No. 14 Westlake delivered a commanding response to their Week 3 setback, overpowering No. 9 Cibolo Steele with a dominant 41-16 victory on Friday night at Lehnhoff Stadium in Schertz. After trailing 10-3 in the first quarter, the Chaparrals surged ahead with 38 unanswered points to seal their final non-district game in style.
The game’s turning point came midway through the second quarter when Westlake safety Thompson Bennett intercepted a Chad Warner pass at his own goal line and returned it 70 yards into Steele territory. This pivotal play shifted the momentum entirely in favor of the Chaps, who quickly capitalized with a 9-yard touchdown run by Grady Bartlett, leveling the score at 10-10. Westlake took the lead shortly after, with a 2-yard scoring plunge by quarterback Rees Wise, securing a 20-10 advantage by halftime.
After last week’s disappointing 39-21 loss to No. 8 Humble Atascocita, Westlake (3-1) needed a statement win, and they delivered with a balanced offensive and defensive performance. Bartlett led the charge with 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Wise showcased his versatility, completing 17 of 20 passes for 173 yards, throwing for one touchdown, and adding two more on the ground. Wise’s precision and leadership were instrumental in guiding the Chaparrals’ offensive surge.
The Chaparrals’ defense, led by linemen Maddox Flynt, Connor Vasek, and linebacker Elliott Schaper, tightened up in the second half, effectively stifling the Steele offense. Oklahoma-bound running back Jonathan Hatton was limited to just 102 rushing yards for the game, with 75 of those coming on a first-quarter touchdown run. After that, Hatton struggled to gain any significant yardage, as Westlake’s defense held him to runs of five yards or fewer for the remainder of the game.
Westlake continued to pile on the points in the second half, with Wise connecting on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brody Wilhelm, and adding another rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Bartlett also contributed his second touchdown of the night with a 1-yard run, further extending the lead. Kicker Nolan Bartley was reliable, converting two field goals in the first half to add to the Chaparrals’ total.
The decisive 41-16 victory was a testament to Westlake’s resilience and ability to regroup after a tough loss. The Chaparrals head into district play with renewed confidence, having proven they can rise to the challenge against top-ranked opponents.
With this victory, Westlake (3-1) demonstrated why they’re still a force to be reckoned with in Texas high school football, heading into district play with momentum and an impressive bounce-back performance.
