By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com
DRIPPING SPRINGS – Last week’s loss to Westlake left a bad taste in the mouths of the Dripping Springs Tigers.
That was especially true for running back Jack Tyndall, who took his frustrations out on Lake Travis by rushing for 216 yards and one touchdown to lead the Tigers to a 24-6 win over the Cavaliers.
“We had a great week of practice,” Tyndall said. “We weren’t going to mess around out here. We had something to prove, and we knew we had to come out strong.”
Dripping Springs (6-2, 5-1 District 26-6A) clinched a playoff berth with the victory over its long-time rival. Who the Tigers will play remains to be seen as the playoff picture in District 25-6A is a bit of a mess after Friday’s games. One thing is for certain, Dripping Springs will be a Division II representative in the Class 6A playoffs.
“Coming off a really physical game last week and then having another one this week, that’s a challenge to our kids,” said Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman. “Our schedule, playing teams like Vandegrift at the beginning of the season and Westlake and Lake Travis this late, gets you really prepared for the playoffs. If you look at Dave Campbells, we’ve played three of the top 10 teams in the states.”
On Friday, Dripping Springs brought the fight to Lake Travis (6-2, 4-2) right out of the gate. On the Tigers’ first possession, junior quarterback Maddox Maher capped off a long drive by punching the football into the endzone from the 1-yard line.
Meanwhile, senior Luca Picucci and the Dripping Springs defense frustrated Lake Travis’ offense, which had only two first downs in the first half. Picucci and fellow senior Pierce Haynes each record a sack on Lake Travis quarterback Kayden Leon.
Dripping Springs widened its lead early in the second quarter when Tyndall broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up 14-0, which is where the score stayed at halftime. According to MaxPreps records through 2004, this was the first time the Cavaliers were held scoreless in the first half in nearly 20 years.
Maher extended the Tigers’ lead midway through the third quarter on his second touchdown run from the 1-yard line. Maher finished with 97 yards passing and completed 7 of 16 attempts with one interception.
The Tigers extended the lead to 24-0 in the fourth quarter with a field goal and looked to be en route to being the first team to shutout Lake Travis in over 21 years. However, backup quarterback Chaston Ditta threw a 43-yard touchdown toss to Dylan Cullers late in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.
Ditta replaced Leon in the fourth quarter after the senior left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury.
“They got after us up front and made it hard for us to get anything going on the running game,” said Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter. “Coach Zimmerman did a great job getting his team ready and I didn’t do a good job getting us ready.”
The Cavaliers will clinch a playoff berth with a win next week against Austin High and a Bowie loss to Westlake. Dripping Springs travels to Del Valle.