Brewer bests Manziel as Lake Travis Edges Tivy, 48-42

By Sam Bohmfalk

If it was possible to out-Manziel Kerrville Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel, Lake Travis quarterback Michael Brewer did it. The Cavaliers’ senior quarterback passed for 248 yards, but it was his 192 rushing yards that propelled Lake Travis to a 48-42 victory over Tivy.

None of the drives was more important than the 19-play drive at the end of the fourth quarter that ran out the clock. On that drive, Brewer steadily moved the Cavaliers down the field, depriving Manziel of a chance to win the game.

And win the game he just might have. Manziel was largely unstoppable on the night, accounting for all but 15 of the Fighting Antlers’ yards. Manziel got Tivy on the board early, marching the team down the field before finding Sean Kibbett from 31-yards out.

Brewer responded in style, capping off a drive with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game and then leading the Cavaliers on a second first-quarter scoring drive that ended in a Michael Pojman 1-yard run. The lead was one that Lake Travis would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

It looked as if the two offenses were going to match each other touchdown-for-touchdown. The Cavaliers got the last laugh of the second quarter, however, returning a kickoff 100-yards to pay dirt, giving them a 42-28 halftime lead.

Manziel immediately brought the game closer, scoring his first of two rushing touchdowns on the night from 6-yards out.

The Fighting Antlers’ defense—to use the old adage—bent but did not break in the second half, holding Lake Travis to two fourth quarter field goals. Unfortunately, the defense bent a little too much on the last drive, and was unable to give Manziel a shot to defeat Brewer.

The two senior quarterbacks haven’t seen the last of each other, as they’re soon-to-be Big XII rivals, with Manziel having a verbal commitment to Texas A&M and Brewer to Texas Tech.

Area Round Preview: Lake Travis vs. Kerrville Tivy

By Sam Bohmfalk

Click the graphic to see Kerrville Tivy’s offensive breakdown by player.

Lake Travis’ come-from-behind victory over bi-district foe McCallum last week was in many ways similar to a regular season victory they had in week 4.  That win, 37-33, was against area opponent Kerrville Tivy.

In that September 17 affair, Tivy jumped out to a 19-0 lead thanks to two rushing touchdowns and a passing score by workhorse quarterback Johnny Manziel.  However, just as they did against McCallum, the Cavaliers’ defense sured-up some of its holes and managed to hold the opponent scoreless in the 4th quarter—with both games including a late goal line stand—while picking up a 4th quarter touchdown that proved to be the difference maker.

Although this will be the teams’ second meeting of the season, Lake Travis will have star quarterback Michael Brewer on the field for this matchup.  He will have to be better than he was in last week’s bi-district game in which he struggled mightily, completing just five passes.  His fill-in in week 4, Colin Lagasse, threw four touchdown passes against Tivy, but his biggest contribution in that game was a goal line interception with just over two minutes remaining that effectively sealed the result.

This matchup will hinge on which of the soon-to-be Big XII quarterbacks comes through in the end: the A&M commit Manziel, or the Tech-commit Brewer.  Brewer comes in cold, while Manziel accounted for all seven touchdowns in last week’s 49-21 victory over Hays.

Series tied, 2-2
2000: Kerrville Tivy 13, Lake Travis 10

2001: Kerrville Tivy 54, Lake Travis 0

2007 (Area): Lake Travis 45, Kerrville Tivy 29

2010: Lake Travis 36, Kerrville Tivy 33

Prediction: Lake Travis knew what to expect last week against McCallum, and struggled.  They know what’s coming this week, but I think Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel is going to show the magic that has put him in the running for the Texas 4A Player of the Year.  Kerrville Tivy 34, Lake Travis 31