Westlake’s starting defense seized the spotlight in Friday’s final preseason tune-up, but its reserves suffered a severe case of stage fright.

McNeil scored all six of its touchdowns against Westlake’s second-team defense as the two teams closed out the summer with a spirited scrimmage Friday at Round Rock ISD Sports Complex. Although the practice provided mixed results for Westlake, it accomplished a primary goal for the Chaps entering Friday’s season opener at heralded Cedar Park.

“Everyone was real anxious to finally go against another team, and we did a lot of good things out there,” Coach Darren Allman said. “We’re huffing and puffing a little, but I’m proud of how our guys played, especially our [first-team] defense.”

That starting defense, unveiling a 3-4 formation, stymied a no-huddle Maverick attack missing its starting quarterback. The Chaps opened the scrimmage by forcing three consecutive three-and-outs from McNeil’s offensive starters, and they held the Mavericks without a point in a 24-minute simulation that capped the scrimmage.

“I was real pleased with those three-and-outs,” Allman said. “Facing a hurry-up offense, you can’t simulate it in practice. The only way you can get in shape and prepare for that is to face it, and we did a good job against it tonight.”

In particular, Westlake inside linebacker Bryce Hager showed why Westlake’s coaches decided to keep him as a full-time defender rather than the starting running back. Hager had an industrious scrimmage, racking up a handful of stops near the line of scrimmage and picking off a pass that would have been returned for a touchdown if allowed during the scrimmage.

For his part, Hager credited the Chaps’ system for allowing him to flow quickly to the ball.

“This new system is good,” he said. “Really, it’s the same keys and same reads, but you just react faster. This should be a really good year.”

Hager also carried the ball five times for 34 yards while receiving plenty of work on both sides of the ball. According to Allman, the senior should get used to such a workload.

“We’re a different team with him out there, on both sides of the ball,” he said. “He’ll be on the field more and more as the season goes along.”

Westlake’s defense was a different unit without Hager and the other starters. The Mavericks struck early and often against the Chap substitutes, scoring three touchdowns in a span of six plays in one sequence. Although Allman cited the positives of getting everyone game-type action, he didn’t mince words when it came to critiquing his reserves.

“Our younger guys, defensively, have to grow up,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that, and it’s what we talked about after the scrimmage. Our seniors are on a different level right now than our younger guys. We have to catch those younger guys up.”

Westlake’s passing game still needs to catch up to last season’s pace, based on the Friday’s scrimmage. Veteran quarterback Tanner Price completed just five of 13 passes for 40 yards as the young Chap receivers suffered through a plague of drops.

“We cannot have those drops,” Allman said. “We have to throw and catch the ball better than we have been doing, no doubt about it. We lost a good receiver last year with Mike Walker, who was a go-to guy. Some of these younger guys will have to step up.”

Price did show his ability to run with the ball, a key component in Westlake’s no-huddle, spread formation. He rumbled for 27 yards on four carries, including a 21-yarder in which he broke a pair of tackles. Gramann grinded out 47 yards on 12 carries, and reserve quarterback Lewis Guilbeau provided a spark with six carries for 36 yards.

“We learn a lot about ourselves tonight,” Allman said. “We expect to have a good football team. I’m proud of where they are at this point.”