Westlake will welcome Lake Travis to Chaparral Stadium in Week 9 of the 2012 season for what can be considered the first truly meaningful football game between the Chaps and Cavs.
Well, welcome might not be the most accurate word, but it should be a welcome sight to fans on both sides as the two teams get to tangle for District 15-5A supremacy.
“This is a chance to have a rivalry game, to make it more of a true rivalry, and to play them for more than just pride,” Chaps football coach and Eanes ISD athletic director Darren Allman said.
How will the change to District 15-5A, with Lake Travis joining the group, impact the Chaps in football and the other sports is still to be seen, but that doesn’t mean the excitement and anticipation are diluted six months before any of it takes affect.
Westlake will stay in District 15-5A along with the same Austin area teams — Akins, Anderson, Del Valle, Austin High and Bowie — with just the Cavs joining the fray, bringing the district to seven total teams.
Allman, who was in San Antonio as the realignment changes were announced, said he was searching right and left this morning to fill out the schedule, because once the district was unveiled as having seven teams it meant adding one more nondistrict game was needed to fill the slate (see full schedule below).
With Cedar Park, Temple and Texas A&M Consolidated on the slate, Allman and head football coach Mike Jinks of Cibolo Steele realized nobody else wanted to take them on as a nondistrict foe, so the two sides agreed to a heavyweight clash to close out the nondistrict schedule in Week 3.
“That made us scramble, and that’s how we wound up with Steele on the schedule,” Allman said from San Antonio. “There’s not a lot of people left wanting to play them right now and we were kind of in the same spot. It’ll be good for both programs.”
Westlake can already lay claim to one of the toughest schedules to start 2012, as Allman believes there could be up to five state-ranked teams awaiting the Chaps. The team starts off hosting Cedar Park in Week 0, then the Chaps are at Temple, at A&M Consolidated, host Cibolo Steele and are at Bowie in Week 4 to start district play. The rest of the slate goes at Akins, hosting Anderson, at Del Valle, open date Week 8, hosting Lake Travis, and closing the season at rival Austin High.
Allman was hoping that a showdown with Lake Travis would be near the end of the district schedule, as was Cavs coach Hank Carter, and that’s just how it turned out with a meeting in Week 9.
The game will move to Westlake for this season, a departure from the past two years when the two teams met at Darrel K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
“I’m glad it turned out that way, we’ve got five really tough games to start and we probably will be playing all state-ranked teams those first five weeks,” Allman said. “Lake Travis coming in is good for our district, and it’s nice to play them at home. That game could have district championship ramifications, so I’m glad it fell late in the year.”
Taking it all in a moment before he hit the road to drive back into Austin, Allman considered the challenges ahead.
“I am glad about all of that, it’s going to be a very exciting schedule,” he said. “And we get five exciting games at our place.”
The enrollments for the 15-5A schools: Akins 2731, Anderson 2047, Bowie 2889, Austin 2258, Lake Travis 2217, Westlake 2569, Del Valle 2741.

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
August 24 (scrim.) Abilene Cooper Westlake TBD
August 31 Cedar Park Westlake 7:30
September 7 Temple Temple 7:30
September 14 A&M Consolidated College Station 7:30
September 21 Cibolo Steele Westlake 7:30
September 28 Bowie Westlake 7:30
October 5 Akins Away 7:30
October 12 Anderson Westlake 7:30
October 19 Del Valle Del Valle 7:30
October 26 Bye Week OPEN —-
November 2 Lake Travis Westlake 7:30
November 9 Austin High Away 7:30

* All times and dates subject to change*
Thursday game TBD by district.
Homecoming date TBD.

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Last month, Tucker completed his career with the University of Texas. The 2008 Westlake graduate booted 40 field goals in 48 career attempts for the Longhorns, including a dramatic 40-yarder at the final whistle that lifted the Longhorns to a 27-25 win over Texas A&M in November.

McShay also touted the draft prospects of former Chap quarterback Nick Foles, who graduated from Arizona as that school’s all-time passing leader. The 6-foot-5-inch Foles, a 2007 Westlake graduate, ended his career as a Wildcat with 10,011 yards and 67 touchdowns passing. His draft stock has rocketed upward with the decisions of USC’s Matt Barkley and Oklahoma’s Landry Jones to remain in school for the 2012 season, according to McShay.

“Foles really got better [in 2011],” he told Bohls. “The team around him got worse, but Nick improved with his accuracy and intangibles, and he has a really strong arm.”

Other analysts share that opinion about Foles.

“He may have lost a little shine this season because of the way the Wildcats performed as a team, but Foles is a really solid developmental prospect,” draft analyst Mel Kiper told ESPN. “He’s a big kid, is accurate, moves and throws well to both his right and his left, and he has solid mechanics. [You] can draft Foles in the late first or early second round and develop him.”

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You want to use stats to rate a player’s stock? Go read about baseball.

This list presents a handful of gifted and gritty football players, a unique species of athlete whose worth can’t be quantified by stats, sums or other such nonsense. Moreover, this inventory attempts to evaluate that perplexing position behind center, where “wins” trump touchdowns and total yards, regardless of football’s structure as an ultimate team sport.

Which, of course, is poppycock. Quick, now: Would you rather have Trent Dilfer or Dan Marino as your quarterback?

Remember, Dilfer “won” a Super Bowl while playing with a defensive-dominated Baltimore group in 2000, while the mercurial Marino reached just one Super Bowl – which he and Miami lost in 1984 to San Francisco – in a record-setting, 17-year career with the Dolphins.

But Marino brings us back to this list: The top 10 all-time National Football League quarterbacks who are native Texans and played high-school football in the Lone Star State. Why would a player like Marino – born and bred in that quarterback cradle of western Pennsylvania – be mentioned in a list of Texas quarterbacks? Because Drew Brees, a native son reared on the playing fields of Westlake, just broke one of Marino’s hallowed NFL passing records, and Brees is fast approaching arguably the most sanctified of all quarterback marks in Johnny Unitas’ consecutive streak of games with a touchdown pass.

Brees, a 1997 Westlake graduate who led the Chaps to their lone state championship in 1996, has spent this season adding bold headings to a resume already Hall-of-Fame worthy. He threw for 307 yards in Monday’s win over Atlanta to break Marino’s 27-year-old record of 5,084 yards passing in a single season. Brees now has 5,087 yards passing and has thrown a touchdown pass in 42 consecutive games, which is five short of Unitas’ record. Brees’ extraordinary numbers this season have him in the MVP conversation, and they have the Saints in the playoffs.

But where does Brees rank among the pantheon of native Texan quarterbacks? Using a measuring cup filled with production, presence and, yes, wins, Brees stands near the top. Let’s rank them, starting with No. 10:

No. 10: Wade Wilson

The native of Commerce, who played collegiate ball in his hometown at then-East Texas State University, Wilson is an NFL lifer who spent 17 years in the huddle from 1981-98. He enjoyed his greatest success with the Minnesota Vikings in the late 1980s, leading the team to three consecutive trips to the playoffs and earning his lone Pro Bowl berth in 1988 following a season in which he threw for 2,746 yards and 15 touchdowns. Wilson, currently the quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys, ended his NFL career with 17,283 yards passing and 99 touchdown passes in 125 career games.

No. 9: Tommy Kramer

Like Wilson, his successor as the Vikings’ quarterback, Kramer enjoyed a lengthy career marked more by reliability than broken records. The San Antonio Lee product, who shined at Rice University, spent all but one of his 13 seasons with Minnesota and ranks second in most of the franchise’s passing categories. In 129 games from 1977-90, Kramer amassed 24,777 yards and 159 touchdowns. He enjoyed a tremendous 1986 season, during which he led the NFL in passer rating and tossed 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns to earn his only Pro Bowl berth. Kramer did set an NFL record, since broken, by becoming the first quarterback to throw for at least 450 yards in a game twice.

No. 8: Charley Johnson

A gunslinger in a running back era, Johnson earned his reputation as one of the top passers in professional football in the 1960s. The Big Spring native, who played collegiately at New Mexico State University, had at least 200 pass attempts 10 times in a 15-year career that spanned 1961-75 and ended his career with 24,410 yards passing and 170 touchdowns. He enjoyed his most success for St. Louis (1961-69), including a 1963 season that included 3,280 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. Johnson also made enough of an impact in four years with Denver (1972-75) to earn a spot in that franchise’s Ring of Fame. Always defying certain stereotypes about athletes, Johnson is currently a chemical engineering professor at his collegiate alma mater.

No. 7: Don Meredith

Dandy Don did more – on and off the field – in his nine seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback than most football players did in their entire athletic career. A Texan who never left the state until retiring to the New Mexico mountains, Meredith starred at Mount Vernon and Southern Methodist University before agreeing to play for Dallas, thus becoming the first player to become a Cowboy prior to the 1960 NFL expansion draft. Meredith threw for 17,199 yards and 135 touchdowns in a career that spanned 1960-68. He earned three trips to the Pro Bowl as well as NFL Player of the Year honors in 1966. His legacy on the field is also intertwined with the Cowboys’ collective role of bridesmaid to the 1960s Packers: Meredith and Dallas lost back-to-back NFL title games in 1966 and 1967 to Green Bay, including the famous Ice Bowl in 1967. Following his playing career, the entire nation got a glimpse of Meredith’s colorful character during his legendary, 11-year stint as an analyst on Monday Night Football.

No. 6: Frank Ryan

A consummate professional between the lines and in the lecture halls, Ryan won with regularity during a 126-game career from 1958-70. A three-time Pro Bowler, Ryan guided the great Cleveland teams during the Jim Brown era. The Fort Worth Paschal product, who played college ball at Rice, threw for 2,404 yards and an NFL-best 25 touchdowns while helping the Browns win the NFL championship in 1964. In 1966, he helped the Browns survive the sudden retirement of Brown by throwing for 2,976 yards and 29 touchdowns. Ryan ended his career with 16,042 yards passing and 149 touchdowns while drawing the attention of a media fascinated by his doctorate in mathematics earned during his playing days. An in-depth Sports Illustrated article from the 1960s declared that Ryan “goes through life wearing the Charlie Chan smile of somebody who knows something.” But Ryan dismissed the apparent enthrallment journalist had concerning the dichotomy of athletics and academics. “I relish a little bit of individuality, but sportswriters make such a big unnecessary to-do about the combination of mathematics and football, the so-called associated intellect,” he told SI. Indeed, Doctor Ryan.

No. 5: Tobin Rote

Rote has the unusual distinction of guiding teams to the championship game in three different leagues during a 13-year, 149-game career. A dual-threat quarterback, the San Antonio Harlandale and Rice University product amassed 18,850 yards and 148 touchdowns passing and another 3,128 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground. More importantly, Rote won: He led Detroit to the 1957 NFL title and San Diego to the 1963 American Football League championship. In between, he guided the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup finals during a three-year stint in the Canadian Football League. His most remarkable season may have been in 1956 with Green Bay, when he led the NFL in passing, passing touchdowns and rushing yards by a quarterback. Rote accounted for 29 of Green Bay’s 34 touchdowns that season, the highest-ever such mark in the NFL’s era of the 12-game schedule. Rote capped his career in 1963 when, at the age of 35, he earned AFL Most Valuable Player honors while directing the league’s best offense.

No. 4: Y.A. Tittle

One of the faces of the NFL during its move from fringe sport into the public consciousness, Tittle earned his spot in the NFL’s Hall of Fame while playing in 201 games during a 17-year career from 1948-64. The Marshall native and Louisiana State University graduate bridged the gap between leather helmets and national television deals, and he did it while passing madly downfield. Tittle amassed 33,070 yards and 242 touchdowns while establishing himself as his era’s preeminent passer. He earned seven Pro Bowl spots along with three all-pro selections. Tittle put up his most impressive numbers in his final four seasons as a New York Giant. In 1963, he received Most Valuable Player honors after tossing a then-record 36 touchdown passes. From 1961-63, Tittle threw 86 touchdowns. In a way, Tittle also helped revolutionize sports media: In a famed photo by Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette following a 1964 loss to Pittsburgh (see page B1), a bleeding and clearly battered Tittle embodies the anguish that losing can wreak on the game’s participants. For all his accomplishments, Tittle never won a championship. Ironically, the Post-Gazette chose not to run the photo because of its lack of action, but Morris submitted it for several contests and drew praise for his portrayal of the human emotions exposed by the game. The iconic image now hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

No. 3: Drew Brees

Although his story is far from over, Brees has already woven an impressive narrative in his 10-year, 153-game career. The Austin native and Westlake graduate, who played college ball at Purdue University, has emerged as a top playmaker in today’s era of high-octane passing games. He already ranks 12th all-time on the NFL career passing yards list with 40,353 and ninth all-time with 276 touchdown passes. The five-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team all-pro has set a new NFL record with seven consecutive seasons of at least 4,000 yards passing, and he snapped Marino’s 27-year-old record of 5,085 yards passing in a single season Monday. During the Saints’ championship run in 2008, Brees set a new NFL single-season completion percentage of 70.62, and he established a Super Bowl record of 32 completions in the 31-17 win over Indianapolis. In addition, Brees is within six games of breaking the 52-year-old record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass held by Unitas. But numbers don’t tell the full story of the 6-foot, slightly built Brees, an unapologetic underdog. Despite never losing a game at Westlake, big state schools such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M bypassed Brees because of concerns about his size and a high-school knee injury. Brees went on to a stellar collegiate career at Purdue. In 2005, the San Diego Chargers refused to resign Brees, citing concerns over a shoulder injury. That shoulder then carried a big chip as Brees joined the Saints and led the once-forlorn franchise to its first championship and a status as one of the NFL’s elite teams.

No. 2: Bobby Layne

Layne did more than set a new standard for NFL quarterbacks in his 15-year career that began in 1948: The Hall of Famer played the game – and lived his life – with a joie de vivre that enthralled the nation. The Dallas native, who prepped at Highland Park before attending the University of Texas, captained the Detroit Lions during their championship era in the early 1950s. The five-time Pro Bowler guided the team to back-to-back titles in 1952 and 1953, dispatching Jim Brown and the talented Cleveland Browns in both games. He spent eight seasons with the Lions before five seasons in Pittsburgh. By the time Layne left the game, he held almost every NFL passing record, including passes attempted (3,700), completed (1,814), yards (26,768) and touchdowns (196). But Layne’s intangibles couldn’t be so easily measured: The comeback king keyed many a rally, especially during his time with the Lions. In the 1953 title game, Layne cemented his reputation as a clutch player by leading the Lions on an 80-yard touchdown march in the final minutes of what became a 17-16 Detroit victory. Fellow Hall of Famer and longtime teammate Doak Walker once said about Layne: “Bobby never lost a game. Some days, time just ran out on him.”

No. 1: Sammy Baugh

Comparing different eras of professional football can be like equating apples and oranges. But comparing Slingin’ Sammy’s time with today’s high-powered game is like comparing apples to orangutans. When Baugh began his 15-year career – all with the Washington Redskins – in 1937, football had yet to appear on television, and the forward pass ranked just ahead of lightning strikes as a common occurrence at an NFL game. By the time Baugh retired, the NFL was closing in on baseball as America’s favorite pasttime, and young quarterbacks such as Layne and Tittle were heaving the pigskin around with abandon. Baugh’s play helped usher in the modern era of football, which began in the 1950s and is defined by its equal reliance on broadcast television and the forward pass. The Temple native, who played prep ball in Sweetwater and college football at Texas Christian University, finished his 167-game career with 21,886 yards passing and 187 passing touchdowns. In an era of low-percentage deep passes, Baugh completed at least 58 percent of his passes six times. Overall, Baugh set 13 NFL records as a quarterback, punter and stellar defensive back. In the process of revolutionizing the quarterback position, Baugh won. The Redskins captured the 1942 NFL championship and reached the finals in three other seasons. Baugh was part of the NFL’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1963.

Who’s next?

The first generation of Texas’ well-documented explosion of high-school quarterbacks is just now coming of age. Which of these young gunslingers could join the Lone Star State’s pantheon of greats? Based on the potential and early production, these native sons, of those born and bred in Texas, have the best shot:

Andy Dalton: If a single season as an NFL quarterback provides a accurate preview for a career, Dalton will earn plenty of accolades. The Cincinnati rookie, who prepped at Katy High before enjoying a superb career at Texas Christian University, has thrown for 3,012 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. More impressively, the 24-year-old has transferred the steady leadership he possessed at TCU into the pros: The Bengals enter this weekend still in playoff contention.

Vince Young: While it seems that Young, left, has already traversed a career’s worth of peaks and valleys, the Houston Madison and University of Texas product remains a young quarterback with plenty of accolades. Young has played in 56 games and already has a Pro Bowl berth as a member of the Tennessee Titans. Now playing for Philadelphia, Young’s career numbers include 8,964 yards passing and 42 touchdowns, along with another 1,459 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. The best number of all? Young has 31 wins in 49 starts as an NFL quarterback.

Kevin Kolb: After mentoring behind veteran Donovan McNabb for several seasons in Philadelphia, the 27-year-old Kolb is finally the unquestioned starter for Arizona, provided he stays healthy. The Stephenville star, who played at the University of Houston, has thrown for 4,037 yards and 20 touchdowns despite playing in just 29 games.

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Rosenthal, a former offensive lineman in the NFL, has coached Austin High’s offensive line the past two seasons. He replaces Larry Don Williams, who resigned last month after the Maroons ended the year with a 2-9 record and a first-round playoff loss to Leander.

Williams went 11-21 in three seasons with Austin HIgh.

Rosenthal, a native of Granger, Ind., was a high-school all-American and played collegiate football at Notre Dame. He spent nine seasons in the NFL before moving to Austin. His wife, Lindsay, is an Austin High graduate who played volleyball at Notre Dame.

According to Rosenthal, becoming a head coach has long been a goal.

“I wanted to coach since I was in college,” he told the Picayune in October. “I just took a little detour to play in the NFL.”

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Westlake’s Lance Duran collected another postseason football honor Thursday by earning a spot on the Associated Press Class 5A all-state football team.

Duran, a senior inside linebacker, had a superb season for the area finalist Chaps by collecting a team-high 130 tackles, including 16 behind the line of scrimmage. He also had four sacks, three caused fumbles and two interceptions while becoming the school’s all-time leader in tackles with 348.

In addition to the AP honor, Duran earned defensive Most Valuable Player honors in District 15-5A from both the coaches and the Westlake Picayune.

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College football’s postseason includes 11 former Chaps, including six that could play prominent roles for their respective teams.

JUSTIN TUCKER: Texas punter/placekicker

Holiday Bowl: Texas vs. California

When: Dec. 28, 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The senior made 17 of 20 field goals this season and all 41 PATs and averaged 39.2 yards a punt.

BRYCE HAGER: Baylor linebacker

Alamo Bowl: Baylor vs. Washington

When: Dec. 29, 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The sophomore has appeared in all 12 games for Baylor, garnering a dozen tackles at linebacker, including seven solo stops.

TANNER PRICE:Wake Forest quarterback

Music City Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State

When: Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The sophomore, a starter since last year, has thrown for 2,803 yards and 20 TDs this season and leads the ACC’s fourth-best passing attack.

RYAN SWOPE: Texas A&M receiver

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern

When: Dec. 31, 11 a.m.

TV: ESPN

A prep RB now converted to WR, the junior enjoyed the best receiving year in school history with 81
catches, 1,102 yards and 11 TDs.

LOUIE SWOPE: Texas A&M defensive back

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern

When: Dec. 31, 11 a.m.

TV: ESPN

The redshirt freshman has appeared on one game for the Aggies and had a special-teams tackle.

DAVID DURHAM: Ohio State fullback

Gator Bowl: Ohio St vs. Florida

When: Jan. 2, noon

TV: ESPN2

The redshirt freshman, a converted defensive lineman, has developed into a special-teams
standout and a scout-team workhorse.

A handful of other former Westlake football players will also participate in college football’s bowl season. Mike Walker is a sophomore walk-on receiver for Texas A&M, Campbell McCrea is a freshman walk-on defensive back for Baylor, and Kolton Lye is a sophomore walk-on kicker for Baylor. In addition, Charlie Copa is a sophomore tight end for Tulsa who cannot comnpete alongside his teammates at the Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl against Air Force because he must sit out a year after transferring from Syracuse. Cody Rademacher, a sophomore transfer kicker at SMU, will miss the Mustangs’ appearance in the Jan. 7 Compass Bowl against Pittsburgh.

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But no other player in District 15-5A had as much bite as the player dubbed “Little Wardog” by Coach Darren Allman. And no other player more deserves the Westlake Picayune’s District 15-5A Offensive Most Valuable Player award.

The soul of Westlake’s offense, Dolezal personified a team short on size but never small in fight. He pounded opposing foes for 1,314 yards on 175 carries for a robust 7.5 yards-per-carry average and added another 201 yards on 20 catches in a sterling regular season. Most importantly, Dolezal reached paydirt 19 times for the district-champion Chaps.

Dolezal had plenty of help on an offense that averaged 41.3 points and 355 yards per game in the regular season. Three other Chaps join Dolezal on the Picayune’s All-District 15-5A offense, including senior guard Jack Brown, senior receiver/quarterback Lewis Guilbeau and senior tight end Web Elliot.
In his first season on varsity, the 6-1, 245-pound Brown became the emotional leader of an offensive line that broke in four new starters. The unit paved the way for a ground game that averaged 253 yards rushing per game.

The versatile Guilbeau, who earned offensive MVP accolades from the district’s coaches, started at wide receiver but played almost every skill position for the Chaps. He ended the regular season with 1,075 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns.

Elliot only hauled in seven catches for 79 yards in the regular season, but he grabbed three touchdowns and played a pivotal role blocking for Westlake’s ground game.

It’s not the number of tackles that make Westlake inside linebacker Lance Duran the Westlake Picayune’s District 15-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player. Instead, it’s how those tackles were felt by the slate of 15-5A foes overwhelmed by the Chaps’ defense.

Duran, a 5-10, 210-pound senior who amassed 105 tackles during the regular season, played with a physical presence that gave the Chap defense an edge. The three-year starter had 15 tackles for a loss and added four sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception for a unit that gave up 133 yards and 4.2 points a game in five district contests.

Two Chaps joined Duran on the Picayune’s All-District 15-5A defensive team. Senior Spencer Smith, a former linebacker, emerged as a disruptive force at defensive end in his only season with a hand on the ground. He tallied 49 tackles in the regular season, including nine behind the line of scrimmage.
Classmate Quentin Buck led the team with nine pass breakups and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. The cornerback also emerged as the best run-stopper in the district among cornerbacks with 50 tackles in the regular season.

Westlake Picayune’s All-District 15-5A football team

Offensive MVP
Brice Dolezal, Sr., Westlake : The 5-foot-7-inch, 175-pound workhorse RB, dubbed Little Wardog by his coaches and teammates, powered the district champs’ offense with 1,314 yards rushing, 201 yards receiving and 19 TDs in the regular season.

Defensive MVP
Lance Duran, Sr., Westlake: The three-year starter at ILB led the Chaps in tackling (104, including 15 for loss) and added four sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.

Newcomer of the Year
Isaiah Jones, Jr., Austin High: The junior filled plenty of roles for Maroons while tallying 278 yards passing, 340 yards receiving.

Coach of the Year
Darren Allman, Westlake; Led Chaps to first undisputed district title since 2005 with school-record for average margin of victory in district play.

First team offense
C Jacob Gonzalez, Sr., Anderson: Two-way player Trojans’ MVP.

G Jack Brown, Sr., Westlake: Emotional leader shined in lone varsity season.

G Brett Leatherwood, Sr., Anderson: Helped Trojans average 234 yards rushing per game in district play.

T Nick Harrison, Sr., Bowie: The 6-2, 240 vet moved to tackle this season.

T Ezekiel Spears, Sr., Akins: Three-year letterman brought athleticism to edge.

RB Brice Dolezal, Sr., Westlake: District’s leading rusher also had 201 yards receiving on 20 catches.

TE Web Elliot, Sr., Westlake: Team captain added three TD catches to stellar blocking.

RB Xxavier Holman, Jr., Del Valle: Speed back zipped for 99 yards rushing a game in district play.

WR Cayleb Jones, Sr., Austin High: Mercurial wideout leaves for UT with 75 catches, 1,042 yards, 8 TDs.

WR Lewis Guilbeau, Sr., Westlake: Versatile skill player had 1,075 yards of offense, 8 TDs.

QB Michael Clawson, Sr., Austin High: Small but scrappy signal caller topped 2,000 yards of offense.

K Michael Barden Jr., Westlake: Booted four FGs, 38 extra points.

First team defense

DL Linus Boley, Sr., Austin High: The 6-4, 235-pounder a fearsome pass rusher.

DL Will Hopkins, Sr., Bowie: The 6-7, 240-pound DE led Bulldogs in sacks, tackles for loss.

DL Kurt Clark, Sr., Bowie: Converted TE provided disruptive bookend to Hopkins.

DL Spencer Smith, Sr., Westlake: Converted LB had 49 tackles, including 9 for loss.

LB Kelly McBride, Sr., Del Valle: Two-way standout brought RB speed to LB corps.

LB Lance Duran, Sr., Westlake: Became school’s all-time tackles leader in playoff opener.

LB Riley Gravelle, Sr., Anderson: Productive leader helped Trojans hold three district foes to 20 points or less.

S Fletcher Roberts, Sr., Anderson: Veteran brought big plays to both sides of ball.

S Dontae Harris, Jr., Bowie: Gifted athlete spent lots of time on offense but still a difference-maker in secondary.

CB Quentin Buck, Sr., Westlake: Had 50 tackles and led Chaps with four INTs.

CB Terrelle Owens, Sr., Del Valle: Rarely a target because of sticky man-to-man coverage.

P Justin Montemayor, Sr., Anderson: WR doubled as a reliable punter.

Note: All stats from regular season

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Lewis Guilbeau didn’t lead Westlake in passing. He didn’t pace the Chaps in receiving, and several teammates had more yards rushing.

But no one proved more invaluable, according to the District 15-5A football coaches.

In a nod to Guilbeau’s versatility, the coaches selected the Westlake senior as 15-5A’s Offensive Most Valuable Player in their annual all-district team. Guilbeau accounted for 1,075 yards of offense and eight touchdowns during the regular season for Westlake, which didn’t lose a district game.

An ostensible starter at wide receiver, Guilbeau performed a variety of duties for the Chaps. He threw for 458 yards and four touchdowns, added 359 yards rushing and had 23 catches for 258 yards. That multifaceted skill set didn’t go unnoticed, Allman said.

“I think Lewis’ ability to play well at quarterback while doing so many other things in the offense impressed the other [coaches],” he said. “He was able to make things happens with his arm and his feet while making some big receptions from receiver, as well.”

The Chaps drew plenty of other accolades from the 15-5A coaches. Three-year starting linebacker Lance Duran capped his record-setting prep career by garnering Defensive Most Valuable Player honors, and Allman picked up Coach of the Year recognition from his peers. In addition, Westlake claimed 13 other spots on the first team and another seven on the second team.

Duran, who set a school record for career tackles in Westlake’s playoff opener against Round Rock, enjoyed a superb senior season from his inside linebacker spot. He led the district’s top defense with 104 tackles in the regular season, including 15 behind the line of scrimmage. Duran also had four sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.

More importantly, Duran set the tone for a defense that pitched three shutouts in district play while holding opponents to a school-record 4.2 points a game.

“Lance’s aggressive play and his consistency set a high standard for everyone around him,” Allman said. “For a guy who became a starter when he was only 15 years old back in 2009, his ability to continue to improve in all phases of his game was very special.”

Allman had a special season as well while leading Westlake to its first undisputed district championship in six years. The Chaps won their five 15-5A games by an average margin of victory of 48 points. Westlake finished the season with a 9-3 record and reached the second round of the Class 5A Region II playoffs.

The district coaches named four Chaps to the first-team offense, including senior offensive lineman Jack Brown, senior tight end Web Elliot (seven catches, 79 yards, three TDs in regular season), senior running back Brice Dolezal (1,314 yards rushing, 19 total TDs) and junior wide receiver Brandon Box (27 catches, 289 yards, three TDs). Senior center Kyle Kimery, senior guard Sam Freireich, junior tackle Judge Finley, running back Keith Carter (386 rushing, three TDs), sophomore receiver Jon Rhoads (10 catches, 188 yards, four TDs) and junior fullback Chris Cantor (106 yards from scrimmage, two TDs) all garnered second-team honors.

Westlake’s first-team defensive contingent includes senior noseguard Brayven Hager (22 tackles, one sack), senior defensive end Spencer Smith (49 tackles, nine tackles for losses), junior inside linebacker Jacob Mansour (55 tackles, four TFLs), junior outside linebacker Noah Thompson (23 tackles, one interception), junior safety John Dodd (55 tackles, 1 INT), senior cornerback Quentin Buck (50 tackles, four INTs) and senior cornerback Robert Allen Smith (25 tackles, six passes defended). Junior defensive end Anthony Patino (33 tackles, five sacks) garnered second-team recognition.

In addition, Westlake’s special teams picked up several honors. Junior kicker Michael Barden joined the first team, and Dolezal was named as the first-team kick returner. Elliot earned a second-team nod as a punter.

Senior quarterback Blake Box (1,282 yards passing, 11 TDs), sophomore offensive tackle Bobby Dwyer, junior linebacker Carsten Hood (27 tackles), senior receiver Chris Irvin (18 catches, 260 yards, three TDs), sophomore safety Jack Meredith (39 tackles, four passes defended) and junior defensive back Russell Paape earned honorable mention.

Coaches All-District 15-5A football team

Offensive MVP: Lewis Guilbeau, Westlake

Defensive MVP: Lance Duran, Westlake

Newcomer of the Year: Gino Jonassaint, Bowie; Isiah Jones, Austin High

Coach of the Year: Darren Allman, Westlake

First team offense
C Jacob Gonzalez, Sr., Anderson
G Jack Brown, Sr., Westlake
G Brett Leatherwood, Sr., Anderson
T Nick Harrison, Sr., Bowie
T Kel Casto, Sr., Austin High
TE John Subia, Jr., Bowie
TE Web Elliot, Sr., Westlake
RB Brice Dolezal, Sr., Westlake
RB D’Aauhndre Raindle, Sr., Akins
RB Xxavier Holman, Jr., Del Valle
WR Justin Montemayor, Sr., Anderson
WR Railond Mayes, Sr., Bowie
WR Cayleb Jones, Sr., Austin High
WR Brandon Box, Jr., Westlake
UTIL Adam Hiochman Sr., Anderson,
QB Robbie Dickey, Sr., Bowie
K Michael Barden Jr., Westlake

First team defense
DT Jacob Gonzalez, Sr., Anderson
DT Brayven Hager, Sr., Westlake
DT Kurt Clark, Sr., Bowie
DE Will Hopkins, Sr., Bowie
DE Spencer Smith, Sr., Westlake
ILB Kelly McBride, Sr., Del Vale
ILB Jacob Mansour, Jr., Westlake
OLB Noah Thompson, Jr., Westlake
OLB Riley Gravelle, Sr., Anderson
S Fletcher Roberts, Sr., Anderson
S John Dodd, Jr., Westlake
CB Quentin Buck, Sr., Westlake
CB Robert Allen Smith, Sr., Westlake
P Justin Montemayor, Sr., Anderson
RS Brice Dolezal, Sr., Westlake

Second team offense
C Kyle Kimery, Sr., Westlake
G Sam Freireich, Sr., Westlake
G Josh Cortinas, Sr., Bowie
T Sam De La Rosa, So., Del Valle
T Judge Finley, Jr., Westlake
T Will Hopkins, Sr., Bowie
TE Xavier Garcia, Jr., Anderson
TE Charles Schneider Jr., Austin High
RB Keith Carter, Jr., Westlake
RB Fletcher Roberts, Sr., Anderson
WR Call Casarez, Sr., Bowie
WR Sid Martin, Sr., Austin High
WR Bryan Hoskins, Jr., Bopwie
WR Jon Rhoads, So., Westlake
WR Cris Campbell, Jr., Del Valle
UTIL Chris Canter, Jr., Westlake
QB Josh Alfaro, Sr., Del Valle
K Call Casarez, Sr., Bowie

Second team defense
DT Elliott Carter, Jr., Del Valle
DT David Martin, Sr., Austin High
DE Jordon Serrato, Sr., Del Valle
DE Matt Jones, Jr., Austin High
DE Anthony Patino, Jr., Westlake
ILB Jeremy Jackson, Sr., Bowie
ILB Alex McCrackern, Jr., Austin High
OLB Brenden Smith, OLB, Sr., Bowie
OLB Jayden Nichols, Jr., Del Valle
S Dillon Boldt, Sr., Bowie
S Dominique McElveen, Sr., Del Valle
CB Sterling Kersey, Jr., Anderson
CB Terrell Owens, Sr., Del Valle
P Web Elliott Sr., Westlake
RS Cayleb Jones, Sr., Austin High
RS D’Aauhndre Raindle, Sr., Akins

Westlake honorable mention
Blake Box, Sr., QB; Bobby Dwyer, So., OL; Carsten Hood, Jr., LB; Chris irvin, Sr., WR; Jack Meredith, So., S; Russell Paape, Jr., LB/DB.

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The Panthers called it keepaway.

Behind a punishing ground game that ate up yards and the clock with equal greed, Oak (9-3) ground out a Class 5A Division I area playoff triumph. Westlake (9-3) ran just 18 plays in the second half compared to 41 for Oak, which pulled away for the win after leading 17-14 at the break.

Oak rushed for 261 yards on 40 carries and amassed 30 first downs in the game. The Panthers converted all eight of their third-down plays in the second half while dominating the clock.

“They have a good offensive line and good running backs, and we couldn’t get them off the field,” Westlake coach Darren Allman said. “We didn’t win the battle in the trenches.”

Oak took a 24-14 lead on its first drive of the second half on a 30-yard run by Larenzo Stewart. The Chaps responded quickly with a 48-yard scoring burst by Brice Dolezal with 8 minutes, 57 seconds left in the third quarter, but they would run just three more plays over the next 11 minutes.

During that span, Oak scored two more touchdowns on two possessions to take a 38-21 lead. Six of the Panthers’ third-down conversions came on those drives on either runs up the middle or quick screens out into the flats.

“Once they established that running game, they took advantage of our linebackers being close to the box,” Allman said. “Our guys were in no-man’s land, because they had to stay in and stop the run. But that’s what they do, and that’s what makes them good. They establish the run.”

Chap defensive end Spencer Smith agreed with his coach. According to Smith, the Panthers’ combination of strategy and strength up front proved difficult to decipher.

“That was the smartest team we’ve played all year, and they were very good up front,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for them, and they played with a lot of honor. I hope they keep winning, and I’ll be rooting for them.”

Both teams made pivotal mistakes during a wild first half. The Chaps failed on two fake punts and recovered a fumble by Lewis Guilbeau. Oak turned those miscues into 10 points, including a 40-yard field goal by Kwame Kuffour on their second drive and a 12-yard run from Stewart in the second quarter that gave Oak a 10-7 lead.

Westlake’s defense made enough early plays to keep the Chaps in the game. Robert Allen Smith picked off two passes in the first half, including an interception at midfield that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Guilbeau early in the second quarter.

The most important Chap takeaway came in the final minute of the first half. After a 63-yard punt by Westlake’s Web Elliott trickled out of bounds at Oak’s 9-yard line, the Panthers tried to run out the clock and enter the half with a 17-7 lead. However, Chap noseguard Brayven Hager ripped the ball from Oak’s Nicky Baratti and teammate Carsten Hood pounced on the fumble.

Two plays later, Blake Box connected with Jon Rhoads for a 5-yard touchdown pass that cut Westlake’s deficit to 17-14 at the break. Westlake couldn’t carry that momentum into the second half, however, as Oak earned a third-round playoff matchup with Dallas Skyline.

Oak quarterback Connor McQueen ran for 107 yards and threw for 213 yards on 18-of-22 passing in the game. He completed all 10 of his passes in the second half. Stewart added 93 yards on 12 carries.

Dolezal capped his three-year varsity career at Westlake with 125 yards rushing and two touchdowns. While he expressed regret that the Chaps couldn’t duplicate their 2009 run to the title game, Dolezal said the program points in the right direction.

“We have some good, young players on the team, and I’ll just tell them to take it to the next level,” he said. “We gave it our all today, but it just didn’t happen.”

Box

West 0 14 7 7 – 28
KO 3 14 13 8 – 38

First quarter
KO: Kwame Kuffour 40 FG

Second quarter
West: Lewis Guilbeau 3 run (Michael Barden kick)
KO: Larenzo Stewart 12 run (Kuffour kick)
KO: Connor McQueen 3 run (Kuffour kick)
West: Jon Rhoads 5 pass from Blake Box (Barden kick)

Third quarter
KO: Stewart 30 run (Kuffour kick)
West: Brice Dolezal 48 run (Barden kick)
KO: Nicky Baratti 1 run (kick failed)

Fourth quarter
KO: Jaylon Brown 5 run (Baratti run)
West: Dolezal 2 run (Barden kick)

Teams West KO
First downs 14 30
Rush-yds 30-130 45-261
Passing yds 129 213
Passes 15-28-1 18-22-2
Punts-avg. 4-32.5 0-0
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties 2-13 4-39

Individual Statistics

Rushing: KO-Connor McQueen 16-107, Larenzo Stewart 12-93, Jaylon Brown 11-52. West- Brice Dolezal 15-125, Lewis Guilbeau 10-23, Blake Box 1-11.

Passing: KO-McQueen 18-22-213-2. West-Guilbeau 9-17-82-0, Box 6-11-47-0.

Receiving: KO-Tuff McClain 9-109, Torence Porter 4-30, Nicky Baratti 2-50, Stewart 1-24. West-Brandon Box 5-63, Jon Rhoads 4-29, Patrick Elliott 2-6, Guilbeau 1-14, Chris Canter 1-8, Russell Paape 1-7, Spencer Smith 1-2.

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Young swimmer sets state mark

Regan Barney, a Westlake resident and seventh-grader at West Ridge Middle School, set a new Texas and South Texas record in the 11-12 girls 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4 minutes,34.81 seconds in the Longhorn Aquatics November Unclassified meet at the University of Texas Jamail Swim Center this weekend.

Caridi claims prep Heisman

Westlake senior volleyball player Paige Caridi has been selected as a School Winner of the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman Program, which honors the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors in partnership with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee.
The leadership award-honorees are well-rounded young men and women who excel in learning, performing and leading in the class room, on the field or court, and in the community. Caridi was judged based on her academic achievements, athletic performance in volleyball and track and field, community-leadership, and involvement in various extracurricular activities. Like The Heisman Memorial Trophy, the Wendy’s program believes in the pursuit of athletic and academic excellence with integrity. And in addition to honoring student accomplishments, the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program inspires all future high school students to pursue their higher education goals. The culmination of this process takes place in December in conjunction with the National Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation during Heisman Weekend in New York City during a broadcast on ESPN networks.

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