Prosper Hands Westlake Rare Opening-Night Loss
BELTON — For the first time in over a decade, Westlake opened a season with a loss. No. 22 Prosper stormed out early and never looked back, dealing the No. 4 Chaparrals a 29-22 defeat Friday night at Crusader Stadium and snapping Westlake’s 10-game streak in season openers.
Prosper flexed its muscle up front, leaning on a powerful offensive line anchored by three Division I recruits. That dominance set the tone as quarterback Braeden Imhoff carved up the Chaps’ defense in the first half. Imhoff tossed three touchdown passes before the break, including a 78-yard strike to Dallas Boozer, who turned it into a footrace after the catch. Running back Bryce Robinson added a 44-yard burst straight up the middle to open the scoring.
By halftime, the Eagles were in control at 27-7.
Westlake found its footing after the break, tightening defensively and refusing to give up another offensive score. Prosper’s only second-half points came on an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Chaps’ offense chipped away, with sophomore running back Jarren Lopez logging his first varsity touchdown on a 21-yard dash and Sebastian Henault punching in another score to narrow the gap.
Quarterback Rees Wise made things even more interesting late in the fourth, plunging in from five yards out and then hitting Rhett Jenkins for a two-point conversion to pull Westlake within a score, 29-22, with 6:28 left.
Westlake’s defense delivered one more stop to give the Chaps a shot at a miracle finish. But the Prosper defense rose to the occasion, forcing a turnover on downs inside the final minute to ice the game.
For Westlake (0-1), it’s the program’s first opening-week loss since 2014, when Southlake Carroll edged them 17-14. Prosper (1-0) leaves Belton with a statement win that positions them as an early contender in 5A.
Next up: Westlake heads south to face San Benito on Sept. 5, while Prosper travels to Rockwall-Heath on Sept. 4.
