What more can be said about the Lake Travis football program? The Cavs have won three consecutive Class 4A state championships. They haven’t lost since a happily married Tiger Woods hit the golf ball better than anyone and Harry Potter hit puberty.

Congrats, Cavs. You’re the best.

Now, for posterity’s sake, keep doing it – year after year, and decade after decade – in order to establish a legacy that will rival, well, Westlake.

I can see the Cav faithful now, rushing to their trophy case in order to validate some insecurities. Yep, three championship plaques to one. No matter that the Class 5A trophy glitters just that bit more, and it actually seems a smidgeon bigger, too.

But dynasties form over decades rather than dots in time, and that’s really what any football program – and any football community worth its salt – craves. Pop Warner players grow up proud to serve as ballboys, and fathers hope sons repeat their winning feats. At Westlake, winning has been as constant as Blue Ribbon recognition and exemplary ratings.

For the Cavs? Well, winning has been like Lake Travis itself. When it rains, it floods, and the wins come gushing forth like the Pedernales River after a week of storms. But come drought, things dry up. Quickly. And the Cavaliers don’t exactly have a reservoir of tradition to draw the next drink from.

Prior to 2004, Lake Travis had four winning seasons in its history. The program didn’t reach the playoffs until 2000 and didn’t win its first district championship until 2004. When the current Cavs competed in Pop Warner, they probably stayed home on Friday nights playing Madden; the Cavs went a combined 1-19 in the 2001-2002 seasons.

Such past makes Lake Travis’ recent history that much more remarkable. Former coach Jeff Dicus designed the program from dregs and tapped into the vast potential that lurked in Lakeway and its surrounding communities. Chad Morris built on that foundation, winning two more state championships and leaving Lake Travis with a perfect 32-0 record.

Now, the reins of the reigning state champs have been handed to Hank Carter, Morris’ longtime defensive coordinator. Because of circumstance, however, Carter will have a more difficult job than any other coach in Lake Travis history.

Dicus built the squad free from the burden of expectations, and Morris benefited from a wealthy cycle of talent uncommon in any program.

What does Carter inherit? A sparkling program that appears to have reached its zenith. Carter has proven himself a capable coordinator and is a popular leader, but he will confront conditions not seen before in Lake Travis. He must work with a coaching staff weakened by attrition, and he will soon face the state’s fiercest competition; the Cavs will likely join Class 5A in the next realignment, or 2014 at the latest.

Instead of playing, say, Austin Crockett or football neophyte Pearland Dawson in the postseason, the Cavs will face San Antonio Madison, Converse Judson and other South Texas heavyweights.

And if Lake Travis does get to a Class 5A title game, the team won’t beat up on Highland Park (2007) or Longview (2008, 2009), two foes that have combined for one championship in the last half-century. Instead, they may confront teams such as Midland Lee, which won three consecutive Class 5A titles a decade ago, including one over Westlake in 2000. Or Southlake Carroll, which has won seven state championships over the past 22 years, including a victory over Westlake in the 2006 title game. Or Trinity, which has won three championships in the past five years, including last season’s overtime thriller over Westlake.

Get the point, Lake Travis? The sun appears to be setting on your fledgling dynasty. At least you have a short drive to The Oasis for a good view.

Thomas Jones is the sports editor for the Westlake Picayune