We meet again

Lake Travis and Hendrickson are no strangers on the gridiron, though the Hawks may want to keep history in the past. The teams last met in 2011, and the Cavaliers have won all 8 games between the teams. Results have been tight (34-24 in 2010) and not so tight (57-0 in 2008). The Cavaliers’ average winning score has been 45-13.

Next level teammates

Both Hendrickson and Lake Travis have sent their fair share of football players to major college programs. At least twice, Hawks and Cavaliers have become teammates at prominent colleges. Between From 2012-2015, Daje Johnson (Hendrickson) and Taylor Doyle (Lake Travis) both developed into key players at the University of Texas. Oklahoma currently features prominent Cavaliers and Hawks. Former Lake Travis QB Baker Mayfield is a Heisman hopeful for the Sooners, and former Hendrickson RB Samaje Perine set an NCAA single-game rushing record and is on track to supplant Billy Sims as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Former Hendrickson DB P.J. Mbanasor also plays for the Sooners.

More Hawks in flight

Killian’s 2015 team reached the Area playoffs on the strength of a handful of Division I commits. Spring ended the Hawks’ season, but six players went on to sign to play college football: Dominic Distefano (Army), defensive end Austin Deshay (Texas Tech), quarterback Carrington Kearney (UT-San Antonio), linebacker Jordan Williams (Toledo), cornerback Ke Shawn Somerville (TCU) and linebacker Anthony Ekpe (Rice).

Streak to keep

Hendrickson has been one of the most consistent football programs in Central Texas under coach Chip Killian. Killian took the reins at Hendrickson in 2008 and guided the Hawks to the regional final. Since then, Hendrickson’s made the playoffs every year, including during an unbeaten regular season in 2013.

Honoring a Pflugerville ISD educator

Hendrickson High School takes its name from longtime Pflugerville educator Robert Hendrickson, who passed away shortly before the school opened in 2003, according to his obituary on statesman.com. Hendrickson served as a teacher, coach, principal and superintdent of schools in Pflugerville throughout his long educational career. He also helped incorporate the city of Pflugerville, held a pilot’s license and served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict.