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Chaps Head to State

photo: Steve Thomas

Westlake snaps Allen’s win streak to advance to 6A Division 1 Championship Game

Coming into Friday night’s semifinal game, the Allen Eagles had won three consecutive state championships and 57 consecutive games. That streak came to an end on Friday night in Waco at the hands of the Westlake Chaparrals. Offensively, junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger shredded the Allen defense rushing for 126 yards and passing for 260. Defensively, the Chaps’ defense stifled the Allen offense including holding them scoreless in the first half for the first time this season.

To open the game, the Chaparrals drove the ball to the Allen 14-yard line before being forced to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead. On the following drive, Westlake held the Allen to -7 yards forcing the Eagles to punt the ball. After both teams traded three-and-out possessions,Westlake found paydirt again.  The Chaps found the end-zone when Ehlinger connected with senior wide receiver Kylen Granson for a 70-yard touchdown pass. The Chaps, however, missed the extra point to take a 9-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Neither team could get anything going offensively until midway through the second quarter. With just under seven minutes to play in the half, a short punt by Allen from around their own ten-yard line set up Westlake at the Allen 20-yard line. Two-plays later, Ehlinger found Granson for his second touchdown of the night to put Westlake up 16-0.

In the second half, the Eagle offense had a promising drive going before sophomore running back Kirby Bennett fumbled the ball around the Eagles’ 35-yard line. Westlake returned the ball to the Allen 23-yard line.  Ehlinger then connected with senior wide receiver Chase Cokley one play later to give the Chaps a 23-0 lead.

On their next possession, a 63-yard pass to Allen junior wide receiver Tevyn Stevenson set up the Eagles at the Westlake seven-yard line. The Westlake defense, however, held strong and forced Allen to settle for a field goal that cut the Westlake lead to 23-3.

Westlake went three-and-out on the next drive.  The Eagles then drove the ball to the Westlake 22-yard line. Once again, however, the Westlake defense came up big when senior linebacker Bryce Boisvert blocked the Allen field goal attempt.

Westlake then put together a five-minute-and-thirty-second drive that ending in a punt. Allen responding by finding the end zone for the first time when senior quarterback Seth Green connected with senior wide receiver Camden Harrison for a three-yard touchdown. The deficit was now 23-10.

The Chaps appeared to be putting together a game-sealing drive going all the way to the Allen six-yard line. On second-and-goal, however, Allen senior defensive back Jaylon Jones gave the Eagles new life intercepting a pass from Ehlinger in the end zone and running the ball back 100 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six cut the Westlake lead to 23-17 1:46 left. The ensuing onside kick attempt, however, went out-of-bounds; and the Chaparrals were able to run out the rest of the clock.

With the win, Westlake moves to 14-1 overall and advances to the state championship game for the first time since 2009. The Chaparrals will await the winner of Galena Park North Shore and Converse Judson. The UIL 6A Division 1 Championship game will take place next Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston at 4:00pm.

Allen, meanwhile, finishes the season at 14-1. As mentioned, the loss snaps a 57-game win streak for the Eagles and denies them the chance to play for a fourth-consecutive state title.

by Steve Thomas

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