‘He’s critical’: How one senior tight end is elevating Lake Travis football

Late in the first quarter, with Lake Travis already up by two scores Thursday, Cavaliers tight end Gage Prebenda-Wilson went in motion from the left side of the formation to the right.

After the snap, the senior sprinted toward the right corner of the goal line, where – after a brief bobble – he corralled his first touchdown of the season to help extend the Lake Travis lead to 21 points with 2 minutes, 39 seconds to go in the period.

The Lake Travis (2-1-1) starting offense played just the first half in a 59-6 blowout win against McNeil (0-4) at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in its District 25-6A opener. But that was enough time for Prebenda-Wilson to show his importance to the Cavaliers offense. The 6-2, 225-pound tight end caught three passes for 37 yards and the aforementioned score, while also providing a strong performance as a blocker.

“The scheme is helping me get open,” Prebenda-Wilson, who is committed to play FCS football at Columbia, said postgame. “But also just all the work I put in has helped me develop speed and routes, and just helps me get open.”

Lake Travis tight end Gage Prebenda-Wilson (14) makes a catch for a touchdown during the game against McNeil at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex on Thursday, September. 24, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

A crucial piece against McNeil

Thursday’s win was the latest example of Prebenda-Wilson’s impact in a sendoff campaign during which he’s taken on a larger role in the offense.

After scoring on its first offensive play of the game, Lake Travis faced a third-and-5 at the McNeil 13-yard line on its next drive. Prebenda-Wilson ran an out route, caught the ball and secured a first down with a 7-yard gain. Running back Teddy Lofgren scored his first rushing touchdown of the game on the next play.

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On Lake Travis’ first drive of the second quarter, Prebenda-Wilson caught a pass 2 yards from the line of scrimmage and turned it into a 14-yard gain. The Cavaliers proceeded to march down the field until Lofgren’s second touchdown made the score 31-0.

“He’s critical,” Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter said of Prebenda-Wilson. “First of all, he’s a big body, so he does great work in the run-blocking game. He does a great job in the edge-perimeter passing game, and then just catching the ball. He’s just got great hands, big kid. You know, he’s a handful to bring down once he catches it.”

“He’s a good player, really good player,” Carter added.

A versatile playmaker

For Prebenda-Wilson, being reliable in multiple facets of the game is something that helps him maximize his impact on the Cavaliers.

“Being a one-trick pony inevitably will be your downfall as a player,” he said. “It helps the team the most overall, and it helps me get on the field because whatever the team needs, I can do that for them.”

Every year Lake Travis is filled with skill position talent that has a place at the college level. As a junior, Prebenda-Wilson caught 14 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown for a team that won a district title and made it to the state semifinals. Those numbers ranked seventh on the team in catches and eighth in yards.

However, the future Ivy Leaguer is on pace to dwarf those stats this fall. Through four games, including one contest that ended in the third quarter due to weather, Prebenda-Wilson has 13 catches for 143 yards – putting him top three on the Cavaliers in each category – and a score.

Lake Travis quarterback Jason Carter (5) throws a pass during the game against McNeil at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex on Thursday, September. 24, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

First-year starting quarterback Jason Carter, who threw four touchdowns Thursday, said that he expects to keep connecting with the versatile pass catcher.

“We can use him as a great safety valve, like check it down, or we can also throw it to him deep,” the junior said. “It’s really important.”

Looking ahead

Now, the tight end hopes to repeat, or exceed, the team success that he was a part of last year. Although, the path has been far from easy thus far.

Lake Travis cancelled its opener against Dripping Springs in the aftermath of the sudden death of offensive lineman Odin Hensley in August. After starting the season with a Sept. 4 victory over a talented Weiss squad, the Cavaliers tied Cibolo Steele 28-28 a week later in a contest that ended in the third quarter due to weather. Then, the team lost 48-35 to San Antonio Cornerstone Christian on Sept. 17.

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That recent defeat helped fuel Lake Travis against McNeil.

“It really lit a fire under our butts,” Prebenda-Wilson said. “We’re angry, and we just don’t want it to happen again.”

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Thursday marked a strong start to district play for Lake Travis, who was moved into its Round Rock-laden division in February’s UIL realignment. The Cavaliers have a bye next week before facing undefeated Cedar Ridge on Oct. 9. Two weeks later, Lake Travis hosts Westlake, a matchup of the district’s two preseason favorites.

Prebenda-Wilson believes this team will be ready for the challenges ahead.

“We’re just going to keep our heads down and keep grinding,” he said. “We’re just working towards Westlake and playoffs; that’s pretty much our two goals.”

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This article originally published at ‘He’s critical’: How one senior tight end is elevating Lake Travis football.

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