AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 10 Westlake turned in a tremendous defensive effort to advance in the Class 6A Division I playoffs with a 24-7 win over No. 21 San Antonio Brennan on Friday at Burger Stadium.
The Chaparrals have played in a playoff game over Thanksgiving weekend every season since 2015, and they'll take on either Los Fresnos or former district foe Buda Johnson in the third round. They play on Saturday.
Chaps head coach Tony Salazar said his team "put in a good week of work."
"We'll be having Thanksgiving together again," he said. "What a special occasion. I couldn't be more proud of our players and coaches."
Senior middle linebacker Elliott Schaper led the charge defensively for the Chaps, sealing the game with an interception in the fourth quarter after being everywhere the entire night to stop the dynamic Bears offense. Salazar said he knows where the best linebacker in Texas lives.
"He lives right here in Austin and he wears No. 31 and he should be a first-team all-state middle linebacker," Salazar said. "He's one of the best to ever do it in this place."
Brennan came into the game averaging more than 44 points per game but could never get going against the Chaps.
Junior quarterback Rees Wise didn't have the best night throwing the ball, but he showed a lot of toughness with two rushing touchdowns and a short passing score.
Hayes Brodhead blocked a punt and the Chaparrals recovered it deep in Bears territory to set up Westlake's first score, and then the Chaps tacked on another one late in the first half to take a two-score lead.
Cullen Devine, a starter on the defensive line for the Chaps, hauled in his first career touchdown catch as part of Westlake's short-yardage "rhino" package on a 2-yard pass from Wise. Wise punched in the Chaps' second touchdown with a 3-yard run in the second quarter.
Brennan got on the board after a halfback pass went for a huge gain down to the Westlake 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, and then quarterback Cayden Glass ran it in three plays later. That was the only explosive play the Bears could muster against the Chaps' defense.
Westlake (11-1) will play either Los Fresnos or Buda Johnson at 1 p.m., Nov. 29 at a site to be determined. Brennan ends its season with a 10-2 record.
