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Westlake postgame celebration from the 2019 State Championship
PUNCHING THEIR TICKET: Westlake prepares for highly anticipated State Semis rematch
To the surprise of no one, the state superpower Westlake is back in the Final Four of the Class 6A-Division I championship bracket.
And it is no surprise that they face North Shore... again. This will be a rematch of last year’s State Semifinal match, in which the Chaps fell to the now Willie Gaston-led Mustangs by a score of 49-34.
However, the game-plan doesn’t change for Salazar and company.
“I’ve reflected on the game from last year, watching the game film, and it was the big plays that killed us. We played well, but when they had a big play it went for a touchdown, and you can’t do that against a good team like them."
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Per the usual, after entering the district portion of their schedule, the Chaparrals have gone on a rampage in the Texas high school football scene.
It all begins with their stingy defense, which has allowed a mere 9.7 points per game entering the State Semis, and features the likes of Judson Crockett (Sr. DB), Elliot Schaper (Jr. LB), Denim Collins (Sr. DB), Caden Boenig (Sr. DL) and Cullen Devine (Jr. DL).
“I think we’ve been very complementary of each other all year long,” said coach Tony Salazar. “Our defense tends to start up fast, which makes it that much easier on our offense because of the short fields and quick touchdowns, and from there we keep it rolling.”
Speaking of offense, the emergence of sophomore QB Rees Wise has been one of the more exciting developments this Fall.
Since stepping on the field in Week No. 4, Wise has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards through the air, with over 400 yards on the ground, and 30 total touchdowns on the year.
“We needed a little spark in the first game against Lake Travis, and we put him (Wise) in there and he provided it,” said Salazar. “From there, our football team has gained confidence in the young quarterback, and obviously he has delivered.”
Of course, he hasn’t done it all by himself on the offensive side of the ball.
It can’t hurt to have the second all-time leading rusher for the Chaparrals, senior RB Jack Kayser (1119 yds/19 TDs in 2023), with you in the backfield.
“It’s no secret that our offense runs through Kayser,” Salazar said. “He’s small in stature but he’s big on game. He’s just a workhorse who shows up every week ready to work, and he’s the energizer bunny who we look to for the big plays.”
With a holistic approach to this State Semi, the Chaps know the assignment.
"We have to protect the football, capitalize in the red-zone, control the line of scrimmage and tackle effectively on defense," Salazar said. "If we can also eliminate the types of plays that lead to points, then I like the chances of the Chaparrals being around next week.”
THE BIG RED ‘W’: Community thrives behind Salazar, Westlake football
Over the course of this past decade, it’s no secret that Westlake football has become nothing short of a dynasty. That trend has continued through the era of coach Tony Salazar.
Salazar has been within the Westlake program for 10 years, dating back to when he was hired in 2014 as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for coaching legend Todd Dodge. He would take over the reins of the program two years ago, after Dodge retired.
Given that he inherited a well-established power, how have things been altered under Salazar’s direction?
“I think we took a big step in our special teams last year,” he said. “We’ve got tremendous speed on our special teams, just as we do on our offense and defense. For us, we use it as an opportunity for other guys to find roles within our program. The more kids you can get involved, the more buy-in you have from the team as a whole, leads to success.
“Furthermore, since I have a defensive background, I really focus on the physical part in all facets of the game. That has never wavered. We’re always going to win the physical battle every week, no matter the scheme.”
Through the first half of the fall season, Westlake has been on a roll. They’ve already begun to establish a new win-streak, as they are currently 6-0 (4-0 in district) following their recent 67-14 win over Anderson.
Given the exceptional level of district competition that the Chaparrals face on a yearly basis, including Lake Travis – who Westlake defeated 20-14 – as well as Dripping Springs, Salazar acknowledged what it means for the program to succeed on a consistent basis.
“In our program, we have three determining factors of success,” said Salazar. “The first one is to win a district championship. We have a 10-game schedule and obviously the majority of those are made up of district opponents. If we can enter the postseason with a title, it gives us the best possible seeding and mindset.
“Secondly, we want to practice on Thanksgiving, which would mean we’re in the second or third round of the playoffs when a lot of great teams are already sitting at home. If that happens, we’ll have our kids’ attention for the final goal, which is to win a State Championship.”
Despite being a well-known power in Texas High School Football, Westlake has a small-town feel, which the community thrives around.
“Most principals, administrators and superintendents will tell you that the best way to have a successful year is to have a good football season,” Salazar said. “There’s so many moving parts, with the band, dance and cheer teams being involved as well.
“We all get highlighted when we’re playing, and it’s a great meeting place for everyone in town on Fridays or Saturdays in the playoffs, when they come to support all of our groups. I think these kids and the community are very proud of the colors we wear, and that big red ‘W’ that we all get to stand behind.”
With Dripping Springs on the horizon, the postseason won’t be far behind. In which case, the Westlake faithful will have plenty to look forward to in the coming months.