After a comfortable 20 point victory last Friday at Chaparral Stadium vs Euless Trinity High School, the football team took the hour and a half long drive up I-35 to face the Jaguars of Mansfield Summit High School in a neutral site game at Crusader stadium in Belton. Built in 2013, the nearly eight thousand seat venue is typically home to the number one ranked NCAA Division 3 football team in the nation, the Mary-Hardin Baylor Crusaders. The school is also the alma mater of Westlake coaches Tony Salazar, Matthew Cody and Baylor Mullins.  However, on Friday night the stage was set for some high school football instead. 

It was a cool September night, and the college stadium looked as beautiful as the weather during the game. Westlake ran through the banner, looking sharp in their alternate red jerseys and blue Texas flag themed helmets. The Chaps received the opening kickoff and began the game with the ball around the 40 yard line. The Chaps picked right back up where they left off last Friday, marching downfield, gaining yardage in bunches. The nifty drive was highlighted by an athletic 28 yard snag by wide receiver junior Jaden Greathouse. Greathouse later capped off the effort, scoring from 12 yards out on an impressive throw from quarterback senior Cade Klubnik, and an even better catch in the back corner of the end zone by Greathouse to give the Chaps an early 7-0 lead. Summit got their chance on the offensive side of the ball, and immediately gave it back up via an interception by defensive back sophomore Judson Crockett. 

However, Westlake couldn’t capitalize either, driving down the field until ultimately coughing up the football and turning it back over inside the 20 yard line. The Jaguars punted the ball back after a time consuming drive, and the Chaps took over at their own 38 yard line. As the quarter wound to a close, Klubnik found Greathouse again, and he performed the highlight play of the night. Greathouse bobbed and weaved between defenders and ultimately ran into the end zone from 46 yards out, stretching the Chaps lead to 14 on his second score of the quarter. 

Summit started the second quarter off with a smooth drive, moving down the field with efficiency, and ultimately scoring on a 15 yard run from running back senior Orlando Scales, cutting the Westlake lead down to 7. The Chaps got the ball back at their own 22 yard line, and didn’t take long to avenge the points surrendered, scoring on a 15 yard pitch and catch from Klubnik to wide receiver junior Bryce Chambers. The 78 yard drive was backed by consecutive 25+ yard grabs by Greathouse and wide receiver junior Keaton Kubecka, leading to the quick score and the regain of a 14 point lead. The Jaguars quickly booted the ball back, and the Chaps didn’t take their foot off the gas pedal, moving downfield efficiently, eventually scoring on an impressive 48-yard field goal from kicker senior Charlie Barnett, taking the Chaps to the half with a 17 point advantage. 

Summit started the second half with the ball at their own 42 yard line, and the Westlake defense stepped up immediately, as a swarm of red jerseys stopped the Jaguars 4th down effort in the backfield, giving the Chaps the ball back early in the quarter. However defensive back junior Justyn McDonald gave Summit the ball right back, intercepting Klubnik’s pass, and sparking the Jags offense. Wide receiver senior Kerya Powell made a spectacular grab near the sideline to take the Jaguars deep into Chaps territory. However a wild series of events ensued, with Chaps defensive back senior Carter Barksdale intercepting a third down pass attempt, racing down the field with an entourage of blockers, and eventually fumbling the ball right back to the Summit offense. Despite the unfortunate turn of events, the defense stood strong one again, forcing a punt after just 3 plays. This time around, the Westlake offense roared to life, scoring quickly on Chambers’ second touchdown of the night, this time from 17 yards out to put the Chaps on top 31-7. The Jaguars retaliated soon after, scoring on an impressive 75 yard catch and run from Powell, cutting the lead down to 17 to end the third quarter of play.

The Chaps offense came back onto the field hot to start the fourth quarter, as running back senior Hunter Henault got things started in a big way, racing 48 yards down the sideline to put the Chaps in scoring position once more. This time it was Klubnik’s legs that did the job, turning the corner and scoring from 1 yard out on the quarterback keeper to put the Chaps up 38-14. After yet another defensive stand, the duo of Klubnik and Greathouse was back at it again, connecting for a touchdown yet again on a 38 yard snag to put Westlake up 45-14. The Chaps held on defense again, and the momentum wouldn’t stop. Running back sophomore Jackson Kayser received a short pass from Klubnik, and in his first game as a member of the varsity football team, Kayser took it the distance, scoring from 38 yards away and extending the Westlake lead to 52-14. The Chaps continued to pour it on, scoring one last time on a 62 yard dash by quarterback senior Christian Edgar, extending the lead to a whopping 45 points. The Jaguars scored a last-second touchdown, but the Chaps’ dominance was prominent throughout the game, propelling them to a third straight win, 59-21. 

The Chaps continued to impress with their monumental win. The Westlake offense were as dominant as ever, putting up a mammoth 627 total yards of offense, highlighted by Klubnik’s career night, scoring 7 total touchdowns for the Chaps. Klubnik ran for one touchdown along with 13 yards on the ground, and threw for a whopping 375 yards and 6 touchdowns in the air. Three of those scores featured Jaden Greathouse on the receiving end, as he had 157 receiving yards to pair with his 3 touchdown grabs. While the scoreboard was lopsided, it certainly did not tell the whole story of the ballgame. Both teams put up strong fights, exchanging highlight plays back and forth, but Westlake’s offense was simply too much to handle for the Jaguars, as the Chaps took home a third straight win to start the young season. The Chaps take next Friday off on a bye week, but return to action Sept. 24 in Del Valle vs the Cardinals. The following week, Westlake returns home to Chaparral Stadium for a matchup vs San Marcos Oct.1.