November 3, 2017

Joe Taylor

GAME DAY: SENIOR NIGHT

November 3, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Winning football games is hard. So many aspects of the game must fall into place for a team to be successful. Coaches call it the grind. The seemingly non-stop preparation, the weight training, the practice, and the hours spent studying video. The reward? Three hours on Friday nights in the fall.

For 64 Westlake seniors, the road from their first fall as freshmen to senior night might be long in calendar days, but in an instant, boys become men. When they started their freshman season, there were 54 young men dreaming of the Friday night experience that many Chaps before them have known. They've watched Friday from the stands, the pit, and from the student section. These seniors have taken the yellow dog bus trips to play on Thursday nights to show their coaches and teammates that they deserve Friday nights.

"In 32 years of coaching, I've never had a class grow in size. Usually, it's the other way around. This simply does not happen. That's how special these seniors are." -Todd Dodge

Some became household names and lit up the stat pages with electric runs, mind-boggling receptions, quarterback sacks, and spiraling touchdown passes. Others learned how to play a different role on different days of the week.

"Everyone on our team plays football every day. Every player has a role and what most people don't understand is how important our Attack Team is and how that bunch is the backbone. They are the heart and soul of our team." -Todd Dodge

The Attack Team consists of varsity football players that may not see the field on Friday night, but play a unique role in the overall success the Chaparrals have enjoyed in 2017. Their goal is simple. Make everyone better. A lofty task, but then you meet with an Attack Team player and you know instantly what kind of man they will become.

"We're there to make them better. We push them and when we make a play against a starter, they go harder the next play. That's respect." -Wilson Ernst

While it earns respect, this strategy is also productive. Ernst is one of the coaching staff's treasured seniors that enjoys the duality of training at his given position at wide receiver and then moving to safety to simulate the opponent's defense. An Attack Team member like Ernst has the mind of a Westlake wide receiver. So, what better way to train your starters than with defenders who know exactly what their teammates will do before the play begins.

Mutual respect from teammate to teammate is visible when these Attack Team members get time on the field. In the 56-7 win over Lehman, those moments came in the second half. The starters had put the game out of reach, but they weren't sitting on the bench. They were on the edge of the sideline cheering their teammates on in a game that was decided by halftime.

"You may not read about them, but the players know who the real stars on our team are. They're selfless and they carry an attitude so positive, that it spreads to the rest of our team." -Todd Dodge

For reference, I submit the stat of two catches for 12 yards. On most Westlake offensive drives, one player could amass that in one or two plays. For Matthew Watanabe and Ryan Talbert, those catches ignited a sideline. Watanabe finished the win over of Lehman with one catch for seven yards, while Talbert snagged his one reception for five yards. Those two catches were a first for both players. Those catches were met with genuine excitement and overall pride as their teammates erupted with vocal applause as if both had scored game winning touchdowns.

The balance of rigorous school responsibilities and the grind that is the football schedule accelerates the work life balance experience. Managing time is something that even the best of us struggle with. For these seniors, it's a way of life that will only benefit them in the future. This class has been present for some memorable moments in Westlake football history. Exciting playoff wins, devastating losses, and a win over Lake Travis are hallmark memories, but just ask one senior what they'll miss, and the answer is always unanimous. They'll miss each other.

Tonight, we honor 64 young men who made the commitment to complicate their formative years with the beautiful grind that is Westlake Football. They chose long hours, late nights, early mornings, victory, defeat, and Chap Maker. They chose the reward of Friday nights at Chaparral Stadium. This evening, we ask you to arrive at 7pm, get to your seats, and applaud these student-athletes and their families. To the 2017 Seniors of Westlake Football...

THANK YOU!

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to "No Huddle" with Todd Dodge. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Wilson Ernst, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Chaparral Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

Head to the App Store on any Apple device. The Westlake Chap App can be downloaded on any iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Pro and iPod Touch. Listen to live coverage of Westlake Football all year long. Make sure to UPDATE your Chap App as we're rolling out a new and improved app that will feature ALL Westlake Sports Teams. Westlake football is live and at your fingertips with the Westlake Chap App.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP ON THE APP STORE

ANDROID USERS

For Android users, the new version of the Westlake Chap App is LIVE on the Google Play Store. This new app has the exact same features as the Apple version. So, enjoy Westlake athletics from any Android powered device.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP APP ON GOOGLE PLAY

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

CHAP SIGNAL

We will provide an in-stadium FM frequency for fans that bring their FM radios with them to Chaparral Stadium. Get behind the scenes action live on the Chap Signal. We will update our audience via our social media sites with the frequency. Bring your radio and hear the Chap Signal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, November 4th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE TV STREAM

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

October 27, 2017

Joe Taylor

GAME DAY: WESTLAKE VS. LEHMAN

October 27, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

There are high school football games and then there's the game played on October 13, 2017 at Chaparral Stadium. This year's annual rivalry delivered on the hype. Multiple turnovers, explosive plays, and in the end, the 2017 Westlake Football ended the nine year, 10 game streak with a 21-14 win over Lake Travis.

Tony Salazar's defense allowed 14 points in the first half, but the Cavaliers never saw the end zone in the second half. Armed with an offense that averaged over 500 yards of total offense per game, the Westlake defense minimized Lake Travis' explosiveness allowing just 242 yards of total offense and kept the scoreboard blank in the second half.

Fittingly, the game came down to a defensive play. After Nakia Watson's one yard touchdown run with 3:37 remaining in regulation, Matthew Baldwin took his offense down field. On fourth down, Lake Travis needed the Westlake 16 yard line to move the chains and continue their quest to tie the game. A quick pass to Garrett Wilson was the call and Keaton Jones closed, wrapped up Wilson's feet, and the ball was placed between the 17 and 16 yard lines. Upon the measurement, the Cavaliers were short. Westlake ball with 47 seconds left meant the two losses in 2016 were avenged and the 10 game losing streak was over.

"We have two team goals before the year starts," Todd Dodge said. "One, is to win a district championship and the other is to be practicing on Thanksgiving. Right now, both those goals are achievable."

While Westlake cruises into the first of three final regular season games at 7-0, Lehman is on the other end of the 25-6A spectrum. The Lobos are 1-7 under first year head coach Josh Kirkland. With Todd Raymond taking over the athletic director duties for Pflugerville ISD Athletics, the district looked west to El Paso. Their search turned up a first year head coach whose team went 8-4 in his debut season. Kirkland had taken over Parkland High School and the Matadors were fresh off a playoff win and an Area Championship appearance when he got the call from Kyle. Kirkland accepted and now, he embarks on the difficult task of creating success at Lehman.

Lehman Head Football Coach Josh Kirkland

While the first year has been difficult, Kirkland and his staff have made some tough choices. Among them is switching out quarterbacks and sending starter Daniel O'Neal to wide receiver and handing the offense over to freshman, Bryant Lewis. In his short term as a starter, Lewis offers a unique threat to the Lobo rushing attack. The young quarterback has yet to throw a touchdown pass, but his feet work just fine. Lewis has rushed for 405 yards, two scores, and manages just over five yards per rushing attempt. He began the season as a wide receiver and caught the game winning touchdown reception in overtime to beat Akins.

Joining Lewis in the backfield is senior running back Kaleb Priestly. A speed threat at just five-foot-six-inches and 150 pounds, both Priestly and Lewis pose the biggest threat offensively. Defensively has been the issue for Josh Kirkland. While Lehman has some spark offensively with their young talent, it's the defense that opponents have feasted on in eight games.

Lehman opponents enjoy a first quarter point differential of 137 in first quarter play. Opponents have scored 106 more points than the Lobos in the second quarter. With more than capable teams, first half play can get messy.

"At some point, as a head coach, you have to make a decision to play your young talent," Dodge said.

It appears that Kirkland has made that abundantly clear as Lehman features three sophomores starting at linebacker to go along with the three sophomores on the offensive line.

"Lehman has our respect," Defensive Coordinator Tony Salazar said. "Coach Kirkland is trying to build something and he's figuring out where guys can go and how they fit. More importantly, he's giving them a chance to get some much needed experience."

For Westlake, a win over Lehman secures a playoff appearance, but Westlake fans will be paying close attention to a pivotal district match-up in where the outcome could affect which division the Chaps will call home in the upcoming 6A playoffs. Hays and Vista Ridge will fight for their playoff lives tonight. If Hays wins, the Rebels have the inside track on the second seed in the 6A-Division I bracket behind Lake Travis. This scenario sends Westlake to the top seed in the 6A-Division II tournament. Should Vista Ridge bounce back from the Vandegrift shut-out to defeat Hays, the Rangers keep their playoff hopes alive and put both Westlake and Lake Travis into the Division I pool.

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to "Getting Defensive" with Tony Salazar. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Nakia Watson, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Bob Shelton Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP ON THE APP STORE

ANDROID USERS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP APP ON GOOGLE PLAY

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

CHAP SIGNAL

We will provide an in-stadium FM frequency for fans that bring their FM radios with them to Bob Shelton Stadium. Get behind the scenes action live on the Chap Signal. We will update our audience via our social media sites with the frequency. Bring your radio and hear the Chap Signal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, October 28th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE TV STREAM

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

October 13, 2017

Joe Taylor

GAME DAY: LAKE TRAVIS vs. WESTLAKE

October 13, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Like most rivalry games, the date is always circled on our calendars. You may not know which team plays week to week, but you certainly know when Westlake plays Lake Travis. This year, it’s Friday, October 13, 2017. This edition will mark the 12th time these two programs have faced off in the regular season. In their 11 regular season meetings, Lake Travis has won 9 straight and the Cavs made it 10 consecutive wins thanks to a 51-3 playoff win in the 6A Region IV final a year ago. That said, the streak may last from year-to-year, but the teams are always different.

“The 2017 Lake Travis Cavaliers and the 2017 Westlake Chaparrals haven’t played each other before,” Westlake Head Coach Todd Dodge said. “We’re both similar in that we don’t rebuild programs, we reload them, but that’s where it stops. That’s what’s great about this game of high school football. Each year is different.”

As we preview this year’s Battle of the Lakes, know that both teams have a common opponent in the Hays Rebels, a team that might be the best one-win team in Central Texas. The six opponents the Rebels faced this season now have a combined record of 27 wins to just seven losses.

“No one looked past Hays,” Dodge said. “All we had to do is turn on the video and show our players. We were not surprised at their talent and they had our attention from the get go.”

The Rebels established their backfield talent early. Ty Mayberry rushed for 100 yards against Lake Travis in one half of football two weeks ago, while the combination of both Mayberry and Cade Powell hurt Westlake in the passing game. Hays kept the game within reach with both the Cavs and the Chaps trailing Lake Travis by as few as five points in the fourth quarter and outscoring Westlake 14-7 in the final frame. A timely touchdown pass from Taylor Anderson to Nakia Watson sealed the 10-point win. The Westlake defense only allowed 93 Rebel rushing yards, but Mayberry and Powell proved to be a deadly combination as pass catchers out of the backfield. They combined for 99 receiving yards and a score.

Xavier Martinez fired three touchdown passes and racked up 265 yards passing, but the Chaps limited multiple explosive plays.

“At some point as the game progresses, you realize that a team like that is going to move the ball,” Dodge said. “It may not have been pretty, but we can allow our offensive line and our running game to control the ball and sometimes that’s the best way to keep teams off the field.”

Dodge is referring to the 246 yards gained on the ground against the Rebel defense. Nakia Watson acquired 30 of the team’s 44 carries and earned every inch of his 158 yards and two scores. Watson can credit his two rushing scores to the passing game that set up both short yardage touchdown runs.

While Jake Ramos flourished in his return to the starting line-up against Vandegrift, it was sophomore Mason Mangum who showcased his pass catching ability during the 34-24 win over Hays. Mangum hauled in nine catches for 119 yards and a touchdown all while having issues keeping his helmet about him.

“Mason is one of the more gifted runners we have,” Dodge said. “He’s so smooth that it doesn’t look like he’s running that fast. He’s tough and he played faster last Friday night. Playing fast and having confidence go hand in hand and it showed up for Mason in his performance.”

Lake Travis enjoyed a bye week to gear up for the Battle of the Lakes and with four straight wins prior to their open date, they look as good as ever in the passing game. The football field isn’t the only place Chaparral fans will see Garrett Wilson. The silky smooth junior receiver is quite the basketball player, but his seven catches for 225 yards and four touchdown receptions against Hays turned heads. Wilson and newcomer Hudson Card have emerged as impressive threats for the high-powered Cavalier offense. The two have combined for 65 receptions, 1,314 yards, and 13 scores through just five games.

Matthew Baldwin has waited patiently in Charlie Brewer’s shadow and now, he has the keys to the red and black sports car every high school senior wants. Although the Cavalier quarterback shoes run big, Baldwin has the makings of yet another successful Lake Travis signal caller. The Colorado State commit is six-foot three inches tall and weighs 195 pounds and resembles more of a pro-style drop back passer.

“I’ve had guys that have played behind players of the year before,” Dodge said. “I had one in Greg McElroy and those guys have something burning inside of them. It’s a sense of urgency and Matthew seems to have that.”

McElroy backed up Southlake Carroll’s Chase Daniel his sophomore and junior seasons under Dodge. In his one year as a starter, the former Alabama quarterback guided the 2005 Dragons to a 16-0 record while he threw for 4,636 yards, 56 touchdowns, and helped Carroll secure the 5A State Title. Baldwin has that similar task in where he wants that same type of hardware he received in 2016, but as the starting quarterback.

While the offense gets majority credit in Lake Travis’ dominance in their back-to-back trips to the state championship game in 2015 and 2016, it was their defense that was unprecedented; especially in 2016. Following the playoff win over Westlake, the Cavalier defense allowed a total of 174 points in 14 games. In 2017, the numbers tell a different story. After surrendering 65 points to Judson in their only loss, the Cavaliers allowed 31 points to Steele, 45 points to Jesuit, and 34 to Hays. In five games, Lake Travis has allowed 175 total points.

Lake Travis bounced back after allowing 759 total yards and 65 points to Judson with an epic win over Steele that saw senior Cameron Dicker drill a 37-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The offense rolled out 65 points against Jesuit, shut out Hendrickson 48-0, and put up 60 on Hays. All the wins and points aside, Lake Travis must contain the Westlake rushing attack if they want to keep the streak alive. The Cavaliers are giving up 268.2 rushing yards per game and that plays into the read option game with Taylor Anderson and Nakia Watson.

One match-up to look for is Westlake’s pressure opportunities on defense. In the past, Lake Travis quarterbacks have been more mobile. Matthew Baldwin is a true drop back passer. He makes quick decisions and is accurate with his passes. This will be the fastest defensive front Baldwin has faced and the 2017 Chaparral Defense come armed with 14 sacks and a tendency to put opposing quarterbacks in difficult situations.

Finally, the streak is a number and like other stats, they don’t carry over. While being aware of that stat is acceptable, it doesn’t lead to wins or losses in the moment. It’s just a number.

“Just because Lake Travis has won these games doesn’t mean they’ll get 14 points to start this one,” Dodge said. “We’ll be who we are, physical and unselfish.”

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to No Huddle with Todd Dodge. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Reed Dickerson, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Chaparral Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP ON THE APP STORE

ANDROID USERS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP APP ON GOOGLE PLAY

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

CHAP SIGNAL

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, October 14th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE TV STREAM

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

October 6, 2017

Joe Taylor

Game Day: Westlake vs. Hays

October 6, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Fourth quarter, 37 seconds remained, and the 2017 Westlake Chaparrals were facing a 31-30 deficit that seemed insurmountable. The kick-off return left the Chaparral offense with only 30 seconds to run an accelerated version of the two-minute drill. On third down, Taylor Anderson flipped a screen pass to Nakia Watson who had significant running room. Watson followed blockers to the Vandegrift 23-yard line before he was tackled. Todd Dodge called an emphatic time-out as he raced downfield as if former Texas Longhorn head coach Fred Akers had hacked Dodge’s headset and called a 1984 quarterback draw.

Dodge checked his inventory; six seconds, one time-out, and a junior kicker that had already made three field goals that evening. As the field goal unit trotted on the field, the collective crowd rose to the occasion. A miss would mean Vandegrift could solidify their arrival as a legitimate 6A program and a 1-0 record in district play. A make would serve as one of the very few games in Westlake football history that featured a come from behind win in the final drive.

“We knew instantly what we wanted to do,” Dodge said. Gabo had already made a 40 yarder earlier and we didn’t waste any time.”

John Oehrline delivered the ball to Steven Crider as calmly as he’d done 36 times before this snap. Crider put down the 37th snap of the trio’s season. The ball was 40 yards away as Gabo Lozano added to Oehrline’s snap and Crider’s hold. Ballgame. Westlake had won.

What you may not know is that this wasn’t the first time Lozano’s teammates were happy he made a 40-yard field goal.

“We always wondered why Coach Dodge put Gabo out there in practice,” Jake Ramos said. “We run sprints and coach will make Gabo hit from 40 yards. If he misses, we run more sprints. If he makes it, sprints are over.”

It seems the Westlake coaching staff will find ways to simulate pressure situations in practice. Thankfully, the Westlake Nation enjoyed a district opening win against a Vandegrift team that will be a tough out in District 25-6A play. In four games, the Westlake defense had allowed just 31 total points and 28 of those 31 occurred during game one at College Station. The Vipers scored their 31st point against the Chaps with 37 seconds left in regulation.

On the flip side, a normally dominant offensive line struggled against Vandegrift’s talented defensive front and the Chaparral run game suffered. The bulk of Nakia Watson’s 110 yards rushing came on a 76-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The run game struggles allowed the passing game to emerge and Taylor Anderson delivered. The junior quarterback completed 17 of 29 passing attempts for 292 yards and two touchdown passes. Jake Ramos returned to the starting line up with authority, catching seven of Anderson’s passes for 96 yards and the game’s first score.

“We knew we had to step up,” Ramos said. “They were keying on Nakia and we had to find ways to get everyone the ball.”

The final drive featured creativity in the form of a screen pass to Watson and Dodge allowed his offensive linemen to be athletic and get downfield in a hurry to spring an explosive play. The goal was the 23-yard line and Nakia’s run after the catch ended at the Viper 23.

The calm before the Battle of the Lakes is a trip down I-35 to Bob Shelton Stadium to take on a Hays team that challenged Lake Travis a week ago before succumbing to the Cavalier offense in the fourth quarter. The Rebels made every effort to put 25-6A on notice that they were not the pushover they were a year ago. Despite the 1-4 record, Hays managed to make the Cavalier faithful remain in their seats a bit longer than planned last Friday night. Lake Travis held a 29-21 lead at the half and an 11-point lead headed into the fourth quarter before the defending state champs outscored Hays 21-6.

Hays delivered haymakers following Lake Travis’ first two touchdowns coming right back and answering Cavalier scores with two of their own. Running back Thailand Mayberry capped Hays’ first scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The Rebel quarterback Xavier Martinez followed with a nine-yard pass to Bayler Jordan to tie the game at 14. Mayberry gained 100 of his 126 yards rushing in the first half and turned in two rushing touchdowns to keep the Cavs within the Rebels’ reach.

“This is the best offensive line we’ve seen from Hays,” coach Lee Munn said. “They’re big and they have experience and it’s why they’re dangerous.”

The Hays front five features three returning starters from 2016 in Phil McSorely, Ben Hoskins, and Lyndon Wilson. Collectively, the Hays line averages six-feet-two and 246 pounds. Mayberry has enjoyed the space. The junior running back has rushed for 434 yards on 86 carries and Mayberry’s found the end-zone five times with two scores coming against Lake Travis.

In 2016, Hays struggled to find a quarterback and the Rebels were forced to use multiple signal callers prior to their trip to Westlake. Xavier Martinez has delivered consistency at the position for Neal LaHue’s unconventional offense. Despite the four interceptions, Martinez has completed 70 percent of his throws for 902 yards and six touchdown passes.

“Coach LaHue has found a way to use his personnel in a unique way,” Dodge said. “As a coach, keeping kids focused after a big win last week and keeping their minds right before next week is normally a challenge. Hays’ play this season has made that part of my job a little easier this week because that’s how good they are.”

Defensively, the Rebels return all three defensive line starters. Justin Rodriguez, Ryan Leal, and Zane Kuykendall have made the opposition earn their wins. The trio have combined for 69 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. As a team, the Rebel defense have amassed 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and sacked opposing quarterbacks eight times and two of those sacks came last week against Lake Travis.

The weakness in Hays’ game lies in the turnover numbers. The Rebels have only managed three takeaways in five games and if they want to stay with Westlake, Hays will have to force that issue and take chances against the Chaparral passing game. The Rebels ran 84 plays a week ago and picked up 21 first downs so don’t expect a welcome mat at the gates of Bob Shelton Stadium.

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to No Huddle with Todd Dodge. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Jake Ramos, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Bob Shelton Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP ON THE APP STORE

ANDROID USERS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHAP APP ON GOOGLE PLAY

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

CHAP SIGNAL

We will provide an in-stadium FM frequency for fans that bring their FM radios with them Bob Shelton Stadium. Get behind the scenes action live on the Chap Signal. We will update our audience via our social media sites with the frequency. Bring your radio and hear the Chap Signal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, October 6th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE TV STREAM

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

September 29, 2017

Joe Taylor

Game Day: Vandegrift vs. Westlake

September 29, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Chaparral Stadium was alive with a playoff buzz last Friday night as the crowd awaited the long-time rivalry match up with Bowie. Both the birds and the dogs touted undefeated records and talent in spades at all positions. The dominance started almost immediately as senior Thomas Rousseau picked off Trinidad Sanders' pass on the second play from scrimmage. The first of four interceptions gave the Westlake offense strong field position, but a double ejection gave way to an immediate opportunity for both Bowie corner Audric Santiago and Chaparral wide receiver Michael Granson. Todd Dodge's play calling did not waiver given the unanticipated personnel change and Taylor Anderson found Granson in the corner of the end zone to cap the game's first touchdown drive.

Jackson Lord would give Bowie brief hope with a 94 yard kick-off return for a touchdown to tie the game, but Westlake answered with Taylor Anderson running for his first of two rushing touchdowns in a game that saw the red-headed quarterback throw for three touchdowns. The homecoming victory marked the second time in 2017 that both Nakia Watson and Anderson rushed for over 100 yards respectively as the Chaparrals plowed through Bowie's defense for 292 total rushing yards.

While 49 points went on the scoreboard, the Chaparral defense deserved top billing. Halftime saw a 21-7 Westlake lead, but the 14 point difference was a tad misleading. Bowie did not pick up a first down on offense without the aid of a Westlake penalty. As the Westlake Marching Band prepped for the homecoming show, Bowie had only gained 29 rushing yards and Sanders hadn't completed a pass in eight attempts. The Bulldog offense was stifled in the second half even with Matthew Wheeler subbing in for Sanders. Wheeler connected on a few big pass plays, but 157 yards of total offense is all Bowie could muster with the dagger coming by way of Drew Webster's pick six. Despite the many defensive numbers that proved Westlake's dominance, 0-7 on third down stands out as the stat of the game. The Chaparral defense did not allow Bowie a third down conversion in their homecoming win last week.

Vandegrift poses yet another unique challenge for the Westlake defense. Despite the 2-2 record, Drew Sanders' Vipers have rolled in back-to-back wins against Killeen and a highly athletic Harker Heights squad. With only one returning offensive lineman from the 2016 team, Vandegrift has been on the search for cohesiveness while battling the bumps and bruises that come with playing high profile programs like Odessa Permian and Cedar Park.

"We're a work in progress," Viper head coach Drew Sanders said. "We've got guys that really want to be great up front and they're getting better with every week. We've shaken things up a bit and we're starting to see results."

Those results come in the form of the Vandegrift passing attack lead by senior quarterback Justin Moore. In the last two wins, Moore has thrown for 496 yards and found Viper receivers six times for scores. Speaking of receivers, Vandegrift has quite the cast. The average height of a Viper receiver is six-foot-two and the core of the receiver room is senior Peyton Ausley. With four of the 10 touchdown catches, Ausley leads the talented group with 28 receptions and an astonishing 388 yards in just four games. When defenders zero in on Ausley, Moore turns to Justin Florence and his 23 receptions and three touchdown grabs. Reese Watson is a notable weapon as well. Look for the junior wide receiver to cause issues underneath to make plays in open space.

“Justin [Moore] is a gamer,” Sanders said. “He’s our starting quarterback, he’s a point guard on our basketball team, and he’s getting looks from Ivy League schools for his baseball ability.”

That kind of athleticism and his baseball mind favors a short memory when it comes to failure on the football field. Baseball is a game of failure and that allows Moore to work from offensive series to offensive series like how he would approach at-bats in a baseball game.

Defensively, Drew Sanders speaks with the tone of a proud papa.

"They're a special group of players," Sanders said. "We have so many guys that are just good high school football players. They may not be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest, but they're smart and it makes us very tough mentally."

Todd Dodge echoed those sentiments especially with three year starter at safety, Cole Walther.

"You can see immediately how crucial a player like Cole is to why they're successful on defense," Dodge said. "You look at Cole and I see guys like Matthew Sams and Barrett Chambers who've been leaders for us. Cole is that guy for Vandegrift."

Two aspects you'll notice immediately about the Viper defensive front, their names and their speed. Osorachukwu Ifesinachukwu and Varun Kalyanapuram might be a mouthful for yours truly, but these two might make you pay attention to pronunciations. Ifesinachukwu has tallied seven tackles for loss to go along with seven sacks in four games. While the obvious attention will be on the Westlake rushing attack, pressuring Taylor Anderson will be the responsibility of both Ifesinachukwu and Myles Hammon. Together, the defensive ends have racked up 81 tackles.

A punt block was the difference in last year's inaugural game between Westlake and Vandegrift. The Vipers were 1-3 a year ago and Westlake had come off a big win over Bowie.

"You have to give kids a history lesson so they understand who our opponents are," Dodge said. "We have great respect for Vandegrift because they're very similar to us. They have great community support, like us. They've known success, so they have our full attention."

Although varsity football began in 2010, Vandegrift enjoyed playoff berths in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. From 2013 through last Friday, the Vipers have won 40 games and they'll look for the first district test against the fifth ranked Chaparrals.

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to No Huddle with Todd Dodge. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Keaton Jones, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Chaparral Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

ANDROID USERS

For Android listeners, the new version of the Westlake Chap App hit the Google Play Store very soon. This new app will mirror the Apple version and will have the same features so you can enjoy Westlake athletics from any Android powered device.

CHAP SIGNAL

We will provide an in-stadium FM frequency for fans that bring their FM radios with them Chaparral Stadium. Get behind the scenes action live on the Chap Signal. We will update our audience via our social media sites with the frequency. Bring your radio and hear the Chap Signal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, September 30th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

September 22, 2017

Joe Taylor

Game Day: Bowie vs. Westlake

September 22, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Following the 52-3 dismantling of the Pflugerville Panthers, one would think that scoring 118 points in two games wouldn't yield much work in the improvement category. While the run game was once again in high gear, the passing attack wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Westlake made a clear commitment to feature the pass in the third quarter to install more confidence in both the quarterback and receiving corps. Of the 23 passes, only 12 were completed, however, most of the completions came in the third quarter and by game's end, seven receivers caught at least one pass.

Coaches will often remark that the sign of any good football team is defined by that team's ability to run the ball and play defense. The first three games have certainly demonstrated that the 2017 Chaparrals can run the ball. Behind the offensive line, Nakia Watson and Taylor Anderson can execute effectively whether the play ends in a two yard gain for a first down or a 78 yard touchdown run. Through the first 12 quarters, the Chaps are sporting an average of 301 rushing yards per game. Watson has capped nine scoring drives with powerful runs. Anderson has added three rushing touchdowns matching his number of touchdown passes.

Defensively speaking, Westlake has only allowed three points in the last two games and Tony Salazar's defense hasn't allowed a touchdown since College Station. Six sacks and 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage tell the story of pressure. An asset that forces opposing quarterbacks to throw before they wish and offensive coordinators to veer off course as to go around the threat.

"Our defense works so hard," Senior Steven Crider said. "It's not just the work they put into practice, it's the work they put in off the field. No one watches more film than David Neil. They just know what's coming before it even happens. They're just a bunch of tough nasty dudes that want to fly to the football."

Chances are, you'll hear the same sentiments from the Bowie locker room, but you'll also hear similar praise from opposing coaching staffs, especially with the Bulldog defensive backfield.

Tony Salazar: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

"They're tough, athletic, and well coached," Defensive Coordinator Tony Salazar said. "It starts with their secondary and it's the key to why they've been successful. Those guys can cover anybody."

Bowie's defense is fueled by returning starters and experienced players and their secondary has zero leash laws. Senior Josh Smythe-Macauley is the team's leading tackler. Both Smythe-Macauley and Pierce Withers are captains and corner Terance Durst has two of the team's three interceptions. That trio along with Quintavious Buckner are directly responsible for the opposition's pedestrian 74.3 average passing yards per game.

The secondary's performance allows the Bulldog defensive front the ability to focus their efforts to slowing opposing rushing attacks. With 28 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, Defensive Coordinator Gary Pittman knows the value of pressure as well. Expect Bowie to put Taylor Anderson into position to throw into their secondary before he wishes to. Should Bowie force the Chaparral offense into passing situations, that's when the pressure will come. The key for Westlake will continue to be effective on first down. The goal? Five yards or more on first down plays.

Bowie has endured bumps and bruises regarding personnel, but those setbacks have led to found talent at the quarterback position with the emergence of Trinidad Sanders. The six-foot-two 175-pound sophomore has played a pivotal role in Bowie's success in their first three games. He's completed nearly 59 percent of his passes and only one of those 46 passing attempts found its way into an opponent's hands. Five of Sanders' 27 completions have gone for touchdowns, but it's his athletic ability that jumps off the film.

"Trin is a gifted athlete who really loves playing football," Bowie Offensive Coordinator Ty Branyon said. "While he's a great athlete and football player, he is also a tremendous kid with great character and a positive attitude."

High praise from his position coach and as a former Bulldog quarterback, Branyon knows exactly how Sanders' shoes feel.

While Trin's 550 yards passing is impressive, it's his 220 yards rushing that supports the Bowie rushing attack which features Kyle Carter in a starring role. Both have combined for 521 yards rushing, eight touchdowns, and no matter who gets the call to run, this duo averages 6.7 yards per carry. If there's a weakness, it's protecting the football. Sanders has fumbled the ball once in 34 carries while Carter has coughed up the ball three times in 44 rushing attempts.

Westlake's 35-21 win over Bowie at Burger Stadium a year ago was a statement game for the 2016 Chaparrals. The dominant performance proved to not only Bowie, but District 25-6A that Westlake could win without Sam Ehlinger behind center. Last year's victory introduced Central Texas to the talents of Nakia Watson. He ran 32 times, gained 207 yards, and scored three touchdowns.

"He's an old school football player," Tony Salazar said. "He's not like a lot of players you see today. He doesn't beat his chest or look to the stands to see who's watching him. He just hands the ball to the official like he's been there before and he knows he'll be back."

Watson is quick to give credit where credit is due.

"Nakia shares the love with everyone," Salazar said. "He's a quiet leader that plays hard every day. He realizes that without the guys up front, his backs, and the receivers downfield, that we wouldn't be as successful as we've been."

That example of unselfish play from the one that gets most publicity travels to the rest of the roster.

"We know if we do our jobs, good things are going to happen," Luke Wilkin said. "We may not get our names in the paper, but we know if we do things right, Nakia will have a chance to score on any play we run."

Even running backs that share the backfield understand the attitude.

"We might get a carry or two per game, but Coach Dodge always tells us about the benefit of being unselfish, Steven Crider said. "The running back room has really picked up on that attitude that the offensive line has. We have to pull the rope and it's really fun when it all works and we see Nakia break off big runs, hurdling over tacklers for a score."

While honoring the rivalry between the Chaparrals and the Bulldogs, this game allows for a unique experience before district play begins. Whether it's the energy of a homecoming game, the buzz of two undefeated teams, or a sellout crowd, Bowie and Westlake will both enjoy the feel of a playoff atmosphere and continue to carve out their respective identities.

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to Getting Defensive with Tony Salazar. Make sure you stay tuned to our halftime coverage as we recap the first half highlights. Our halftime features the thoughts of Steven Crider, our Chap of the Week. As you leave Chaparral Stadium, let us join you on The Drive Home as we review the game, run the stats, and hand out our own helmet stickers.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

WEBSITE

Go straight to our live streaming broadcast on any desktop or lap top.

CLICK HERE WestlakeChaps.com

ANDROID USERS

CHAP SIGNAL

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage last Saturday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, September 23rd at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS

September 15, 2017

Joe Taylor

Game Day: Westlake vs. Pflugerville

September 15, 2017

Joe Taylor

"It's a great day to be a Chaparral."

Please join us this evening as the Westlake Chaparrals head north to Pflugerville. The Panthers opened their brand new home aptly named "The Pfield" against Bowie two weeks ago and the 44-12 defeat was not the open house they had planned. As Todd Dodge reminisced about last year's 35-0 win over George Herrmann's 2016 squad, he recalled coming off losing the starting quarterback, losing a game, and being a desperate team.

"Some people thought that 35-0 was a blowout win," Dodge said. "Not for us. That game felt way closer than it was, because we were desperate to find out who we were."

Some would say that after the 66-7 defeat of Niceville, the Chaps have a much better understanding of who they are headed into their second road game. A team averaging 322.5 rushing yards per game isn't really in the business of explaining how bread is buttered. The physical nature of the offensive line and the men who run behind it offered a glimpse of what could be in 2017.

The blocking quintet of Armstrong, Wilkin, Webster, Sherhart, and Aylor provided perfect harmony that gave way for a season high 366 rushing yards against the Eagles. Watson dashed for yet another 100+ yard effort. This time the total equated to 165 yards on 18 carries. Watson secured two scores, but it was Taylor Anderson that garnered most of the attention as he enjoyed his first two rushing touchdowns of 2017. To add to a stellar home opener, the junior quarterback was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass.

In a play executed on multiple occasions between Reed Klubnik and Sam Ehlinger, the scheme was simple. While the principle offensive unit took their normal positions, the center snapped the ball to an eager running back. Said running back would execute a toss to a streaking wide receiver who would then look downfield for the open receiver. The intended receiver? The quarterback. In this instance, the direct snap was taken by Watson who then tossed to Izaiah Faz who rolled right and found Anderson in the corner of the end zone. Anderson threw for 159 yards and a touchdown in addition to his rushing and receiving efforts.

Pflugerville is a tale of two teams as the 44-12 season opening loss to Bowie proved that there was work to do. The next week, the Panthers headed northwest to Leander and after trailing 10-6 at the half, Pflugerville erupted with 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. Running back IK Evbayiro capped the quarter's first scoring drive with a one yard touchdown run. The Panther defense forced Leander to punt in back-to-back possessions and both drives ended in scores. The first went by way of a Damon Tamez pass to Taye McWilliams while the second came courtesy of an Evbayiro 28 yard run.

Lost in the 21 3rd quarter points is the Pflugerville defense who held the Lions in check in the second half allowing only a field goal. With the first win secured, the Panthers return to the newly constructed "Pfield" with a bit more confidence.

Todd Dodge is always aware of talent other teams boast. "There is not one coach in the state who wouldn't want Casey Washington in their receiving corps," Dodge said. "He's great out of routes and has great body control."

Washington's 184 yards receiving on 13 receptions in just two games also has Tony Salazar's attention. Westlake saw improvement in the secondary from game one to game two, but Washington will be a challenge in one-on-one match ups.

While the Wing-T might be the roots of the Pflugerville program, the offense under Jeff Rogers has morphed into a spread attack. That said, expect Pflugerville to occasionally remember their predecessors and drift into a Wing-T formation to catch the Westlake run defense off guard. Guiding the offensive attack is strong armed quarterback Damon Tamez.

"Damon can throw it to any spot on the field," Dodge said. "He's got a strong arm, but his accuracy has come a long way."

Accuracy and the strong arm behind it could allow for Pflugerville to hit Westlake hard with explosive plays early. Tamez's accuracy has also led to a successful short and quick passing game designed to carve up the field and beat pressure. Look for Westlake's defense to answer for not only Washington on the outside, but also IK Evbayiro, Taye McWilliams, and Kevin Tyler. All three can run the football out of the backfield or line up as wide receivers.

RADIO

Our tailgate show begins live at 7pm on SPORTSTALK AM-1300 The ZONE. Listen live to No Huddle with Todd Dodge. Stay tuned to our halftime coverage for a recap of the first half highlights along with this week's Chap of the Week interview.

THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WESTLAKE CHAP APP

WEBSITE

Go straight to our desktop streaming site WestlakeChaps.com and hear the broadcast live

ANDROID USERS

For Android listeners, the new version of the Westlake Chap App hit the Google Play Store this morning. Download it now!

CHAP SIGNAL

We will provide an in-stadium FM frequency for fans that bring their FM radios with them to The Pfield. Get behind the scenes action live on the Chap Signal. We will update our audience via our social media sites with the frequency. Bring your radio and hear the Chap Signal.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Westlake Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click the links below and like and follow our sites that feature Westlake student-athletes.

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TELEVISION

We hope you enjoyed our television coverage on Sunday evening on our new home for Westlake Football, KBVO-TV. Tonight's broadcast will air on Saturday, September 16th at 7pm. Please check your provider for the correct channel. The game will also stream live at 7pm so if you wish to watch live from any device, you can. The link below will lead you to the game. Note the stream will not begin until 7pm on Saturday evening. Please share the link to as many fans as possible.

TV LIVE STREAM: http://kxan.tv/westlakechaps

#GOCHAPS