Westlake didn’t clinch Friday night’s victory over Lake Travis until Chaparrals cornerback George Jones intercepted a pass with 1:06 remaining in the game.
It was a fitting end for the Chaparrals, who came up with big plays all night to defeat the Cavaliers 24-17 in a Class 6A Division I state quarterfinal game at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.
Westlake (13-1) advances to the state semifinals against the winner of Saturday’s Galena Park North Shore-Humble Atascocita game. Next week’s semifinal will be played at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Katy.
Westlake has reached state semis 8 straight years
Remarkably consistent, this marks the eighth straight year Westlake has reached the state semifinals. That includes state championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Chaps have earned a record of 113-7 over that game-year stretch.
Westlake quarterback Rees Wise did enough to keep his team’s season alive, passing for 173 yards and a touchdown while contributing another touchdown the ground. The Chaparrals took the lead for good when Wise connected with running back Brandon Cook on a 17-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Lake Travis (12-2) finished with 359 total yards, but three interceptions and one lost fumble proved costly. Chaparrals linebacker Elliott Schaper, the 2023 Central Texas defensive player of the year, had two interceptions that killed promising scoring drives. Chaparrals lineman Cullen Devine forced a Cavaliers fumble that was recovered by safety Masen Bliss.
The “best middle linebacker in the state” takes two INTs
After the game, Westlake gave ample credit to Schaper for spearheading the defense.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the best middle linebacker in the state of Texas and you can put that in print,” Chaps coach Tony Salazar said. “You put the two interceptions on top of the 32 tackles he’s had for losses this season. He’s the heart and soul of our defense and our defense made the biggest plays in the biggest moments.”
In a back-and-forth tussle, Lake Travis took a 7-0 lead by scoring on its first offensive possession. A 55-yard pass by quarterback Chaston Ditta set up a short touchdown run by Vann Hopping. Westlake, though, would score the game’s next 17 points on touchdown runs by Wise and Grady Bartlett and a 22-yard field goal by Nolan Bartlett. Lake Travis narrowed the deficit to 17-10 at halftime on a 23-yard field goal by Braydon Doane.
Westlake, which has now won six straight over Lake Travis, received a scare when the Cavaliers tied the game at 17-17 on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ditta to Patrick Colby midway through the third quarter.
Wise’s touchdown pass to Clark gave the Chaps the lead and the defense did the rest.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Westlake football beats rival Lake Travis in Class 6A DI playoffs
