Passing yards: 1,660. Completions: 109 in 161 attempts. Touchdowns: 19. Those were the numbers that Austin Lake Travis senior quarterback and Texas commit Hudson Card produced as he led the Cavaliers to perfect 5-0 district record.
Unfortunately, the 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound Card will miss time because he suffered a foot injury during the hard-fought 26-25 victory over crosstown and district rival Austin Westlake – the Battle of the Lakes – on Oct. 11. Emerging to take the reins of the Lake Travis offense is junior signal-caller Nate Yarnell.
Head coach Hank Carter beams with confidence when discussing the 6-foot-6-inch, 195-pound Yarnell, whose first game as a starter will be against Austin Del Valle.
“We’ve handed the keys to Nate Yarnell and are looking forward to seeing him play, develop and get his opportunity to help the team,” Carter told Texas Scorecard.
The coach added that Yarnell is already working with the offensive first-stringers and has received a couple of scholarship offers despite not yet even starting a varsity game. He describes the second-year signal-caller as having different skills from Card.
The website 247Sports lists Yarnell as a pro-style quarterback. According to Carter, he is a pocket passer with good speed and athleticism.
“He needs to go in there and be himself,” Carter said. “We’re looking forward to Nate getting in there and seeing what he can do. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
Yarnell is no stranger when it comes to taking snaps for the Cavaliers. He saw action in a playoff game as a sophomore, as well as quarterbacked Lake Travis in 7-on-7 competition over the summer.
In five games this season, Yarnell has thrown for 241 yards on 16 for 23 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. His most important responsibility in light of Card’s absence is to help guide Lake Travis to a District 25-6A championship and beyond.
“He’ll be very well prepared and he’s going to go out there and play well,” Carter said.
The coach said that his staff has done a good job of placing the Cavaliers in a position to succeed.
“So far, we’ve been on track with that,” Carter said. “The challenge for us now is making sure we keep up the same urgency as we continue through district.”
