Cavs’ injured QB expected to play
Lake Travis football coach Hank Carter said Monday he was cautiously optimistic that injured Cavaliers quarterback Matthew Baldwin will play Saturday in the Class 6A, Division I championship game against Allen.
“This is going to be his last game ever at Lake Travis High School, and I know how much that means to him,” Carter said of Baldwin, a senior who has thrown 44 touchdown passes this season. “I expect him to play and I expect him to play well.”
Carter added, though, that backup quarterback Hudson Card, a sophomore, also will take snaps in practice this week.
“We’re going to prepare as if he (Baldwin) is going to play,” Carter said, “but we’re also going to prepare so we have both quarterbacks ready if he can’t play.”
The Cavaliers will face unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Allen (15-0) at 3 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Lake Travis (13-2) is the defending 6A, Division I state champion. Allen won three straight state titles from 2012-14, and the Eagles topped Cedar Ridge 28-7 Saturday in a state semifinal.
Baldwin injured his right knee Saturday in the fourth quarter of 28-14 victory over Katy in San Antonio. He was helped off the field and did not return.
On Sunday, Baldwin had X-rays taken of his injured knee, but he said he did not know the extent of the injury.
“I’m ready to play in this game,” he said. “I feel good and I’ve been putting pressure on it (his right leg).”
An Ohio State pledge, Baldwin has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards this season, his first as the full-time starter for the Cavaliers. Against Katy, he completed 22-of30 passes for 225 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown toss to Kyle Wakefield.
At Lake Travis’ media day on Monday, Baldwin appeared to be limping slightly while meeting with reporters.
Card, a starting wide receiver, has completed 36-of-50 passes this season for 381 yards and five touchdowns.
In the victory over Katy, he threw two passes and completed one — a 42-yard TD pass to fellow wideout Garrett Wilson that came off a trick play.