.png)
After 56 years of trying to get the best of the Westlake Chaparrals, the Tigers put a strong performance together that included owning the fourth. The result was a 45-35 victory for the first win ever over Westlake. It is not as bad as it may sound. Westlake opened in the fall of 1969 and needed a game to complete their schedule and we did too, so we matched up. They defeated us 14-6 and they were much larger than us, so we had no reason to play them until three years ago when we had caught up in numbers and were assigned to their district. So we were only 0-4 against them.
It was an obvious difference when receivers Cooper Reid and James Montgomery were able to suit up and play. It also freed up Merrick Bloomgren to have a big night as well. Reid and Montgomery had missed the last three games and rumor had it Cooper was out for the season which proved wrong. The game resembled a 7 on 7 game as 76 balls were launched with 50 finding hands for a total of 756 yards and 8 TDs. The secondarys were being riddled with big strikes. The running games had difficulty sustaining. The result of this win gives the Tigers a home game with Vista Ridge for Bi-District.
The two teams spent the entire game answering each others accomplishments. Finally the Tigers got tired of catching up and in the fourth took a final lead and never looked back. The Tigers struck first when the defense repelled a fourth down attempt at the Chaps 33. On the second play Chase Ames hit Bloomgren for 30. Ian French had another perfect PAT night. Westlake answered to make it 7-7 after one.
Westlake went ahead 14-7 but on the next possession the Tigers had a 3-play, 75 drive with a 47 pass to Reid. Westlake immediately answered and the 21-14 stood at half. A Tiger interception by Colton Hanson set the Tigers up on the Chaps 27. Jaceton Gotta broke a couple of tackles enroute to his 18 TD run to tie the score again. Westlake took the lead 28-21 but the Tigers immediately tied the score on a 75 pass to Montgomery. This meant the winner would be determined in the fourth.
Westlake went ahead with a 54 pass. Frank Accetta returned the KO to the 48 and Bloomgren scored on a 52 pass to tie 35-35. Westlake was forced to punt and the Tigers commenced an 8-play,64 drive. Reid would out-battle a defender in the endzone for an 8 TD for the go-ahead points. The nail in the coffin was French’s 41 FG.
Unfortunately game tackles have not been made available all season but the defensive unit has been playing lights out all season and kept making the plays when necessary in this game. Do know that a favorite bus rider of mine, Miles Kennedy, has been making big plays at key times all season and likewise in this game and he is certainly not the only one doing so.
Bi-District Info: Dripping Springs earned home field advantage but lost the toss on night to play. Vista Ridge chose Thursday night. So the game will be played tonight Thursday 11-13. Kickoff will be at 7:00pm.
Team stats (DS first): First downs 22-22; Rushing 30-135, 32-116; Passing 405-351; Passes 25-34-2, 25-42-1; Punts 2-36, 4-53.5; Penalties 4-30, 3-25; Turnovers 2, 1.
DS stats: Rushing: Gotta 20-133 TD; Ames 9-28, Lawson Attaway 2-0; Team 1-(-)26. Passing: Ames 25-34-405 5TD; Receiving: Bloomgren 8-160 2TD; Reid 7-91 2TD; Gotta 5-38; Montgomery 4-108 TD; Ronnie Fowlkes 1-8. Int. Hanson. PR: Judah Satterfield. KOR: Frank Accetta 2-59.
