Westlake Picayune

By Thomas Jones, Sports editor

A game of keepaway helped keep Westlake from a season-opening win for the second consecutive year.

Leaning on a bruising running game and an opportunistic defense, Cedar Park strolled out of Chaparral Stadium with a 31-21 win Friday night before a stunned crowd of approximately 8,000. The setback won’t linger as long as usual, however, as defending Class 4A state champion Lake Travis visits Westlake Thursday for a regionally televised game.

“Nobody likes to lose the first game, but these guys are resilient,” Westlake coach Derek Long said about his players. “They’re not happy, and they’re probably embarrassed. We have a short turnaround, but they’ll bounce back.”

Westlake couldn’t bounce back from a backbreaking drive by Cedar Park to open the second half. Clinging to a 10-7 halftime lead, the Timberwolves marched 92 yards on 18 plays and capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run by Dedrick McKnight. The epic march, which lasted 7 minutes, 22 seconds, included just one pass completion (which went for 15 yards on a third-and-14) and a pair of fourth-down conversions.

To make matters worse for Westlake, quarterback Tanner Price tossed an interception on Westlake’s second play of the quarter. Cedar Park quickly moved 58 yards in five plays against an exhausted Chap defense and extended its lead to 24-7 with a 17-yard scoring run by McKnight.

“It was real frustrating,” Westlake linebacker Ellis Glaw said. “We just couldn’t get that one stop. But give credit to their offensive line. They did a great job.”

Cedar Park sacked Price on third down during Westlake’s next possession to cap a miserable quarter for the Chaps. In the third period, the Timberwolves tallied 150 yards of offense on 23 plays, compared to one yard of offense on four snaps for Westlake.

McKnight, who has 161 yards rushing and 44 yards receiving, score his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter to give Cedar Park a 31-7 lead.

Ryan Swope scored on a 22-yard pass from Price and on a 5-yard run on Westlake’s final two possession of the game.

The Timberwolves grinded out 272 yards on 50 carries and held the ball for 27 minutes, 40 seconds, and Cedar Park coach Chris Ross credited his offensive line for that domination

“Both teams are physical teams that like to establish the running game the ball, but our offensive line controlled the game,” he said. “We wore them down.”

Westlake’s offense looked like it would wear down Cedar Park early in the game. The Chaps scored on their first possession when Price connected with Mike Walker for a 28-yard touchdown pass to cap a 65-yard drive. Two of Westlake’s next three drives would end with a turnover, including a fumble by Swope at Cedar Park’s 3-yard line late in the first half. Westlake’s Colton Lye also missed a 22-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the first half.

“We had them on the ropes (in the first half), but we kind of let them back in the game,” Long said. ““You can’t turn the ball over against a good team like Cedar Park and expect to win. We’re going to have to get better next by next week.”

Swope had 94 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Price completed 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards with two interceptions in his first varsity start.