Austin Westlake Routs Hays Consolidated

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 27, 2018

photos: Steve Thomas

Chaparrals Hang 70 on Rebels to Close in on District Title

At 7-0 overall and 5-0 in district, the Hays Consolidated Rebels were off to their best start to a season since 2005. Friday night, the Rebels entered Chaparral Stadium looking to knock off their long-time rivals, the Austin Westlake Chaparrals, and move a step closer to the District 25-6A title. The Chaparrals, however, had other ideas. Westlake entered the game at 6-1 overall and 5-0 in district. The lone blemish on Westlake’s record was a 25-21 loss to defending 6A DII State Champion Cypress Ranch. In that game Westlake had a 21-3 lead going into the fourth quarter before allowing Cy Ranch to score 22 unanswered points and complete the comeback.

Entering Friday’s game, head coach Todd Dodge made sure his players were focused on the game at hand. The Chaps’ reward for that focus was a 70-14 drubbing of Hays and a clear path to a second consecutive district title.

Throughout the night, the Hays defense struggled to contain the Westlake offense. Quarterback Taylor Anderson passed for 261 yards and five touchdowns. Receiver Jackson Coker caught three passes for a total of 60 yards and two touchdowns, and Max Mangum had five catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, the Chaps ran for a total of 177 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Tripp Graham ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns, and Jax Crockett and Joe Keeney also scored on the ground. The Chaps led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter and 42-7 at halftime.

Defensively, the Chaps held the Hays run game largely in check and took advantage of numerous mistakes. In addition to holding Hays to 198 yards rushing, the defense also recovered two fumbles including one on the Rebels’ opening drive. Prior to the turnover, the Rebels had driven all the way to the Westlake 17-yard line. Linebacker Ben Pankonian had a pick-six in the first quarter, and defensive backs Leo Lowin and Sage Luther also had interceptions.

For Hays, the only scores of the game came in the second and fourth quarters. Quarterback Xavier Martinez connected with running back Sam Scott on a 17-yard touchdown pass, and running back Bobby Green also scored on a 21-yard touchdown rush.

With the win, Westlake improves to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in district. The Chaparrals will travel to House Park next week to take on the Austin Anderson Trojans. The Trojans are 5-3 overall and 4-2 in district following a 42-7 win over Kyle Lehman.

Hays, meanwhile, falls to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in district. The Rebels return home to Bob Shelton Stadium in Kyle next week to host the Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers in another critical district showdown. The Cavaliers are 7-1 overall and 5-1 in district following a 55-23 win over Austin Del Valle.

by Steve Thomas