Westlake Picayune

By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor 

Praise an explosive offense that cut through Bowie’s defense like a scythe. Recognize an opportunistic defense that forced three turnovers and played its best on third downs.

But most of all, credit Westlake’s guts, because that’s what carried the Chaps to a win in their District 25-5A opener against Bowie.

Westlake rebounded from a slow start and seized a scintillating 49-35 win over the defending district champions Friday at Burger Stadium. Whether the Chaps (1-3, 1-0) can rebound from their slow start to the season and capture the district title remains to be seen, but the team took a big step toward that goal Friday.

The Chaps also took a big step toward regaining their confidence after a winless nondistrict slate, according to their coach 

“It’s a huge win,” Coach Derek Long said amidst a wild celebration on the Chaps’ sideline after the game. “The kids have been working hard, they’ve had a great attitude, and they needed this win. 

“It’s important because now they see that they can do it. It’s one thing for parents, coaches and friends telling them that they can do it. Now, they know that they can.”

Few thought that the Chaps could crack the win column against a Bowie team (2-2, 0-1) that entered the contest averaging more than 40 points per game. A sea of black swept across the home side of Burger Stadium, and the hosts appeared primed to swamp Westlake’s hopes of avenging last season’s home loss to the Bulldogs. 

But that atmosphere also provided plenty of motivation, said one of Westlake’s rising stars. 

“We were the underdogs, and I like being the underdog,” Westlake junior quarterback Tanner Price said. “We got off to a slow start, but then things just started clicking.”

Price and senior tailback Ryan Swope keyed a Chaps’ attack that rallied from an early 13-0 deficit. Price completed 17 of 22 passes for a career-high 313 yards and three touchdowns, and Swope riddled the Bowie defense for five touchdowns and 258 yards from scrimmage. As a team, Westlake had 550 yards and 30 first downs.

Although Swope had a season-high 191 yards rushing, his biggest play came on a catch late in the first half. Bowie had evened the score at 21-21 with a touchdown and a two-point conversion with just 41 seconds left in the first half and appeared poised to enter halftime with a surge of momentum.

But Price and the Chaps had other ideas. Price connected with Swope on a pair of passes that moved the ball to midfield as the seconds ticked away before finding the running back streaking behind one-on-one coverage for a 47-yard touchdown pass that gave Westlake a 28-21 halftime lead.

“Oh, man, that was big,” Price said. “Two of their (defensive backs) went with (receiver) Mike (Walker), and that left Swope in single coverage. Swope did a great job putting it in the end zone.”

Westlake maintained that momentum by opening the second half with a 16-play, 6:40-minute touchdown drive capped by a 3-yard run by Swope that gave the Chaps a 35-21 lead.

“For the first time this season, we went into the half with momentum, and then we came out and put in the ball in the end zone,” Price said. “That set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Bowie’s offense, which rolled up 411 yards and 24 first downs, continued to move the ball but could never regain the lead. The Chaps scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half while chewing up the clock behind a running game that tallied 237 yards on 46 attempts. They also struck quickly with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Price to Walker and a 37-yard scoring run by Swope.

Big plays by Westlake’s defense also helped secure the win. An interception by Michael Perkins and a fumble recovery by Eric Upshaw thwarted back-to-back Bowie possessions in the first half, and a late Bowie drive ended at Westlake’s 24-yard line when Tanner Twomey recovered a fumble.

“The defense made the plays at critical times,” Long said. “It was really a team effort.”

The effort also rekindled Westlake’s wining spirit, said linebacker Ellis Glaw.

“I can’t say enough about the fans, the team, everyone here,” he said. “We were fired up. This (win) is how it should be. This is what we grew up on, and this is how it should stay.”