Sept. 12th, 2025 was a bittersweet day for Lake Travis High School. Cavalier Stadium, a bastion of the absolute highest level of Texas high school football for 25 years, played host to its final ever game. Opened in 2000 and seating 7000, six different state championship teams (including the historic five-peat of state championships from 2007-2011) had the pleasure of calling it home. Countless iconic moments happened on its turf and under its lights, and to say that this game was a fitting tribute to that legacy would be an understatement.
The Cavalier defense began the game in a huge way, as junior DB Teddy Lofgren would intercept a pass from the Legacy QB on the Rebels’ opening drive, and the Cavaliers would then march down the field on the ensuing drive, before senior RB Vann Hopping would break through the legacy defensive line and run 25 yards for a touchdown.
Almost immediately after that, senior DB Benjamin Soules would snag an interception of his own, the Cavaliers would again march down the field, and (guess who?) Hopping would score another touchdown. Hopping would not let himself be satisfied with his two touchdowns, however, as he would complete the first quarter hat trick by breaking off a 58 yard run for the score.
The Rebels would strike early into the second quarter off of a frankly fantastic long bomb pass, but the Cavaliers would take that personally, as Senior WR Westin Smith would show of his talent on a huge play, before (if you can believe it) Hopping would score his fourth rushing touchdown of the day before halftime!
To add further insult to injury, Smith and Lark Sidle, another senior WR, would both score receiving touchdowns before halftime, making the score at the half 42-7 Cavaliers.
To start the third, and after an LT field goal, backup quarterback Jason Carter, son of LTHS head coach Hank Carter, would throw his first ever varsity touchdown, finding Lark Sidle in the end zone for Sidle’s second touchdown.
The fourth quarter saw the Rebels strike again, but disastrously miss the extra point. The Cavaliers showed little signs of slowing down, as senior RB Braison Jones would rush for 70 yards for yet another Cavalier rushing touchdown. The game’s final few moments passed quickly, letting Cavalier Nation look on with pride at the memories they had made that night and over the last 25 years at Cavalier Stadium.
This was an especially emotional night for the seniors in attendance. As they took to the field following the game’s conclusion for the annual “Senior Walk,” many of them were not only soaking in the reality of what it means to be a senior, but also how much they would miss spending their Friday nights going to football games at such a well-loved and long-standing venue.
Final Score: 59-13 Cavaliers.
