AUSTIN, Texas — After three long road trips to begin the season, Austin Westlake was finally home, sweet home at Chaparral Stadium on Friday night.
Westlake, the No. 11 team in The Sporting News Texas top 25 rankings, handed Cibolo Steele its first loss of the year with lopsided 37-14 non-district victory. The Chaps improved to 3-1 after losing their season opener to Prosper.
“I think that helped,” Westlake head coach Tony Salazar said of playing a home game. “There was never any worry with the kids — even after they [Steele] scored a big touchdown to start with.
“We had a quality pregame activity in our fieldhouse, and we got into the flow of December football like the last time we were playing around here.”
Quarterback Rees Wise, an Ole Miss commit, and kicker Nolan Bartley combined to help the Chaps take a 20-7 lead at halftime.
Westlake increased its lead to 30 points with two more touchdowns and another field goal before Steele added a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore Liam Jones in the fourth quarter.
“I felt really good about it,” Wise said. “The last four weeks have been a grind. We had not been playing to our standard; tonight, we reached it. It’s exciting to see that from the young guys and all of the people around me.
“It’s exciting to beat these top teams. Being able to be here, in your own locker room, and you’ve got the fans here — it’s awesome. The energy here is unmatched. I love being here.”
The game looked like it might turn into a shootout after both teams put a touchdown up on the board in the first 1:59 of game clock.
Westlake struck first on an 11-yard touchdown run by Wise after he connected with Braden Riddell on a 52-yard pass on the game’s first offensive snap.
Steele then got a 75-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Hatton on its first offensive play of the contest. Westlake took the lead for good on a Bartley field goal with 10:21 to play in the second quarter.
“Just playing complementary football,” Salazar said. “The defense feeding off the offense, the offense feeding off the defense, and obviously special teams.
“We were able to execute tonight with three big field goals that kept the scoring alive. If we didn’t score there, it might have kept them in the football game. Those added up to be a two-score game to start the second half, so they were big.”
The Chaps open District 26-6A play at Austin Akins next Friday, while the Knights battle Schertz Clemens at home in their District 29-6A opener.
“It was good to be at home,” Salazar added. “I think the kids played more loose than they had the first three games. Part of that’s maturity. Our kids are growing up. We’re getting experience.”
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