By Max Thompson, Lake Travis View

Ask anyone in Westlake about the big game, and they’ll tell you that they’ve had the date circled for a while. It’s a game that is only trumped by the playoffs, a yearly duel with their biggest rival.

Austin High, of course. Were you expecting someone else? Those pesky Maroons – the best rival is always one you can pound mercilessly into the turf for half a century, right?

But after that, make no mistake; the Chaps know what game is quickly becoming their second biggest rivalry – a game that has widespread implications. A game they’ve had trouble winning the past few years. It’s a team adorned in black and red that Chap fans will concede surprised them with their sudden rise to power.

That showdown with Bowie is a big one. The Bulldogs have had numbers for years, and they’re finally turning those numbers into football wins. Wait, did you think I was talking about someone else?

Was it Abilene Cooper? A&M Consolidated? New Braunfels? Those are some tough teams with some history. Sometimes they’re even lucky enough to nip Westlake for a win. That is, when the Chaps are feeling generous, of course.

Those are all the big games on Westlake’s schedule. Have been for years, won’t change anytime soon. Not sure what else you could think matters.

You aren’t thinking of Lake Travis, are you? Oh, come on. I can’t imagine why you’d think Westlake even cares about that game. That’s just a little 4A school that chaps most Chaps just enough that they act like the Cavaliers are a fad that will pass. And in Westlake’s defense, that statement is partially true. Those Cavaliers can pass, all right. They passed their way into Griffin Gilbert’s hands and right past Westlake, which blew a 15-3 lead last year to lose 32-21. Whoops.

That’s a 3-2 series lead for little Lake Travis, famed guppy of Central Texas.

Lake Travis is far from a fad, though. Oh, I know, I know. Westlake fans will drone on and on about tradition and winning season after winning season. They act as if four state titles in four years somehow pales in comparison to decades of football over .500 and one state title – in 1996. I’m not saying they don’t have an argument. I’m also not saying anyone is all that impressed by a team that last won a state title when Lewis Guilbeau was 3 years old. The point is, the past doesn’t win football games now, so quit hanging your hat on it. Drew Brees and Nick Foles and Ryan Swope aren’t walking through that door.

Westlake fans still think the name means something. Which is true. It means I know their booster club will commandeer the University of Texas press box for their own little barbecue soiree a few hours before kickoff. At Westlake, nothing matters more than parents showing off for their friends. Wearing the actual jersey comes in a close second. It’s even better if wearing the jersey helps your parents show off to their friends while they snack in the press box. Just go ahead and take up the whole left side, folks, no one has a job to do or anything. Heaven forbid you actually be outside where your kids can hear you talking to your friends, er, I mean, cheering for them.

Then again, why pay attention to the Lake Travis game when it doesn’t matter, right? Instead, pay attention at the Austin High game. It’s at House Park, so you know you can’t hide in the press box, nor would you even want to if you could. Not nearly fancy enough for the Chaps. And better to pay attention when you know you’ll win, then it feels just like the good old days.

So maybe Westlake fans are right. Maybe the games you know you’ll win should be the most celebrated, so as not to diminish that ego that’s been slowly crafted over time. But seriously, congratulations on all those wins over the Andersons of the world, it sure must have been tough.

My score prediction: Lake Travis 28, Westlake 7. Which, when divided by seven, conveniently breaks down to four to one. As in the number of titles little Lake Travis has compared to Westlake and its “storied” tradition, built on regular-season rivalries and yearly showdowns against teams like Akins. And yes, I know it’s not all fun and games – the Chaps played two state-ranked teams last year.

I guess Lake Travis and its eight games against state-ranked opponents last season will just never understand what it’s like to be as big-time as Westlake. But if Lake Travis keeps winning, those district games sure will be a welcome relief for a few Chaps that have always needed the competition to ease up a bit before they could really show everyone what a “rivalry” is all about.

To read the Westlake Picayune’s rebuttal column by Thomas Jones, click here.

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