Todd Wins Dodge Bowl over Riley
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Updated: January 16, 2021
Class 6A Division I State Championship Game
ARLINGTON - The Class 6A Division I State Championship featured two coaches that have a lot of championship history and know each other very well. Austin Westlake's Todd Dodge not only played on championship teams but has won titles as head coach of both teams - including ones while coaching his quarterback son, Riley Dodge. They beat Austin Westlake in one of those games. Riley now just happens to be Southlake Carroll's head coach and he is ready to step out from other his father's shadow.
For the first time in history, a father and son will coach against each other in a Texas high school football championship game. Who will win the Dodge Bowl - the wily veteran or the new generation of Dodge Ball? Either way a Dodge will be adding a championship ring.
Austin Westlake Championship History
1990 4A - Wilmer-Hutchins 19, Austin Westlake 7
1994 5A Division II - Tyler John Tyler 35, Austin Westlake 24
1996 5A Division II - Austin Westlake 55, Abilene Cooper 15
2000 5A Division I - Midland Lee 33, Austin Westlake 21
2001 5A Division II - Lufkin 38, Austin Westlake 24
2006 5A Division I - Southlake Carroll 43, Austin Westlake 29
2009 5A Division I - Euless Trinity 41, Austin Westlake 38 OT
2015 6A Division I - Galena Park North Shore 21, Austin Westlake 14 OT
2019 6A Division II - Austin Westlake 24, Denton Guyer 0
Southlake Carroll Championship History
1988 3A - Southlake Carroll 42, Navasota 8
1992 3A - Southlake Carroll 48, Coldspring-Oakhurst 0
1993 3A - Southlake Carroll 14, Cuero 6
2002 5A Division II - Southlake Carroll 45, Smithson Valley 14
2003 5A Division II - Katy 16, Southlake Carroll 15
2004 5A Division II - Southlake Carroll 27, Smithson Valley 24
2005 5A Division II - Southlake Carroll 34, Katy 20
2006 5A Division I - Southlake Carroll 43, Austin Westlake 29
2011 5A Division I - Southlake Carroll 36, Fort Bend Hightower 29
1Q
Southlake Carroll started with the ball and Riley's team came out on fire. A couple passes including a 19 yard pass from Quinn Ewers to Landon Samson had them facing 1st in goal quickly. Owen Allen made the first score on a 3 yard run. 7-0 Southlake Carroll The Chaparrals answered one the first play when Zane Minors took the outside handoff 75 yards for the tying score. 7-7 All
The Dragons went back to the game plan that got them to this title game. A few plays into their drive, a pass hit Brady Boyd at the 16, he spun out of the intended tackle and waltzed into the end zone for a 49 yard score. 14-7 Southlake Carroll Westlake wanting to keep it a track meet, started their next drive. At one point, QB Cade Klubnik appeared sacked but found a hole to squirt through for a 9 yard gain. That play was only outdone by a run by Grey Nakfoor who powered for 35 yards for the score. 14-14 All
Southlake Carroll looked to hold serve on their next possession but a three and out that included a sack ended the drive. Westlake took the opportunity to shift momentum and were driving as the quarter ended.
2Q
Just four plays into the quarter Klubnik hit Sophomore Jaden Greathouse on a playaction pass in the left of the end zone for a 15 yard score. 21-14 Austin Westlake Carroll responded by moving the ball initially and appearing to make first down. Todd Dodge argued the spot of the ball and after review Southlake was instead facing 4th and 1. Electing to go for it, they initially attempted a hard count to draw off the Chaps. When that didn't work, Ewers took the snap, dropped back and passed to RJ Maryland in coverage for not only the first down but 26 yards and a first down. A couple plays later, Ewers hit Brady Boyd in the front of the end zone for 28 yards and his second touchdown reception to tie the game. 21-21 All
Looking to keep their advantage, Westlake went to work. In a drive that became increasingly chippy between the two squads, Michael Taft caught a 32 yard pass to the 15. However, it was called back on an ineligible receiver downfield. Facing 3rd and long, Klubnick hit Greathouse on a 48 yard pass that setup 1st and goal at the 4. The next play was a playaction rollout pass to Keaton Kubecka for the go ahead score. This too was called back on an ineligible receiver. With time running out in the half the gamesmanship between Riley and Todd was in full effect as each called timeouts at key moments. That combined with three penalties against Westlake and one against Southlake left it up in the air if the Chaps would score. Klubnick finally took it on a rollout run finally to score from one yard out and regain the lead. 28-21 Westlake
The Dragons had another chance but just 1:12 and one timeout before the break. A 22 yard pass to Samson was the lone bright spot and the drive ended when Ewers threw an interception to Westlake's Taft. The Chaps carried the ball one time and went into the break with the lead.
3Q
The Chaps began the second half with the ball and the lead. Two plays in Klubnick rolled left to what look like a lot of nothing but he kicked in the afterburners and sprinted down the sideline 44 yards before being forced out at the 15. On the next play he passed to Greathouse on a crossing route at the front of the end zone for a quick Westlake score. Once again the score was called back after an illegal receiver call. A false start moved Westlake back to the 25 for a 1st an 20. A pass to Taft and another to Greathouse once again overcame the miscues and gave them 1st and goal at the 3. Nakfoor took it the rest of the way and Westlake earned their biggest lead of the game. 35-21 Austin Westlake
Starting at their own 9 the Southlake drive ended one a single play when Westlake's Michael Taft grabbed a one-handed Ewers interception at their 25. Austin Westlake went back to work with a run by Minors to setup 1st and goal at the 9. Another Minors carry took the ball down to the 4. On 3rd, Klubnick rolled left on a QB keeper to score again. 42-21 Austin Westlake
After giving up 21 unanswered point with just a quarter and a half left, Riley Dodge's Dragons looked for a way to stop the Chaps momentum. A long pass to Samson started that off. It was all for naught though as they didn't get much else and even went for it on 4th and three. Ewers passed to a wide open running back on the screen but overthrew him. Westlake took over on their 41 and set about going to business as usual. Minor and Nakfoor moved them deep in Dragon territory before Klubnick stumbled and left them trying a 36 yard field goal. The 3 points added to the Chaps lead. 45- 21 Austin Westlake
Southlake Carroll's Brady Boyd added some spark when Ewers hit him in full stride for 40 yards. Ewers continued to throw but the Westlake pressure had him throwing the ball away and/or tossing off his back foot and facing 3rd and 15. A short gain left them at 4th and 14 and Ewers threw it away again. With 25 seconds remaining in the third, Westlake took over.
4Q
The fourth quarter started with Todd Dodge's Chaparrals leading and moving the ball. Just three plays into the quarter, Klubnik again rounded the corner and showed his speed own the left sideline for a 53 yard score. For the third time, a Westlake TD was called back - this time for holding. For the third time, Westlake eventually scored after the TD was called back - this time it was Nakfoor up the middle for the final 5 yards. 52-21 Austin Westlake
The Dragons started moving the ball down with passes from Ewers to Boyd. It was a pass to Maryland that got them into Westlake territory to the 25. Two plays later it was Maryland again - this time in the end zone for the score. The 2 pt conversion was no good. 52-26 Austin Westlake
The onside kick was good for Southlake. A pass interference set the Dragons up just 19 yards from another score but on the next play, a toss in the end zone was out of bounds. Another pass interference call against Westlake had Southlake 1st and goal at the 2. Owen Allen took it the final two yards, tying the Southlake Carroll single-season rushing yard record. 52-34 Austin Westlake
The next onside kick did not go Carroll's way and Westlake took over with 3:13 between them and a state championship. After being forced to go three and out, the ball went back to the Dragons instead. A sack ended their drive as Ewers coughed up the ball and Westlake's Braden Davis fell on it.
With that, the 2020 Texas high school football season came to an end proving that even a corona virus can't stop the greatest sport in the greatest state.
The Offensive Player of the Game was Cade Klubnik
The Defensive Player of the Game was Michael Taft
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