Westlake Wins Another Playoff Thriller Over Lake Travis
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Updated: December 7, 2024
photos: Steve Thomas
“We weren’t leaving here without a W,” Westlake Head Coach Tony Salazar said Friday night after the Westlake Chaparrals gutted out a dramatic 24-17 win over their arch-rivals, the Lake Travis Cavaliers, in the 6A-D1 quarterfinals. This was the second-consecutive year that the two teams met in the state quarterfinals. Last year, Westlake also prevailed with a dramatic 21-14 win.
The weather in Round Rock may have been cold Friday night, but the Westlake defense was red hot. In the first meeting between Westlake and Lake Travis in October, the Westlake defense stepped up forcing three interceptions and a fumble to lead Westlake to a 28-16 victory. The defense rose to the occasion again on Friday night and again forced three interceptions including defense back George Jones’s critical interception to seal the game. Linebacker Elliot Schaper had two interceptions as well as two solo tackles and four assisted tackles. After the game, Coach Salazar praised Schaper as one of the best linebackers in the state. The Chaps’ defense also recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
Throughout the night, the game was a back-and-forth affair. On the opening drive, quarterback Chaston Ditta connected with tight end Josiah Thomas for a 56-yard pass, and running back Vann Hopping punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out. Westlake’s offense responded immediately with a long pass of their own, and quarterback Rees Wise tied the game with a five-yard touchdown keeper.
Westlake kicker Nolan Bartley put the Chaps ahead 10-7 early in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal. Elliot Schaper recorded his first interception on the ensuing drive deep in Lake Travis territory, but penalties pushed the Chaps backwards and forced them to punt. Following a turnover on downs by Lake Travis, running back Grady Bartlett added to Westlake’s lead with a four-yard touchdown run. Shortly before halftime, Lake Travis kicker Braydon Doane cut the Westlake lead to 17-10 with a 22-yard filed goal.
Early in the second half, momentum shifted in Lake Travis’s favor. After the Cavaliers’ defense forced a Westlake punt on the opening drive, Chaston Ditta tied the game with a seven-yard touchdown to receiver Patrick Colby. For much of the quarter, Westlake’s offense struggled to gain any momentum. Late in the third quarter, however, the Chaps’ defense made another critical play. Patrick Colby made a catch that would have earned the Cavaliers a first down, but the Westlake defender stripped the ball and recovered the fumble at the Lake Travis 47-yard line. The Chaps then capitalized on the turnover with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Wise to receiver Brandon Clark.
With less than two minutes remaining in the game and no timeouts, Lake Travis’s offense had one last gasp. Penalties and poor execution forced Westlake backwards on the previous drive, and the Chaps’ punt set the Cavaliers up at the 50-yard line. Chaston Ditta led the Cavaliers inside the Westlake 25-yard line using his arm and feet. However, a miscommunication between Ditta and his receiver led to Ditta throwing the ball to where George Jones was able to make the game-sealing interception.
With the win, Westlake improves to 13-1 overall. Next week, the Chaps will face the winner of Humble Atascocita and Galena Park North Shore Saturday at 2:00pm at Legacy Stadium in Katy. Westlake is very familiar with both teams. Last year, Westlake and North Shore also faced each other in the state semifinals with North Shore prevailing 23-14. This year, Westlake and Atascocita faced off in week three with Atascocita prevailing 39-21.
Lake Travis, meanwhile, finishes the season at 12-2.
by Steve Thomas
Players Pictured
Westlake
#11 Chase Bowen
#21 George Jones
#36 Grady Bartlett
#38 Sebastian Henault
#73 Will Hesse
#78 Jared Risinger
Lake Travis
#2 Chaston Ditta
#5 Vann Hopping
#6 Easton Aird
#9 Gus Cordova
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