For nine weeks of the season, varsity football had an identity: it grinded out games, winning on the ground and with a suffocating defense.

Friday night, it did the exact opposite against Dripping Springs.

The Chaps (7-3, 4-2 District 26-6A) flew up and down the field, but ultimately fell for the first time in school history to Dripping Springs (9-1, 5-1 26-6A) in a shootout, 45-35. It’s their first three-loss regular season since 2014 and sets up a bi-district playoff matchup at Ed W. Monroe Stadium against Vandegrift next week. It will be the third time the two powerhouse programs match up. The Chaps have yet to drop a game to the Vipers, but Vandy won a 6A-DII championship a year ago.

Though it didn’t result in a win, the passing offense starred for the Chaparrals, with senior quarterback and Ole Miss commit Rees Wise turning in a stellar performance, completing 25 of 38 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns.

“Our best offense has always been when we get going and get tempo going,” Wise said. “That’s one focus we have this week, is getting after it and getting faster.”

It was a slow first drive for Wise and the Chaps, but after falling behind by a touchdown, they turned up the temperature. Wise completed two passes before finding senior wide receiver Jack Newhouse on a laser over the middle for 13 yards, advancing the ball to the Tigers 36 yard-line. Two plays later, he rolled out left before looking back and firing a cross body strike to junior wide receiver Braeden Riddel for 17 yards and the first Chaparral touchdown of the night.

“We were throwing the ball well,” Newhouse said. “We got a lot of time from the line. Rees is a great player, and that was our goal.”

Wise didn’t just get it done through the air. Two drives later, after setting the Chaps up on the doorstep with a swing pass to sophomore running back Jarren Lopez that went for 18 yards, he took to the ground. Wise scampered up the middle, nearly going untouched 13 yards into the end zone for a 14-7 lead.

“Shout out to the offensive line,” Wise said. “I’m so proud of the blocking.”

Wise started nine-of-nine for 91 yards and a score through the air. He didn’t throw his first incompletion until the fifth drive.

He didn’t slow down after that.

On the very next play, he tossed a dart to Riddel, who dove down the right hash and came down with the ball for a gain of 17. After two more complete passes, Wise looked to the back of the end zone for his second passing and third overall score of the game, finding senior wide receiver Lawson Grimes on a deep post for a 24-yard touchdown.

The Chaps went into the break holding a 21-14 lead. Wise finished the first half throwing 13-14 for 175 yards.

“We had the perfect game plan,” Wise said. “It just kind of came down to the very end.”

The Tigers evened things up on their second drive of the third quarter. On the second play of the Chaps ensuing drive, Wise fired a ball over the middle into traffic. Newhouse leaped up and grabbed the ball, breaking a tackle and racing 66 yards downfield. Wise ran it in from nine yards out on the next play, giving the Chaparrals their last lead of the night at 28-21.

“That was something we installed at halftime,” Newhouse said. “Coach Rogers is a great mind, and he saw something out there and decided to give me a chance. Rees just put it where Ole Miss would want it. I attacked the ball and tried to get what I could after the catch.”

Dripping Springs struck again with a 75-yard passing touchdown. Once again, Westlake answered with Wise. On the fifth play of the drive, he dropped back. With forever to throw, he launched the ball downfield, finding Grimes on a streak for a 54-yard score. Grimes hauled in six catches for 120 yards and two scores.

It would end up being the last touchdown of the night for the Chaparrals. Dripping Springs scored a touchdown on a 52-yard heave and tacked on a 45-yard field goal to seal the game.

Despite the loss, it was an offensive performance against a top-tier opponent that the Chaps have been lacking in recent weeks. Their difficult regular season comes to an end, and they will take on yet another top-15 team in the first round of the playoffs.