Westlake handles Euless Trinity, improves to 2-0, and remains in driver’s seat in 6A

Photo Credit: @UncleFraz

AUSTIN, TEXAS— The Westlake Chaparrals had as dominant of a season as it gets in Texas High School Football last year. The Chaps had a perfect 14-0 record, and won the 6A Division 1 State Championship over Southlake Carroll 52-34. After a win over Temple 54-13 last week to open the season, it seemed Westlake would be headed down a similar path. However, they had to get past the Euless Trinity Trojans, who came into Week 2 as the number 6 team in 6A after a big, 45-27 win over Arlington Lamar. The Trojans, who are led by quarterback, running back, and Oklahoma State commit, Ollie Gordon, travelled about three hours in hopes of dethroning the defending state champs. But the Chaparrals, led by returning starting quarterback and Clemson commit, Cade Klubnik, were used to tests after last season, and ready to keep their crown.

Cade Klubnik got started right away, finding wide receiver, Keaton Kubecka for a 12-yard pass to the Trinity 47-yard line. After the Chaps made their way down the field, Klubnik was able to find Pierce Turner in the back of the end zone for a deep touchdown, giving Westlake an early 7-0 lead (PAT good). But Ollie Gordon showed his dominance early on as well, finding room to run and shifting his way for a 49-yard gain to the Westlake 24-yard line. The Chaps’ defense was then able to a Trinity 42-yard field goal attempt on 4th down and 11, which was no good. Klubnik kept going, finding Jaden Greathouse for a deep pass to the Trinity 20-yard line. But the Trojans kept Westlake out of the end zone, forcing them to settle for a 27-yard field goal.

After Trinity was forced to punt, Klubnik found Jaden Greathouse for a 14-yard gain and a first down to the Trinity 24-yard line. The Trojans kept them out of the end zone again, however, and Westlake kicked a 27-yard field goal to make the score 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams’ defenses started the second quarter off dominant, but Cade Klubnik was first to end the drought. After the five-star quarterback was able to find Greathouse and Hunter Luke to bring Westlake to the Trinity 5-yard line, he finished the drive off himself, running for a 5-yard touchdown (PAT good). Klubnik kept his foot on the gas on the Chaps’ next possession, leading the offense down the field to the Trinity 5-yard line. He then capped off the drive himself once again, running 5 yards into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the night, and Westlake went into halftime with a 27-0 lead (PAT good).

The Westlake defense was able to force the Trojans to punt to start the second half, and Cade Klubnik went back to work. He found Keaton Kubecka for a 32-yard gain to the Trinity 28-yard line, and running back, Hunter Henault, ran for a 15-yard gain to the 13-yard line. Henault was able to get the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, extending Westlake’s lead to 34-0.

However, Ollie Gordon and the Trojans wouldn’t go away that easily. After Gordon was able to convert for a first down on 4th down and 1 with a 4-yard carry, he converted again on 4th down and 5, this time for a 40-yard touchdown (PAT good). This brought an end to the third quarter with Westlake in the lead 34-7.

Gordon picked up where he left off at the start of the fourth quarter, finding room to run and breaking free for a 35-yard carry to the Westlake 30-yard line. But the Westlake defense put a stop to the Trojans’ momentum, as Will Magids intercepted a tipped pass from Trinity quarterback, Cade Barthelemess, and returned it to the Chaps’ 37-yard line. But the offense couldn’t take advantage after being forced to punt on 4th down and 22 inside Trinity territory. Ollie Gordon picked up the Trojans offense from there, as he threw a 61-yard bomb to Kedric Corbin to bring Trinity to the Westlake 13-yard line. After Gordon ran for a first down to the 1-yard line, fullback, David Langi, ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 34-14 (PAT good). However, Hunter Henault was able to seal the deal for Westlake with a 28-yard gain to the Trinity 40-yard line, and from there the Chaps were able to run out the clock. Westlake would walk away with a big 34-14 win, remaining on top of the 6A rankings.

Westlake improves to 2-0, winning the program’s 26th game in a row. The Chaparrals will hope to continue that streak as they get set to take on Mansfield Summit next week on Friday, September 10th at 8:30 PM ET (7:30 PM CT). Euless Trinity falls to 1-1, and will hope to get back in the winning column against Colleyville Heritage next week on Friday, September 10th at 8 PM ET (7 PM CT).