchdown of the game, capping a long Lake Travis drive with a 12 yard score on a toss play, tying the game.

Things were still knotted up to start the fourth quarter until Dripping Springs made it 31-24 via a second touchdown run by Curry.

With under three minutes left in the game Lake Travis' took possession on their own 25 yard line. Fitzpatrick completed passes to Hamilton, Sam Self and Niko Triant to get the Cavaliers into Dripping Springs territory. Hamilton ran for a gain of 13 down to the 33 yard line. On first down Fitzpatrick, who had yet to run the ball in the game, saw an opening and ran for a gain of nine yards up the middle. On the next play he connected with Leon for a touchdown on the left side of the endzone. Rioux's kick was good and the game was tied up at 31 all with exactly ninety seconds left on the clock.


KADYN LEON, BACK AT WR, SECURES A TD IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AGAINST DRIPPING SPRINGS

Following a good kick return by Tyndall Dripping Springs' QB Novosad would not be denied. He connected with Koch on back to back plays before finding senior Boston Papp for a gain of 19 down to the Lake Travis 27 yard line. Novosad rolled out and hit Koch for a gain of 17 on the next play but a holding penalty pushed them back to their 37 yard line and outside of field goal range. Dripping Springs used their final time out with six seconds showing on the clock. Novosad took the shotgun snap, sidestepped a defender and heaved a pass to senior Garon Duncan who had somehow managed to get behind the Lake Travis defense. Duncan secured the pass and crossed the goalline as time expired.

"That's a tough way to lose." Coach Carter said following the loss. "We saw a lot and we think we have the right personnel out there now. Cam looked good back there and that gets Kadyn back at his natural position so I think that's going to be nice for us going forward.

Lake Travis falls to 4-4 while Dripping Springs improves their record to 7-1.

Lake Travis will travel to Austin (2-6) next week while Dripping Springs plays host to Del Valle (1-7) in the last week of the regular season.

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FOOTBALL
Lake Travis stomps Austin to clinch playoff spot
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 11:46 a.m. CT Oct. 29, 2022


KADYN LEON LETS THE AUSTIN CROWD KNOW HE CAN'T HEAR THEM AFTER SCORING IN LAKE TRAVIS' 56-13 WIN

AUSTIN — With a playoff spot on the line Lake Travis (5-4) left nothing to chance as they dominated Austin (2-7) by a score of 56-13 to secure a playoff spot.

Junior QB Cam Fitzpatrick looked very comfortable in his second start, connecting on nine of ten pass attempts for 204 yards and five touchdowns.

"Just looking settled in back there." Coach Hank Carter said of Fitzpatrick's performance. "Made good reads, put up points early and protected the ball. Let the line and the backs take care of business in the second half."

Nico Hamilton ran for 244 yards and a pair of scores on 18 carries while backup Aiden Albright picked up 53 yards and a score on seven carries.


LAKE TRAVIS WR KADYN LEON CELEBRATES A TD LESS THAN A MINUTE INTO THE GAME

The game was somewhat close through the first quarter with Lake Travis holding a 14-10 lead. Fitzpatrick and Kadyn Leon connected for a ten yard TD pass less than a minute into the game. After a field goal by Austin it was Hamilton scoring on a 74 yard run on Lake Travis' second play. Austin RB Bryson Batts scored from a yard out before the end of the quarter.


LAKE TRAVIS' NICO HAMILTON RAN FOR 244 YARDS AND A PAIR OF SCORES

Lake Travis exploded in the second quarter and all but put the game away as Fitzpatrick connected with Cole Munnerlyn for scores of 26 and 12 yards with a 70 yard bomb to Niko Triant in between. Austin could only add a field goal, making it a lopsided 35-13 at the break.

Lake Travis took their foot off the gas in the second half, primarily running the ball. Hamilton scored from a yard out and Fitzpatrick found Leon again in the third quarter.


LEON LOOKS IN HIS SECOND SCORE OF THE NIGHT

Coach Carter sent in reserves for the last quarter plus with Albright's score coming early in the third.

Lake Travis will have a week off while they wait for other schools to wrap up their regular season and discover who their first round playoff opponent will be.

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Re: Here to Prove.

Purple Gas and White Lightning

Do you ever stop and think about the chain of events that had to transpire just for you to come to exist?

The staggeringly long biological and physical odds of you being born are enough to make your head spin, but when you add in the stars that had to align for your parents to meet and intertwine themselves with each other?

It's hard to believe any of us exists at all.

For me there's no need to travel too far up the family tree to see a scenario in which I'm not here today.

On the surface it may seem like my ancestors had a lot in common as both sides have strong ties to farming.

My mother's family were successful Canadian wheat farmers ****** back to the 1920's and all signs pointed to her parents continuing that tradition until my grandfather felt the pull of something more and moved to Virginia to attend James Madison University.

Eventually he found his way north to Pocahontas county in West Virginia eventually starting the bed and breakfast that my mother grew up in.

Things went a bit differently on my father's side.

As owners of what was once one of the largest cattle farming operations in Texas they were hit extremely hard by the drought of the 1950s, leading to my great grandfather heading east, looking for work in the mines.

When that proved to be difficult and not very prosperous he turned to the other side of the law in search of a way to make a more lucrative living, honest or not. Apparently that was a trait he passed down.

Bootlegging was good to him until it wasn't. My great grandmother was left with five mouths to feed and no good way to do it. My grandfather, the oldest child, struck out on his own in search of any way to make a buck.

Fast forward a couple decades and history repeats itself with my grandmother down and out with kids to raise. Moving in with family led them to a house just down the road from my mother.

Mom was focused on school, family and the bed and breakfast. She could usually be found at the family business helping in any way she could, once her homework and studying were done.

My father learned early on that if you excelled in sports you could get by on the bare minimum elsewhere.

Their paths eventually intertwined and now I'm here.

Here to prove I'm better than my father was and where he came from too.

Here to Prove.

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Cam Fitzpatrick: 18/20 394Yds 4TD, 1Car 1Yd 1TD
Nico Hamilton: 22Car 147Yds 1TD
Kadyn Leon: Rec 220Yds 3TD

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Re: Here to Prove.

FOOTBALL
Fitzpatrick's late heroics lift Lake Travis over Steele
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 11:46 a.m. CT Nov. 19, 2022


NICO HAMILTON CELEBRATES AFTER THE GO-AHEAD SCORE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER

CIBALO — Trailing 20-24 with under three minutes left on the clock Lake Travis got the ball back on their own eight yard line after a booming punt by Steele.

"Certainly not the field position we were hoping for in that situation but it was the cards we were dealt and we had to adjust on the fly." Lake Travis head coach said of the field position.

Nico Hamilton picked up 11 yards and a first down on a pair of carries, providing some breathing room for the offense who continued the drive at their own 19 yard line. Cam Fitzpatrick, who had faced a strong pass rush from Steele all day, had his first down pass batted away by a defender. On second down he was forced to throw the ball away as Steele's Jaylan Jones closed in looking to add to his sack total. Facing a third and ten Fitzpatrick took the shotgun snap and delivered a perfect ball to Kadyn Leon who was streaking down the left sideline. Leon was dragged down at the Steele 25 yard line for a gain of 56 yards and a fresh set of downs.

Fitzpatrick led the offense to the line and changed the play. He took the snap, dropped back then fired a dime to Niko Triant on out route for a gain of 14 yards. Fitzpatrick and Leon connected on a slant for a gain of five, setting the Cavs up with a second down on the Steele seven yard line. Once again Fitzpatrick adjusted the play before taking the snap and hitting Hamilton in stride on a slant for the go ahead TD. Hunter Rioux hit the point after to make it 27-24 Lake Travis and the defense held up, securing the win.


KADYN LEON STRETCHES FOR THE ENDZONE

"One hundred percent confidence in that situation." Coach Carter answered when asked about his level of trust in Cam Fitzpatrick, who was starting for just the third time in relief of the injured Bo Edmundson.

Fitzpatrick finished the day with 261 yards and three touchdowns along with an interception, completing 19 of 30 attempts. Hamilton ran 26 times for 122 yards. Leon caught seven passes for 100 yards and a score. Tight End Sam Self caught four passes for 71 yards and a score.


SAM SELF FIGHTS FOR A SCORE

Steele was led by senior runningback Jaydon Bailey who carried the ball 33 times for 198 yards and a pair of scores. Sophomore QB Chad Warner completed 17 of 25 passes for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Steele's leading receiver was senior Joe Perez who went for 86 yards and a score on ten receptions.

"We have a lot of trust in Cam." Said junior Kadyn Leon, who started the season as a receiver, played a few games at quarterback following Edmundson's injury and then returned to be the team's top receiver when Fitzpatrick took over the QB duties.

Lake Travis will face Brennan next week who knocked off Los Fresnos by a score of 42-7 on Friday night.

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Re: Here to Prove.

"Y'all got some recruiters outside."
I didn't look up from my phone, assuming Coach was talking to Nico or Kadyn, who had lockers nearby.
"Cam?"
I looked up at Coach inquisitively, sliding my headphones off in the process.
"There's a recruiter outside asking for you."
"Oh..." I replied as my mind raced. I had never gotten much interest from schools but now that I was playing well in Texas I was told to expect it.
I stood up and took my headphones all the way off, setting them on the chair, and made my way to the door.
"Hi Cam, I'm Coach Justin Burke from UTSA. How are you."
"Good." I cleared my throat and extended my hand. "I'm good sir. Thanks."
He shook my hand vigorously.
"Heck of a game y'all played out there. Congrats on the win."
"Thank you sir. Appreciate it."
"Cam you given any thought to playing college ball in a couple years?"
"Honestly not really. This is all pretty new to me."
"Well I'd love to chat with you more. Maybe have you out to the campus at some point."
"Thank you sir. I'd like that."
"Great. We can't do too much right now but I will stay in touch." He replied holding out a business card.
"Good luck next week Cam. Thanks for your time."
"Thank you, nice meeting you."

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Re: Here to Prove.

FOOTBALL
Late pick by Brennan secures win over Lake Travis
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 1:06 p.m. CT Nov. 26, 2022


BRENNAN'S TYLER TURNER SENDS THEM TO THE NEXT ROUND AND LAKE TRAVIS HOME WITH A FOURTH QUARTER PICK

SAN ANTONIO — After trailing 21-10 at halftime Brennan was able to get things rolling in the fourth quarter, overcoming the deficit and more to seal a win with late interception as Lake Travis was attempting to get into field goal range.

Lake Travis' Cam Fitzpatrick and Brennan's Ashton Dubose duked it out in a matchup that saw a total of over 600 yards passing along with five touchdown passes.

Trailing 24-17 late in the fourth quarter Dubose connected with Avron Carter for his third TD toss of the game, Brennan went for and scored the two point conversion to go on top 25-24 with 28 seconds left to play.

Fitzpatrick completed passes of 17 and 23 yards before a pass intended for Kadyn Leon was tipped and intercepted by Brennan's Tyler Turner, ending the season for Lake Travis.

"It is what it is in that situation. We've got to make a play so you take some chances Cam tried to fit it into a tight spot to Kadyn and those two had been making plays all game, heck they've been making plays for a few weeks now and it just didn't go our way. That's ball sometimes." Coach Hank Carter said after the loss.

Fitzpatrick competed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 307 yards with two TDs and a pick. He also ran for a 12 yard touchdown in the second quarter.


SAM SELF SECURES A TD PASS FROM CAM FITZPATRICK

Lake Travis got on the board first when Fitzpatrick connected with Sam Self for an eight yard score on their second possession. They would go up 14-3 early in the second quarter on a Fitzpatrick to Triant TD strike, also from eight yards out. Brennan made it 14-10 midway through the second when Dubose connected with his brother Aaron for a 65 yard score. Fitzpatrick's diving rushing touchdown made it 21-10 at the break.


CAM FITZPATRICK DIVES FOR THE ENDZONE

Lake Travis had trouble sustaining drives in the second half, mustering only three points from Hunter Rioux in the fourth quarter before giving up two long touchdown passes to relinquish their lead.

Lake Travis, who had high hopes coming into the season but faced injury issues at quarterback, finishes up their season 7-5. Hopes will be high for 2023 as most of the team's top contributors will be back.

"You know of course we were upset to lose Bo for so much of the season and you hate to see that for him." Carter explained when asked about Edmundson's injury. "It took us some time to find our stride with Bo out and we had to try a few things to get the offense right but we think we have a pretty good thing going into next season so we're looking forward."

For Lake Travis Nico Hamilton picked up 75 yards on 14 carries, missing parts of the second half with an injury. Kadyn Leon led the team with 125 yards on six receptions.

Brennan moves on to face Westlake who defeated San Benito by a score of 44-7.

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Cam Fitzpatrick 2022 Stats:
10/21/22 vs Dripping Springs L 31-38 16/26 237Yds 2TD, 1Car 9Yds
10/28/22 @ Austin W 56-13 9/10 204Yds 5TD, 2Car 5Yds
11/11/22 vs Round Rock* W 42-10 18/20 394Yds 4TD, 1Car 1Yds 1TD
11/18/22 @ Steele* W 27-24 19/30 261Yds 3TD 1Int
11/25/22 @ Brennan* L 24-25 19/28 307Yds 2TD 1Int, 1Car 12Yds 1TD
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Totals 5 Games 81/114 71% 1,403Yds 16TD 2Int, 3Car 22Yds 2TD

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Something in the Orange
January 3, 2023

"Like I said, I know we look crowded at the top but the opportunity to sit behind a guy like that and learn from him and our coaching staff is incredible. When it's your turn you're going to hit the ground running. Could be all three of you drafted in the first round back to back to back. Plus a great chance to be on the national stage every week."

Cam nodded, looking anxiously at the man and then his mother.

"And we're not looking to get another QB this cycle, maybe not even next cycle so it's going to be your show when it's time."

Cam nodded again. He thought about what the man said, he thought about staying close to home, close to his mom. Close to all he had left for family.

"It sounds really good sir." Cam said as he stood, extended his hand and shook firmly, maintaining eye contact.

The man thanked Cam and then his mother before discussing a few more details then making his way to the door.

---

"Now that it's just us." his mother said. "And you've had some time to think and digest, is this what you really want?"

"Definitely. It's a great program. Great coaches. Close by. What more could there be?"

"It's just the sitting, waiting for your turn. Are you going to be able to do that? Remember back at Poco? Remember the start of last season?"

"Yeah... I remember that. This... this is different though. This is going to be great!"

"You're sure you don't want to wait. See what next season brings? See who else comes calling?"

"Nope. This is it mom. This is what I want to do."

"Alright." She smiled widely and extended her arms, signaling him to come in for a hug. "I'm so proud of you Cam. I love you so much."

"I love you too mom." He replied as they held each other tightly.

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FOOTBALL
Undefeated Lake Travis and Westlake set to collide this weekend
Jay Plotkin American-Statesman Correspondent
Published 3:04 p.m. CT Sep. 20, 2023


CAM FITZPATRICK SCORES A RARE RUSHING TD TO SECURE A WIN OVER MARTIN

AUSTIN - Leading 35-0 with under three minutes left in their game against Akins the Lake Travis trio of Cam Fitzpatrick, Kadyn Leon and Nico Hamilton could be seen congregating on the Lake Travis bench, rooting on their replacements and discussing their next game. Normally you'd expect one game to be over before players start discussing the next one but with a meeting against 3-0 Westlake looming they could be forgiven for trying to get a head start on planning.

"We're where we had hoped to be at this point in the season." Head Coach Hank Carter said after securing the win over Akins. "Now we've got to get ready for the toughest game we've had so far. We have a lot of history with Westlake. This is a big test for us."

Fitzpatrick, Leon and Hamilton are largely responsible for Lake Travis' 4-0 start as each of them is near the top of their positions' respective stats leader board.

The Cavaliers started their season with a pair of close win over Martin. Lake Travis secured that win when Fitzpatrick, not really considered a runner, took off for a 39 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick threw Lake Travis' only other touchdown to Seth Galbraith. Lake Travis won 17-14.

Against Steele the Cavaliers scored on a pair of Fitzpatrick to Leon passes and Hamilton added a touchdown run. Lake Travis came away with a 20-10 win.

Fitzpatrick threw for 333 yards and six scores in a 56-28 win over Johnson. Leon was on the receiving end of 193 of those yards and three touchdowns. Hamilton added 247 yards and a pair of scores on 21 carries.


KADYN LEON SCORES AGAINST JOHNSON AND AKINS

Next up was winless Akins. Lake Travis rested the trio for much of the second half but not before Fitzpatrick could toss four touchdowns and roll up four touchdown passes. Hamilton played sparingly but tallied 65 yards and a score on the ground. Leon tallied 152 yards and a score. Lake Travis won 35-0.


LAKE TRAVIS CELEBRATES THEIR WIN OVER AKINS

Now their toughest test of the season. Westlake.

Westlake comes into the game 3-0.

While Lake Travis leans heavily on their three stars Westlake spreads things around. QB Paxton Land has thrown half the passes Fitzpatrick has with a third of the yards and 5 touchdowns to Fitzpatrick's 13.

Westlake's top two rushers have less yardage than Hamilton. If you chose one word to describe Westlake it would be "deep".

Week one saw Westlake slip past Ridge Point 31-21 on the road. Paxton Land threw for 202 yards and a score while Nathan Acosta and Jack Kayser led the way on the ground, chipping in a touchdown each.

Westlake took down Judson 47-0 in their second game with Land and sophomore backup QB Rees Wise each tossing a pair of TDs. Wise also ran for a touchdown as did sophomore RB Sebastian Henault.

Westlake then handled Akins by a score of 64-0 with five touchdowns on the ground and three more through the air.

Westlake had last week off.

Team Leaders
Lake Travis
Cam Fitzpatrick - 74/115 64% 1,194Yds 13TD 2Int
Nico Hamilton - 73Car 509Yds 4TD
Kadyn Leon - 28Rec 592Yds 5TD

Westlake
Paxton Land - 32/58 381Yds 5TD 0Int
Jack Kayser - 41Car 204Yds 3TD
Nathan Acosta - 23Car 157Yds 1TD

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Re: Here to Prove.

Cam Fitzpatrick 2023 Stats:
08/25/2023 vs Martin W 17-14 17/30 271Yds 1TD 1Int, 1Car 39Yds 1TD
09/01/2023 vs Steele W 20-10 19/29 277Tds 2TD 1Int
09/08/2023 vs Johnson W 56-28 20/28 333Yds 6TD 0Int
09/24/2023 @ Akins W 35-0 18/28 313Yds 4TD 0Int
-----------------------------------
Totals 4 Games: 74/115 64% 1,194Yds 13TD 2Int, 1Car 39Yds 1TD