Including attack teams, Chaps varsity football has over 80 players on the roster. In most games, only a quarter of those players see the field.
Against San Benito last Friday, four Chaps scored their first career varsity touchdown. Quarterbacks junior Austin Knox and senior Boone Lackey both tossed their first touchdowns.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed and thought about everyday,” Knox said. “It felt great to get my teammates involved too.”
No. 4 Westlake (2-0) dominated San Benito (0-2), 63-7, in the home opener at Chaparral Stadium Sept. 6. The Chaps scored two touchdowns in their first three offensive plays and never looked back.
“We talked a lot about killing the will of the opponent,” head coach Tony Salazar said. “I think we did that really well and then the points started racking up and a lot of the guys got in.”
San Benito started the game with two drive-killing penalties that led to a quick three-and-out. Wise then threw a 46-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Chase Bowen on Westlake’s second offensive play of the game. Bowen has burst onto the scene as a senior, ranking second on the Chaps in receiving yards through two weeks.
“We’ve got a lot of capable players on offense,” Salazar said. “It’s just a matter of building some experience and making some big plays at the right time.”
After the Greyhounds punted again, senior running back Justice Johnson broke off a 30-yard touchdown run on the drive-opening play. The Greyhounds answered back quickly however, outrunning the Chaparral defense for a 71 yard rushing touchdown, theironly score of the game.
“Our defense came out and got some big three-and-outs,” Salazar said. “Our offense came out too and made it 28-7. The really fast start to the first half helped us get some distance.”
After a quick touchdown run, senior cornerback Brandon Clark set up the offense with his first varsity interception and a 30-yard return. Coming off a year where all of the starting cornerbacks graduated, the secondary was a big question mark, Salazar said. They answered those concerns with two picks.
“The secondary was a part of our football team that needed a little bit more rebuilding,” Salazar said. “We’ve had some guys behind some good players that graduated, and it’s just a matter of getting enough reps so they can execute down the stretch in some big games.”
The Chaps rotated through backups throughout the entire second half. Knox and Lackey found success against the Greyhound defense. Knox found senior wide receiver Hudson Riley from eight yards out, and Lackey found junior wide receiver Jack Newhouse from six yards out.
“We came out in the third quarter and finished the game really well,” Salazar said. “35-7 is in control, but it isn’t over yet. And so we came out and rounded off the score well.”
It was all four of their first varsity touchdowns. Additionally, senior running back Eli Clark found the end zone for his first varsity regular season touchdown on a nine- yard run. The Chaps were injured heading into the game, with senior running back Grady Bartlett and senior offensive lineman Bennett Wilkin being a few of the starters out.
“I knew I’d have a bigger role this game with [Bartlett] being out,” Clark said. “It feels good to have my number called a lot today.”
The No. 4 Chaps look to continue their strong season against No. 9 Atascocita at Chaparral Stadium Sept. 13. The storied programs have met once before in the 2015 state playoffs where the Chaps took down the Eagles, 49-28.
“They have tremendous athletes, but we still have to execute and play as a team,” Salazar said. “Everyone has to run and assume the guy in front of them isn’t going to make the play.
