Lake Travis quarterback Luke McBride (14) yells to the sideline during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis receiver Lark Sidle (3) holds the Class 6A Division I Quarterfinal Championship trophy after the win over the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis running back Vann Hopping (5) reaches for a touchdown during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis receiver Westin Smith (10) evades a tackle during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis running back Wesley Glass (24) hurdles Johnson defensive back Mikhail McCreary (3) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive back Luca Antoun (23) returns an intercepted pass during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive back Luca Antoun (23) is hit by Johnson offensive lineman Jack Von Dohlen (71) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis quarterback Luke McBride (14) falls into the endzone for a touchdown during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter disputes a call during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Johnson punter Nicholas Piccirillo (45) loses the ball during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against Lake Travis at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive back Carter Lofton (28) tackles Johnson punter Nicholas Piccirillo (54) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis linebacker Braeden Lott (0) celebrates a blocked punt by defensive back Carter Lofton (28) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis linebacker Braeden Lott (0) hits Johnson quarterback Elvis Estrada (4) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive end Ben Duncum (11) chases Johnson running back Rayshun Hurt (6) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis running back Vann Hopping (5) evades a tackle during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Lake Travis defensive end Ben Duncum (11) and defensive lineman Daniel Aganbi (99) sack Johnson quarterback Elvis Estrada (4) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Lake Travis defensive lineman Daniel Aganbi (99) celebrates a sack of Johnson quarterback Elvis Estrada (4) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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A Johnson kick is blocked during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against Lake Travis at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis linebacker Braeden Lott (0) runs for a touchdown during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Lake Travis receiver Lark Sidle (3) celebrates a touchdown by linebacker Braeden Lott (0) during the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter meets Johnson head coach TP Miller after the Class 6A Division I Regional Final at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive lineman Pierce Atkins (97) holds the Class 6A Division I Quarterfinal Championship trophy after the win over the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis defensive lineman Pierce Atkins (97) holds the Class 6A Division I Quarterfinal Championship trophy after the win over the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis players celebrate after winning the Class 6A Division I Regional Final against the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
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Lake Travis quarterback Luke McBride (14) holds the Class 6A Division I Quarterfinal Championship trophy after the win over the Johnson Jaguars at UFCU Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
SAN MARCOS — Those who did a double take after Lake Travis’ passing touchdowns Friday probably weren’t alone.
While Braeden Lott and Carter Buck are known as defensive standouts for the Cavs, they each caught a scoring pass to help spur a 27-19 win over San Antonio Johnson in a Class 6A Division I regional championship game at UFCU Stadium.
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“Those guys are athletic and can be playing running back or tight end, too,” Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said postgame with a big smile. “(Quarterback Luke McBride) put the ball on the money, and it’s something we’ve worked on in short-yardage situations.”
Lott, a punishing middle linebacker who leads the Cavs in tackles, hauled in a 6-yard TD pass as part of a second quarter where Lake Travis scored all its points.
“It’s cool to be able to play both sides of the ball and play wherever they need me,” said Lott, who noted he played offense as a sophomore at Leander. “Normally, I’m just blocking on offense. So that’s the first time I’ve got the ball. … I actually tripped on Carter’s leg on the play, but got out there, turned around, the ball came and (caught it). To go in in a big moment and get a touchdown, that feels good.”
Buck, a defensive end who signed with TCU on Wednesday and had four sacks, caught a 1-yard touchdown pass for the Cavs’ final score just seconds before halftime.
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“It’s good whenever I block three times before, so they don’t expect it,” Buck said. “I just ran a little out, and it was good. I like that play a lot. Though I like to block more, honestly.”
Buck quipped that more defensive players should get chances to score, noting he might be biased, but it was something that fellow lineman Daniel Aganbi echoed.
“The coaches were thinking about putting me in there a few weeks back, but I got injured,” said Aganbi, before adding with a laugh. “Maybe next week I’ll be in the offensive package.”
The Lake Travis defense steps up
Though the Lake Travis defense had a rough first quarter giving up two long touchdowns, it was the main reason the Cavs won the game. The defensive line was nearly unblockable for the latter 70% of the game with Aganbi, Buck and Ben Duncum combining for seven sacks and easily warding off their blockers most plays.
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“Everyone was just doing their job and compressing the pocket,” Aganbi said. “We made some adjustments (after the first quarter) and played better. That’s what football is all about — making adjustments.”
The Cavs also made four interceptions, with Luca Antoun corralling two in the first half. He produced long returns on both, which set up Lake Travis’ first two touchdowns.
“I knew what they were going to do because I watched film, and when the ball was in the air, we were ready,” said Antoun, who said he only cared about the game’s end result and not personal accolades. “I’m just excited we won. That’s the best feeling.”
In the second half, Lake Travis — who will play Galena Park North Shore in the state semifinals — was particularly dominant. It allowed no points, less than 50 yards and only three first downs.
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“This defense has guys everywhere, so you’re going to have to do a lot to beat us,” Antoun said. “That’s what the best part about this defense is.”
Vann Hopping clutch in the run game
With the Lake Travis passing game having an off night, the Cavs (14-0) leaned on running back Vann Hopping.
His 4-yard touchdown run gave Lake Travis its first lead at 14-13, then a 76-yard sprint set up Lott’s scoring reception.
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In the fourth quarter, he had several carries that helped the Cavs run out the clock, and he finished with 156 yards on 22 attempts.
“(Johnson) does some things that made us run the ball a bit more, and Vann did an awesome job,” Carter said. “We had to have that (performance) tonight.”
Notable stats
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Luke McBride passed for two touchdowns and had a 1-yard TD run
Westin Smith made nine catches for 56 yards
Michael Griffin and Benjamin Soules had interceptions
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Elvis Estrada threw for 167 yards and a TD and ran for 73 yards and two scores
Braelyn Allen tallied two catches for 107 yards and a touchdown
Scoring
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SAJ: Allen 99 pass from Estrada (kick good)
SAJ: Estrada 52 run (kick blocked)
LT: McBride 1 run (kick good)
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LT: Hopping 4 run (kick good)
LT: Lott 6 pass from McBride (kick fail)
SAJ: Estrada 26 run (kick blocked)
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LT: Buck 1 pass from McBride (kick fail)