Texas high school football playoffs: Austin Westlake stuns North Shore in 6A Division 1 semifinals

In a matchup of two of the best teams in the country No. 10 Westlake (Austin) upset No. 2 North Shore (Houston) 24-21 to advance to the 6A Division 1 state championship. The Chaps went into halftime with a 17-7 lead but the Mustangs took a 21-17 lead with 4:16 left.

Cade Klubnik led Westlake on a 69 yard drive and scored the game-winning touchdown from one yard out on fourth down to give the Chaps the lead for good with 1:43 left.

It was the 23rd consecutive win for the Austin power and the defending 6A Division 2 state champs will face No. 21 Southlake Carroll (Southlake) on Jan. 16.

The Dragons upset No. 5 Duncanville 34-27 in the other semifinal. Sophomore running back Owen Allen rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He picked up two huge first downs to run out the clock to clinch a spot in the state championship game for the first time since 2011.

Five-star Ohio State commit Quinn Ewers threw for 168 and accounted for two touchdowns and the defense shut out the No. 5 team in the country in the second half.

This also sets up a father vs. son showdown in the state championship. Todd Dodge (father) is the head coach of Westlake while Riley Dodge (son) is the head coach of Southlake Carroll. Riley should be back in time for the state championship game next weekend after quarantining at home after testing positive for Covid-19.

This will be the first meeting between the two Texas powers since 2014 when the Longhorns won 23-20 in the 6A Division 2 state championship.

In Friday night's action No. 9 Ryan (Denton) was in a tight one with Mansfield Summit but pulled away late in the fourth quarter with a 49-35 victory to advance to the 5A Division 1 state championship game for the second consecutive year.

Oklahoma signee Billy Bowman had a huge night on both sides of the ball hauling in 13 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown to go with a one-handed interception on defense.

The Raiders will face Cedar Park on Jan. 15 after the Timberwolves beat Veterans Memorial (Corpus Christi) 61-28 in the other semifinal.

No. 49 Aledo advanced to the 5A Division 2 state championship after rolling past Rider (Wichita Falls) 55-28. DeMarco Roberts rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns while Alabama signee JoJo Earle accounted for 80 total yards and a score.

The Bearcats will take on Crosby on Jan. 15 after the Cougars won a wild 62-61 overtime shootout against Liberty Hill in one of the best high school football games of the season.