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Here I have an incomplete rough draft. Remember guys this is my first ever sports article, I don't expect it to be great. It may have flaws or weaknesses, but that's why I am sharing it. Let me know what you guys think
2013 Aledo Bearcats vs 2008 Lake Travis Cavaliers
Both 2008 Lake Travis and 2013 Aledo went 16-0 and won the 4A state championships in their respective seasons and were consistently dominant with sizable margins of victory in their state championship games. Regardless of classification, both teams were among the best in the state in their seasons, they are historically great Texas 4A teams. The question here is though, if the two teams were matched up against each other on a neutral field, who would come away with a victory?
Strength of Schedule
Aledo
Top 100 Teams Played Against: 0
Teams with a winning record: 11
Average Opponent Rank (According to MaxPreps): 3,350
Opponent Overall Win/Loss Record: 118-68
Lake Travis
Top 100 Teams Played Against: 2
Teams played against with a winning record: 13
Average Opponent Rank (According to MaxPreps): 1,693
Opponent Overall Win/Loss Record: 133-65
While both squads had quality schedules, Lake Travis’ schedule is superior. The Cavaliers faced off against two top 100 teams (according to HSFB 100 rankings), Longview and Evangel Christian. Evangel Christian was a state finalist in the Louisiana 2A playoffs. While Aledo had impressive victories against state finalists Highland Park and Stephenville along with a dominant playoff run, the overall strength of schedule lacks top to bottom quality due to playing in a weak district. Aledo’s district opponents had zero total playoff victories, while Lake Travis’ district opponents had a total of 7 playoff victories.
Edge: Lake Travis
Quarterbacks
Luke Bishop
Passing Yards: 2,699
Passing Touchdowns: 37
Interceptions: 2
Completion Percentage: 70.48
Rushing Yards: 756
Rushing Touchdowns: 7
Garrett Gilbert
Passing Yards: 4,851
Passing Touchdowns: 55
Interceptions: 6
Completion Percentage: 69.3
Rushing Yards: 767
Rushing Touchdowns: 23
Both quarterbacks were an integral part of their offenses, but Lake Travis’ record setting Garrett Gilbert accounted for 2,163 yards more than Aledo’s Luke Bishop and held the bulk of the 2008 Lake Travis offense (5,618 yards out of 7,994 yards).
Edge: Lake Travis
Running backs
Lake Travis and Aledo both had an excellent group of running backs. The Cavalier’s backfield was led by the versatile Chris Aydam, who led the team in rushing with 798 yards on 112 carries with 11 touchdowns. Chris Aydam was an excellent receiver out of the backfield, hauling in 49 catches for 612 yards and 7 touchdowns. Aydam’s backup was junior and future Rice Owl Andy Erickson, with 546 yards on 69 carries with 6 touchdowns. The Bearcats backfield was led by junior running back Jess Anders. The University of Texas-San Antonio bound back led the Bearcats in rushing with 1,527 yards with 151 attempts and 35 touchdowns. Anders was also a weapon out of the backfield, as he accounted for 471 yards in receiving and 5 touchdowns. Next in line to Anders was Daythan Davis, who had 684 yards on 88 carries with 15 touchdowns. While both teams have quality backs, Aledo’s backfield gets the nod, as this group was more productive and just as balanced, and more prolific as this group accounted for more yards, touchdowns, and a higher yards per-carry average.
Edge: Aledo
Wide Receivers
Each team here had a quality group of wide receivers. Aledo’s wide receiver corps was led by Taco Anderson with 766 yards while Ryan Newsome led the group with the most touchdown receptions (10). The Lake Travis wide receiver corps was led by Cade McCrary, who had 1,711 yards receiving and 24 touchdown receptions. Second to McCrary in receiving yardage was Austin Pollard with 1,022 yards. Both teams had stout and deep receiving corps. While Aledo’s Ryan Newsome is probably the best athlete and most versatile player of the wide receivers between both teams, Lake Travis has the slight advantage given their quality of depth at the position. Lake Travis had three wide receivers who would eventually go on to play D1 football, Conner Floyd and Austin Pollard (Tulsa) along with Cade McCrary (University of Texas walk-on).
Edge: Lake Travis
2013 Aledo Bearcats vs 2008 Lake Travis Cavaliers
Both 2008 Lake Travis and 2013 Aledo went 16-0 and won the 4A state championships in their respective seasons and were consistently dominant with sizable margins of victory in their state championship games. Regardless of classification, both teams were among the best in the state in their seasons, they are historically great Texas 4A teams. The question here is though, if the two teams were matched up against each other on a neutral field, who would come away with a victory?
Strength of Schedule
Aledo
Top 100 Teams Played Against: 0
Teams with a winning record: 11
Average Opponent Rank (According to MaxPreps): 3,350
Opponent Overall Win/Loss Record: 118-68
Lake Travis
Top 100 Teams Played Against: 2
Teams played against with a winning record: 13
Average Opponent Rank (According to MaxPreps): 1,693
Opponent Overall Win/Loss Record: 133-65
While both squads had quality schedules, Lake Travis’ schedule is superior. The Cavaliers faced off against two top 100 teams (according to HSFB 100 rankings), Longview and Evangel Christian. Evangel Christian was a state finalist in the Louisiana 2A playoffs. While Aledo had impressive victories against state finalists Highland Park and Stephenville along with a dominant playoff run, the overall strength of schedule lacks top to bottom quality due to playing in a weak district. Aledo’s district opponents had zero total playoff victories, while Lake Travis’ district opponents had a total of 7 playoff victories.
Edge: Lake Travis
Quarterbacks
Luke Bishop
Passing Yards: 2,699
Passing Touchdowns: 37
Interceptions: 2
Completion Percentage: 70.48
Rushing Yards: 756
Rushing Touchdowns: 7
Garrett Gilbert
Passing Yards: 4,851
Passing Touchdowns: 55
Interceptions: 6
Completion Percentage: 69.3
Rushing Yards: 767
Rushing Touchdowns: 23
Both quarterbacks were an integral part of their offenses, but Lake Travis’ record setting Garrett Gilbert accounted for 2,163 yards more than Aledo’s Luke Bishop and held the bulk of the 2008 Lake Travis offense (5,618 yards out of 7,994 yards).
Edge: Lake Travis
Running backs
Lake Travis and Aledo both had an excellent group of running backs. The Cavalier’s backfield was led by the versatile Chris Aydam, who led the team in rushing with 798 yards on 112 carries with 11 touchdowns. Chris Aydam was an excellent receiver out of the backfield, hauling in 49 catches for 612 yards and 7 touchdowns. Aydam’s backup was junior and future Rice Owl Andy Erickson, with 546 yards on 69 carries with 6 touchdowns. The Bearcats backfield was led by junior running back Jess Anders. The University of Texas-San Antonio bound back led the Bearcats in rushing with 1,527 yards with 151 attempts and 35 touchdowns. Anders was also a weapon out of the backfield, as he accounted for 471 yards in receiving and 5 touchdowns. Next in line to Anders was Daythan Davis, who had 684 yards on 88 carries with 15 touchdowns. While both teams have quality backs, Aledo’s backfield gets the nod, as this group was more productive and just as balanced, and more prolific as this group accounted for more yards, touchdowns, and a higher yards per-carry average.
Edge: Aledo
Wide Receivers
Each team here had a quality group of wide receivers. Aledo’s wide receiver corps was led by Taco Anderson with 766 yards while Ryan Newsome led the group with the most touchdown receptions (10). The Lake Travis wide receiver corps was led by Cade McCrary, who had 1,711 yards receiving and 24 touchdown receptions. Second to McCrary in receiving yardage was Austin Pollard with 1,022 yards. Both teams had stout and deep receiving corps. While Aledo’s Ryan Newsome is probably the best athlete and most versatile player of the wide receivers between both teams, Lake Travis has the slight advantage given their quality of depth at the position. Lake Travis had three wide receivers who would eventually go on to play D1 football, Conner Floyd and Austin Pollard (Tulsa) along with Cade McCrary (University of Texas walk-on).
Edge: Lake Travis
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