SAN ANTONIO — Running back senior Jack Kayser took the handoff from quarterback sophomore Rees Wise at the seven yard line, broke a tackle at the two, and walked into the end zone, capping off a dominant drive from the Westlake offense with his third touchdown of the day.
As kicker senior Jonathan Kahn’s extra point split the uprights, the Chaps led Laredo United 35-0. It was still the first quarter.
The Westlake varsity football team (13-0) scored 45 points in the first half, dominating Laredo United (10-3) from start to finish as they cruised to a 59-14 win over the Longhorns at the Alamodome on Saturday. With a spot in the UIL 6A DI quarterfinals on the line, the Westlake defense tallied four turnovers and seven sacks. The Chaparral offense took advantage of the extra possessions, as they scored 28 points off turnovers and poured in over 400 total yards of offense.
The win sets up a highly anticipated rematch with rival Lake Travis at The Pfield in Pflugerville next Saturday at 2 p.m.
“Defense and special teams got turnovers early, so they put the offense in good positions,” Kayser said. “[The offense] just finished the job. It was an all-around team win.”
The Chaps got on the board early by way of a one-yard touchdown run by Kayser on their first offensive possession. The following drive, he added another, dashing into the end zone from 22 yards out to put the Chaps up by 14 just three and a half minutes into the game.
While Kayser finished off the offensive effort, both of the touchdown drives were set up by the Westlake defense. Linebacker sophomore Mason Lastor shut down United’s opening drive with an interception and returned it to the Longhorns’ 16-yard line. The very next defensive snap, defensive back senior Ty Ingram-Eiser hauled in an interception, the Westlake defense’s second turnover of the day. In a matter of seven total plays, the Chaps put 14 points on the board.
“[The interception] was an amazing experience,” Lastor said. “I got the tip, straight up to me, caught it, I was just in the moment all the way down.”
After their first couple of scores, the Chaps never looked back. A fumble recovery on the following kickoff set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Wise to running back senior Nathan Acosta. Westlake’s next offensive possession resulted in yet another seven points, as Wise hit wide receiver senior Heath McRee for a 5-yard score.
Kayser’s four-yard touchdown on the Chaps’ next drive, his third of the quarter, put Westlake up 35 and forced United into a virtually inescapable deficit.
It was more of the same from both sides in the second quarter. Wise added a rushing touchdown of his own from 16 yards out, and kicker sophomore Nolan Bartley tacked on a 26-yard field goal.
United got on the board at the end of the half, as quarterback sophomore Jorge Luna connected with wide receiver senior Christian Saldana for a 31-yard touchdown as the first half wound to a close. The Chaps led 45-7 at the break.
The Chaps began the second half right where they left off in the first. Defensive lineman senior Will Sloan scooped up a United fumble and returned it 12 yards to the end zone, putting Westlake up 52-7 via their fourth forced turnover of the game.
“We had a great look from our attack team all week long to prepare us for this game,” Lastor said. “We just played physical on defense.”
Both teams added another seven points in the fourth quarter. Quarterback senior Brett Skinner scored on a seven-yard rushing touchdown with eight minutes to play. The Chaps picked up their fifth turnover of the day soon after, as linebacker senior Colin Ege snagged an interception. An inadvertent whistle negated Ege’s return for a touchdown, but the interception counted nonetheless.
The Longhorns found the end zone in the final minutes of the game, but it proved far too little and far too late, as the Chaps took home a dominant 59-14 win.
“We keep being physical,” Kayser said. “We have a big physical game next week, and we need to keep imposing our will on our opponents. That starts with the o-line, and I know they’re gonna come through.”
With the win, Westlake advances to the quarterfinals of the UIL 6A DI playoff bracket, where they meet a familiar foe. The Chaps prepare to face Lake Travis in the rivals’ first playoff matchup since 2016. Westlake escaped Cavalier Stadium with a 20-14 win in September.
“I think they definitely improved, but nothing changes,” Kayser said. “We’ll be ready. It’s gonna be a great matchup, two rivals in the playoffs. I’m excited.”
