Boosted by the returning core in the secondary and linebacker units, the Chaparral defense was definitely the dominant side during the annual Red-and-Blue scrimmage.

Bennett Huddleston pulled in two interceptions for the Red team while each side had numerous sacks on the day. The Red team offense broke through for a score and two-point conversion at the end of the contest to give the Red side the win, 31-30. First came a 25-yard touchdown reception by Chris Canter from soon-to-be starting quarterback Jordan Severt, capped by a two-point conversion from Elliot Condos for the final tally.

“It’s been fun to watch our defense really come together,” coach Darren Allman said. “Man, they are flying around. We’ve got a lot of good speed on defense and a lot of guys that like playing the game. We’ve got some hitters, so it’s going to be an exciting defense to watch, one that could potentially force a lot of turnovers.”

The defense had an advantage as offense is still being implemented throughout the spring, while play calling during the scrimmage wasn’t always predicated on what the defense was showing or lining up in, putting the offense in some tough, but advantageous for learning, spots.

“We know coming off of the field we’re better offensively,” Allman said. “We’re going to play a lot of good defenses, maybe some that are bigger but not very many that are better or much faster.”

A lot will be riding on how the O-line come together during the summer and August practices, as the line had good stretches but generally were a little behind the defense.

“Still comes down to blocking and tackling and that’s probably where we need to improve the most – up front,” Allman said. “We know what we need to make the most improvement on quickly is the offensive and defensive line, primarily the offensive line because a lot of those guys are just young … We could go from it being a concern to it being a dominant offensive line if we’ll just go have a good summer and come back ready.”

Defensive display

Westlake will rely a lot on speed and smarts this season, lacking in size what some of its Class 5A opponents will bring to the field.

Noah Thompson, Carsten Hood, Michael Edwards and Brandon Irick were among those that looked sharp in the scrimmage, along with Dalton Brown, who missed last season due to injury, but that’s just the tip of the linebacker iceberg for Westlake.

Combined with standouts in the secondary safeties Jack Meredith and John Dodd and the Chap cornerbacks, depth won’t be an issue for the team going into the fall.

“Between the linebackers and secondary, we have 10-12 starters for just nine spots,” defensive coordinator Jeff Joseph said.  “We better get a lot stronger over the summer, and we’ll get some work doing 7-on-7 catching and covering receivers.”

The Chaps defense was quicker to spots and off the line during the scrimmage, limited what the offense wanted to and could do throughout the matchup. Younger players such as freshmen Hudson Hall and Breckyn Hager got closer to filling big roles as well in the shifty, speedy 3-4 orientation.

“We had a little leg up there with a lot of our experienced guys coming back,” Joseph said. “We’re pretty versatile on defense, we don’t have a lot of size – we’ve got to find ways to use that as an advantage for us. More side to side, lateral action to stop people from getting up hill. We’re never going to have very big kids, which is why the 3-4 suits us.”

Matthew Andreo also had an interception in the game for the Blue team.

“The turnovers are very important for us, it’s a big thing to have quality defensive backs,” Joseph said. ”We’ve done a few different things with personnel groups on the field because we have so many small guys for more nickel and dime packages.”

Bolstering the team’s district – and state – title chances is going to be predicated on the defense, something that is strongly supported from all sides.

“First and foremost what we learned was how quick our defense is,” offensive coordinator Jeff Rhoads said. “I’ve been on that side as an offensive coach where your games are 44-42, that’s not any fun. I don’t think it’s any question our head coach’s reputation (Allman) is a strong defensive team. Even as an offensive coach I applaud that priority. I’m thankful for what our staff does and our defensive staff.”

Offense on the uptick

Going from handling the ball in one sport to another, Jordan Severt has shown why his point guard skills translate well into the quarterback spot as he solidified his grasp on the starting job. The defense was able to limit Severt’s effectiveness as they barged into the backfield and hung right with the offensive weapons.

Lining up in front of him, Bobby Dwyer looked good transitioning into the center role while tackles Judge Finley and Garrett Willis continue to improve daily.

“We made some mistakes but Jordan’s been pretty consistent and has gotten better all spring,” Rhoads said. “His biggest asset is he’s really smart. He’s tall and all that, but he’s really smart and has good vision back there.”

A few players missed the scrimmage for various reasons, including the likely starting backfield of Keith Carter and Alex Chavez, but Severt showed an ability to find open receivers Brandon Box, Harrison Lines, Patrick Elliot and converted receiver to tight end Zach Dansby.

“We didn’t really have a lot of expectations for that spot,” Rhoads said of the tight end. “We moved him there and he did it very unselfishly because we only use a tight end 30, 40 percent of the time and he’s committed to it. He can already run and catch, if he gets a little bigger and gets better at blocking, even in a spread offense they discount the tight end and H-back but those two positions are very important to our offense.”

Though the offense was a step behind the defense on the day, the offensive line showed the progress it made during spring practice, while the battles between receivers and secondary showed the Chaps’ athleticism.

“Offensively I know we got better up front and that always takes some time to jell there,” Rhoads said. “We got some young receivers, some experienced receivers but I feel good about where we’re at right now. I wish we had another 18 days, but frankly, I’m pretty tired and the kids are, too.”

Kicker Michael Barden showed how he’s going to be a huge part of the offense with his strong leg, and that’s going to be an asset for the Chaps to keep posting points as the defense keeps the score low.

“We cross the 50-yard line and he’s fixing to put it through the uprights,” Rhoads said of Barden’s range. “He’s a hard worker, consistent and puts in the practice time. I am fired up about him.”

Allman also praised the incoming senior kicker.

“Our kicking game is going to be strong, Barden is going to be a real asset,” Allman said. “He’ll be a good weapon for us.”

Ray Eells tossed a touchdown pass to Robert Dutton for the red team and a lengthy gain by Sean Rollings on a scramble for more than 60 yards was negated by a holding penalty for the Blue team.

The Blue team took a short-lived lead with a touchdown run by Hank Dickerson to hold a 29-23 advantage before the Red team’s final series to win it.

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As a preferred walk-on, Dolezal will report May 26 and take classes and begin practicing with some of his new teammates, and with a good showing he can earn a full-time spot (and scholarship) on the squad.

Current Aggie Ryan Swope helped mentor Dolezal before departing to Texas A&M, and the stout wide receiver told the new staff at the school that there was no doubt they would be getting a hard worker and tremendous athlete.

After whittling down his choices, Dolezal chose A&M, then he went out and caught a few passes from another former Chap, Nick Foles, who was drafted into the NFL by the Philadelphia Eagles over the weekend. He had options for other routes to go as a walk-on or gain a scholarship on the lower levels, but since being recruited by A&M since he was a sophomore, Dolezal knew where he wanted to go.

Eventually.

“Honestly I had no idea before last week where I was going,” Dolezal said. “I had a bunch of schools on my mind and I felt like A&M was the best fit for me.”

Dolezal will be looking at a positional switch as well, as the Aggies like him as a wide receiver.

“The wide receivers coach (David Beaty) gave me a call and since Ryan is there now, Ryan kind of vouched for me,” Dolezal said. “I haven’t been playing much receiver, but I figure I can hop right into it. I’ve always been pretty good at catching the ball, and at running back you’ve got to play a lot of wide receiver as well.”

Although he was looking forward to having somewhat of a summer, heading  to school early is OK considering the opportunity.

“It’s going to be pretty brutal, I’m not going to get a summer at all but I’m excited to get out there and be with my teammates and get school started,” he said. “I’ve always loved A&M, my family loves A&M, I am happy I ended up here.”

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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