Westlake Picayune

Commentary

By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

For better or worse, Westlake has been down this road before. And that means a lopsided home loss to Cedar Park in the season opener shouldn’t force the Chap faithful to find the keys to the panic room.

During Coach Derek Long’s half-decade tenure at Westlake, the Chaps have faced their fair share of adversity. Let’s take a look back:

• In 2003, a sloppy performance led to a 21-8 loss to Round Rock Westwood in Long’s debut as head coach. Later that season, the Chaps dropped a district game for the first time in more than a decade and failed to secure a district title in that same span. The team responded with a stirring playoff run that ended in the state semifinals.

• In 2004, Westlake suffered its second consecutive season-opening loss and dropped two of three nondistrict games for the first time since the 1980s. The Chaps then reeled off seven consecutive wins to claim an undefeated district title.

• In 2005, the Chaps lost yet another season-opener at Leander before rebounding with nine consecutive wins and a district championship.

• In 2006, team captain Matt Nader collapsed on the sidelines during a nondistrict game at A&M Consolidated. The near-tragedy shook the program to its core, but the team rallied around Nader – and overcame a stunning, first-ever loss to Austin High – and reached the state title game.

In other words, don’t expect Westlake’s coaches to suddenly forget the fundamentals that have worked so well for so long.

Do expect some adjustments, of course. The Chaps did not match up well with a bruising running game unleashed by Cedar Park, and a team such as Pflugerville will lick its chops watching film from Friday. The Chaps must tighten up their run defense in order to get off the field – and get an explosive offense onto the turf.

Westlake must also take better care of the ball. The Chaps fumbled four times, and quarterback Tanner Price tossed a pair of interceptions. As evident by just a pair of Chap punts, Cedar Park didn’t do as much as the Chaps themselves to slow Westlake’s offense.

The biggest adjustment for the Chaps might have to come between the ear holes, however. Westlake spent a generation grooming its confidence, but 13 regular-season losses in the past six years have punctured the cloak of invincibility that once surrounded the program. Teams - especially in the Austin area - no longer assume a loss when they see the Chaps come onto the field. 

Of course, nothing could help Westlake regained a little of its swagger more than a win over a state champ. Now, someone remind me, whose visiting Chaparral Stadium this week?