By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

A lot of little things added up to another big loss as the Chaps fell flat in a neighborhood turf battle against their newest rival.

Lake Travis, the defending Class 4A Division II state champions, overcame perhaps the program’s last hurdle with a resounding 38-17 win in a regionally televised game Thursday at Chaparral Stadium. The defeat did more than reveal a few more flaws in a Chap team seeking an identity after two losses; it also helped reestablish the region’s pecking order.

Lake Travis (2-0) has used Westlake (0-2) as a barometer in two prior meetings, and star quarterback Garrett Gilbert said the win was “good to get over the hump.”

But for Westlake coach Derek Long, the concerns that arose from the contest had more to do with the makeup of his team than any local bragging rights.

“We’re trying to find the right combination,” he said. “When you’re 0-2 and giving up more than 30 points a game, there are problems. We’re trying to find the right mix and the right group that can work together.”

According to Long, those problems included some nagging mistakes that crippled drives. The Chaps committed six penalties and had 10 plays that lost yardage, and the defense allowed a third-down completion percentage of more than 50 for the second consecutive game. The defense gave up 239 yards rushing a week after allowing 321 yards on the ground in a week-one loss to Cedar Park

The Chaps also lost the turnover battle for the second time and muffed a short kickoff.

“I really thought we played better but the score doesn’t reflect it,” Long said. “Penalties, an interception, a fumble on a kickoff. You can’t do that stuff and win.”

Westlake’s offense kept pace with the high-powered Cavalier attack early in the game. The Chaps had 255 yards of offense in the first half and trailed just 14-10 after Mike Walker speared a pass from Tanner Price for a 16-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

Westlake’s defense then forced a three-and-out, and the Chaps took possession at their 35-yard line and promptly marched deep into Lake Travis territory after running back Ryan Swope ripped off a 16-yard run through the heart of the Cavalier defense.

That’s when those little mistakes turned into a big momentum shift. A holding call on 1^st-and-10 at the 14-yard line pushed Westlake back 10 yards. Price then lost three yards after a sack. Another holding call propelled Westlake back to the 37-yard line, and Price followed an incompletion with an interception on third-and-33.

Chap defensive tackle Kalae “Cannonball” Cordova dropped running back Andy Erickson for a 3-yard loss on the next snap to push the Cavs back to their 1-yard line, but Garrett converted a third-and-14 with a 22-yard pass to Cade McCrary. Six plays later, Chris Aydam took a swing pass from Gilbert and raced 47 yards for a touchdown that gave Lake Travis a 21-10 lead with 1:05 left in the half.

The Chaps then mishandled the subsequent kickoff, and the Cavaliers were able to tack on a late field goal to enter halftime with a 24-10 lead.

“It was real frustrating,” said Swope, who had 120 of his 144 yards rushing before the break. “I thought our (offensive) line did a tremendous job, especially in the first half. We just couldn’t get in the end zone enough.

“I don’t know what happened. We didn’t come out with the same intensity (in the second half).”

Westlake did open the second half with a defensive stop and a 37-yard drive, but Cody Rademacher narrowly missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt for the Chaps.

Gilbert then capped a 72-yard scoring drive by Lake Travis with his second touchdown run of the game as the Cavaliers entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 31-10 lead.

Westlake scored its final touchdown on a 3-yard run by Price with 6:04 left in the game. Garrett answered with his third scoring run of the contest.

Garrett, the touted signal caller who has earned a scholarship offer from the University of Texas because of his passing prowess, did damage with his legs against Westlake. He ran for 83 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries to go along with 212 yards on 14-of-29 passing. Aydam added 73 yards rushing, 84 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

“They got us on the pass and the run,” Chap linebacker Eric Upshaw said. “We’d get them into third-down (situations) but couldn’t hold them. We need to follow through.”

Price threw for 169 yards on 10-of-15 passing. Bryce Hager received extended playing time at fullback and rushed for 49 yards on six carries.

As a team, Westlake tallied 395 yards compared to 451 for Lake Travis.