And that’s not a reference to Darren Allman’s alma mater of Odessa Permian, where he served as head coach before assuming the same duties at Westlake in 2009. Go a little east into the rolling plains and rugged hills under the Caprock, where Brownwood and Stephenville engaged in some of the fiercest power struggles ever seen in Texas high school football.

Allman served as defensive coordinator in Brownwood for most of the 1990s, and he spent many a sleepless night trying to devise ways to slow down the Stephenville juggernaut of Art Briles.

“He’d have about 80 different formations and 80 different plays from each formation,” Allman said recently in his office, still shaking his head at Briles’ offensive artistry. “With the amount of practice time that high school kids have, there’s no way you could prepare for all that.”

But Allman and the Brownwood coaching staff did their best, and they eventually levelled a rivalry that had become decidedly one-sided. Stephenville, one of the state’s preeminent dynasties, pounded the proud Brownwood program in the first half of the 1990s. By 1996, however, Brownwood beat Stephenville 42-39 in a thrilling overtime affair. The teams split their next two meetings, but Allman and the Lions’ coaches could never solve Stephenville’s offense.

“It was when I grew up as a coach,” Allman said. “It was a trial-by-fire every time we played Stephenville. I’ll never forget it.”

Allman never forgot the matchup problems created by a spread offense. He never forgot the no-huddle check that Briles would run from the sideline in place of a traditional huddle, and he never forgot the difficulties Stephenville’s mobile quarterbacks. All three of those memories have formed into essential aspects of Westlake’s offense.

“I told myself at that time that if I ever became a head coach, that’s the offense I would run,” he said. “It is just a nightmare to prepare against.”

Jump ahead a decade to the mid-2000s, when Allman nabbed his first head coaching job at Permian. True to his vow, he immediately installed a two-back, multiple-formation offense based on the power spread principles popularized by Florida head coach Urban Meyer. Allman even took a trip to Gainsville, Fla., for a firsthand view of that offensive system.

Although Westlake’s offense differs from the spread formations at, say, Southlake Carroll or Lake Travis, it “shares the same DNA,” according to Allman. At its simplest explanation, the offense spreads out a defense while retaining a power running attack with a tight end and H-back.

Westlake’s attack differs from many other spreads by utilizing its quarterback as a primary runner. That dash of single-wing, reinvigorated in the past decade by current Auburn University assistant coach Gus Malzahn, has proven particularly popular with Allman.

“When you have a quarterback that can run on a designed play, it’s almost like playing with 12 men,” he said. “The defenses have to account for the quarterback on a running play.”

Last season provided plenty of evidence for the importance of the quarterback position. Tanner Price threw for 2,656 yards and rushed for another 1,101 yards while setting a new single-season school record for total yards of offense. He also helped the state finalist Chaps average a robust 34.1 points per game.

Allman doesn’t expect any offensive dropoff with new quarterback Lewis Guilbeau, a gifted runner with breakaway speed. If Price proved more like former Florida quarterback Chris Leak, a passer who developed into a runner in Meyer’s system, then Guilbeau could be this program’s Tim Tebow: a dangerous runner who threw just enough to keep defenses honest. Both used different means win a national championship, just like Stephenville did four times in the 1990s.

But a quick glance at Lewis Guilbeau playing football would allay many concerns. The compact junior – 5-feet, 10-inches and a solid 185 pounds – takes over behind center in Westlake’s power spread offense, and his ability to run the football seems tailor-made for the Chaps’ style.

“We’re totally confident that there will be no drop-off at quarterback,” Westlake coach Darren Allman said. “Lewis is an exciting player, and we’re real excited about seeing what he can do.”

Guilbeau brings an explosiveness on the ground that the Chaps didn’t have with Price, who now plays for Wake Forest. Guilbeau rushed for 303 yards and three touchdowns on just 40 carries last season, and he has the speed to turn any quarterback keeper into a score. However, in order to the Westlake offense to maintain any semblance of balance, he will have to develop his passing prowess.

Last season, Guilbeau threw for 94 yards on 5-of-11 passing. According to Allman, his passing remains a work in progress.

“He’s getting a lot of reps and getting better throwing the ball each practice,” he said. “[Quarterback coach Jeff] Rhoades is doing a great job with Lewis by working on the fundamentals.”

Allman also professed excitement about reserve Blake Box, a dual-threat junior who had a strong off-season. Box doesn’t have any offensive packages designed for him specifically, said Allman, but the coaches would like to get him in relief of Guilbeau.

“Our quarterbacks take a pounding, so we’d like to rest Lewis some during games,” Allman said. “And Blake has shown a lot of ability. We want to get him snaps.”

Thunder and lightning. Smash and dash. Wham and bam.

Anyway you say it, the pair’s production should cause consternation for opposing teams. Gramann developed into Westlake’s workhorse a year ago, carrying the ball a team-high 206 times for 1,054 yards and nine touchdowns. Although the lean senior (5 feet, 11 inches and 178 pounds) has a body type that suggests otherwise, Gramann pummels the interior of defenses and still boasts enough speed to sprint away from the secondary.

“Van is a very tough, very strong runner,” Westlake coach Darren Allman said. “He has virtually no body fat, but he likes to get physical and take it inside.”

Dolezal, a 5-8, 153-pound junior, does most of his damage on the edge. He only had 44 carries last year but amassed 378 yards for a hearty 8.6 yards-per-carry average. He also scored five touchdowns in 2009 and flashed his speed with a 70-yard scoring run in the preseason intrasquad scrimmage.

“He is just fearless, and he wants the ball,” Allman said about his scatback. “Every time he touches the ball, Brice thinks he’ll score. It’s our challenge as coaches to give him those opportunities.”

In addition, Gramann and Dolezal both excel at receiving, Allman said. Look for the Chaps to take advantage of their skills on a variety of screens or patterns from the slot.

Zak Clark, Dorrian Parris and Jacob Smith provide depth at running back, but the Chaps’ H-back may get the next most touches behind Gramann and Dolezal. Senior Matthan Myers started at running back last season for the junior varsity squad and has impressed coaches with his hard running and tenacity.

“And he’s a pretty good blocker, too,” Allman said. “We like him as H-back, and we want to get that position more touches.”

“Our receivers really are a luxury,” Westlake coach Darren Allman said. “We have a lot of depth and a lot of talent.”

They also have a lot of similarities. Spearheaded by all-district performer Collin Shaw, the Chap wideouts pride themselves on crisp route running, sure hands and a physical style. As a unit, they averaged 180 yards receiving per game last season.

“We may not have any guys that are going to be running at the state track meet, but they’re football fast,” Allman said. “And they know how to compete for the ball. I think that’ll help us have some big plays in the passing game.”

Shaw, a 6-foot, 193-pound senior, hauled in 45 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. He’ll join letterwinner Jason Prideaux (25 catches, 310 yards in 2009) and newcomer Jackson Smith as the Chaps’ outside receivers.

Smith will also work in the slot in Westlake’s four- and five-wide formations alongside Tyler Luxion (11 catches, 123 yards in 2009) and Jeremy DiGiovanni (five catches, 60 yards).

“Jackson Smith is a good football player,” Allman said. “I think that he’ll surprise some people this year.”

Chris Irvin, a 6-foot-3-inch junior and an accomplished hurdler for Westlake’s track team, adds some size to the unit.

Tight end Daniel Sharplin should also develop into a receiving threat as the season progresses, Allman said. The 6-4, 220-pound senior has drawn the attention of college scouts and could provide a multitude of matchup problems for opposing defenses.

“Daniel will be more and more of a factor each week,” Allman said. “A tight end with his ability just gives us a lot of options.”

Three starters return for the pivotal unit on any offense, including center Joe Jarke, left tackle Sean O’Farrell and right guard Tyler Jones. One of the new starters, right tackle Jesse Fender, spent much of last season rotating into the lineup, thus giving Westlake coach Darren Allman plenty of confidence about his big uglies.

Last season, the unit paved the way for an attack that averaged 34.1 points and 369 yards per game.

“Really, we have four starters coming back,” he said. “The offensive line has to play well for us to be successful, and I’m confident that they’ll do just that.”

Jones, a 5-foot-11-inch, 242-pound senior anchor in the middle, returns after picking up all-district honors a year ago. O’Farrell, a 6-foot, 253-pound senior, will protect quarterback Lewis Guilbeau’s blind side, and the 6-4, 224-pound Fender provides athleticism on the right side.

The unit’s only question marks appears at left guard, where Eric Wassmuth (5-11, 236) and Lawton Johnson (5-11, 233) are battling for the starting spot.

No lineman will face more of a challenge than Jarke, a 6-1, 261-pound senior who moves from guard to center. Like most teams, Westlake relies on the center to call out all the blocking assignments before each play. In addition, Jarke must deliver consistent snaps in Westlake’s shotgun base offense while fending off the ill-tempered noseguards that are becoming more common to prep football.

“That center spot really is the most important spot on the line for us,” Allman said. “We moved Jarke there to get some more size [at center]. These days, so many teams put a big nose guard right on top of the center. You really need a big body there so you don’t have the center pushed back into the play.”

Guard Jake Wassmuth, tackle Ryan Van Ert and center Kyle Kimery provide depth.

In 2009, a wave of new coaches swept into the Westlake field house after the hire of Darren Allman. They joined a handful of remaining coaches from the Derek Long and Ron Schroeder era. Together, that bunch taught a crash-course in the new systems on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

But now, the 240 players in Westlake’s football program – approximately 20 percent of all the boys on campus – understand the system. They know the plays, the terminology and the expectations that always include a state championship.

The coaches also better understand the kids. The only new addition to the staff is Mark Schrutka, who coached linebackers and special teams for Kingwood’s varsity squad last season. He will coach freshmen linebackers at Westlake and serve as a quality control coach.

“It’s an amazing difference compared to last year,” WAllman said in the spring. “The kids know exactly what we want to do, and they work extremely hard to accomplish that.”

No coach will work harder this year than Jeff Rhoades, Westlake’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He must turn the athletic Lewis Guilbeau and unproven Blake Box into varsity quarterbacks; combined, those two have attempted just 11 passes.

Such a scarcity of tosses doesn’t concern Allman.

“It’s all about the fundamentals, and Jeff does a great job with that,” Allman said. “He understands how to teach footwork, throwing angles and all the things it takes to be a quarterback.”

Rhoades understands his craft from either side of the whistle. A former quarterback at Texas Tech, he tutelaged under legendary quarterbacks coach Dick Wilder during his time on the South Plains.

In his debut year, Allman helped Westlake develop into a fearsome kick-blocking unit that snuffed four field-goal attempts. The return of Sean Potter and special teams demons such as Thomas Robison and Nathan Peavey should continue such success, he said.

“Those guys are great special teams players,” he said. “It’s definitely something we work hard on.”

The Chaps may have to work a little extra to develop a new kicker. Cody Rademacher departed for the Air Force Academy and replacement Buckley Willis has no varsity experience. He has knocked through a few short field goals during summer workouts but has had trouble past the 35-yard range.

Rory Allen and Eric Wassmuth are competing for the deep snapper, and backup quarterback Blake Box or reserve wideout Jason Prideaux will handle the holding duties.

“We’re not worried about Buckley,” Allman said. “He’s unproven, but he has the right temperament for the position. He’s poised under pressure, and he’ll have to be.”

Allman is even less worried about his punter.

“I don’t plan to punt,” he said, with nary a hint of a smile. “And if we do, it’ll probably be [quarterback] Lewis Guilbeau doing it.”

Last season, QB Tanner Price mastered the quick kick, and Allman expects a repeat of such success.
Running back Van Gramann will serve as the primary kickoff returner, alongside Brice Dolezal and Sean Potter. Expect Dolezal and Potter to return punts. Potter averaged 17.2 yards on his six punt returns in 2009.

The Chaps like to throw six or seven into the defensive line mix, said Westlake coach Darren Allman, but expect that rotation to shrink some as the Chaps keep a trio of gifted down linemen on the field as much as possible in Westlake’s 3-4 scheme.

Senior noseguard Curtis Loeffel, a 5-foot-11-inch, 227-pound senior, will team with twin tackles Matt (6-0, 237) and Roy Schwartz (6-0, 240) as the front wall in Westlake’s rugged ground defense. Last season, that trio helped hold opponents to just 140 yards rushing per game and four yards a carry.

“Our priority is to stop the run,” Allman said. “And it starts with those three guys up front.”

Loeffel earned all-district honors a year ago after tallying 45 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage. The Schwartz twins combined for 35 stops a year ago and are bigger and faster than in 2009, Allman said.

Expect promising junior Brayven Hager to garner plenty of time in the trenches during his first varsity season. The third of four boys in the Hager clan, Brayven boasts more size (6-1, 248) than any of his siblings but still must find consistency.

“And he’s just growing into his body,” Allman said. “He’ll be a good player for us.”

Expect veteran Mac Brady to also get playing time, although he lacks ideal bulk at 5-11, 203 pounds.
Regardless of who lines up in the trenches, Allman says his linemen have a simple but direct job: wreak havoc and make plays.

“We don’t want them to just occupy blockers,” he said. “We want them to get across a lineman’s face and get to the ball. If they’re being blocked one-on-one, they need to win that battle.”

The Chaps welcome back a pair of proven inside ’backers, led by all-district junior Lance Duran, a 5-foot-11-inch, 202-pound ballhawk who earned a starting spot as a sophomore. He tallied 128 stops a year ago and had seven tackles for a loss.

Although all-state LB Bryce Hager departed for Baylor, Duran will still have plenty of competition for tackles. Conor Byrne, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior who racked up 71 stops a year ago, moves from a starting outside linebacker spot to the inside, a shift that highlights the importance of the position.

“We ask a lot of our inside linebackers,” Westlake coach Darren Allman said. “They have to read the blocking schemes quickly and react quickly. There’s no doubt that they are pivotal to our rush defense.”

Don’t expect Duran and Byrne to drop back into coverage much. When not stuffing a run, they’ll likely be blitzing up the middle.

In comparison, Westlake’s outside linebackers must have enough speed to cover backs and slot receivers, said Allman.

“That is a hybrid position for us,” he said. “You have to be physical against the run, but you still have to be able to drop into coverage. You have to be a complete player.”

Eric Wiggin, a 6-foot, 192-pound senior who played a reserve role a year ago, has impressed coaches on the right side, and classmate J.R. Jackson (5-11, 173) has the speed the coaches crave.

Look for Rogan Lye or Spencer Smith to provide occasional relief at the inside positions, while Garrett Lancaster and Rory Allen will get playing time at outside linebacker.

The Chaps’ defensive scheme will often replace the outside LBs with a defensive back, depending on foes’ propensity to pass, Allman said.

And the Chaps have the necessary players to succeed in this era, said Darren Allman.

“We have defensive backs on the bench that could be starters at a lot of schools,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a lot of options.”

Westlake’s options to tighten up 2009’s porous pass defense begin with the safety tandem of Campbell McCrea and Sean Potter. McCrea, a 6-foot, 188-pound senior, earned all-district honors a year ago after collecting 74 tackles and seven interceptions, which was three short of the school’s single-season record. Allman said that McCrea has developed into a team leader, which is impressive praise considering that McCrea transferred to Westlake from Fredericksburg just a year ago as a wide receiver.

Potter, a 5-10, 178-pound senior, started at cornerback a year ago but showed the tenacious tackling to play safety. He had 71 tackles in 2009.

One of Westlake’s few defensive concerns could be at cornerback, where the team welcomes two new starters to a unit that gave up 186 passing yards per game. Senior Chase Corona and junior Robert Smith lack experience, but they do boast the height to challenge the plethora of tall receivers on Westlake’s schedule. Both stand at least 6-feet.

“It’s always good to get some big corners that can move,” Allman said. “We were hurt by tall receivers last season.”

Seniors Thomas Robison and Nathan Peavey will also get plenty of playing time in Westlake’s nickel and dime packages, and junior Quentin Buck has pushed for a starting cornerback spot.

“And all those guys are versatile,” Allman said. “We can play them at safety or corner.”