Football Recap: Rees Wise's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Westlake over Dripping Springs + How To Watch

After flying high against Del Valle last Friday, Westlake came back down to earth. The Chaparrals fell 45-35 to the Dripping Springs Tigers on Friday. While losing is never fun, the Chaparrals can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 53rd, while the Tigers are ranked tenth).

Westlake's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Rees Wise, who threw for 352 yards and three TDs, and also rushed for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Chaparrals' leading receiver Lawson Grimes was Wise's top target yet again, picking up 132 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Thompson Bennett

Total Tackles

11/07/25 vs Dripping Springs	5
10/31/25 @ Del Valle	6
10/24/25 vs Lake Travis	8
10/17/25 @ Bowie	8
09/12/25 @ Atascocita	12
+ 5 more games

Westlake didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Thompson Bennett and Mason Lastor. Bennett has been hot for a while, having also posted five or more total tackles the last ten times he's played.

Chase Ames was his usual excellent self, throwing for 412 yards and five touchdowns while completing 73.5% of his passes, and also rushing for 33 yards for Dripping Springs. Those 412 passing yards gave Ames a new career-high. Dripping Springs' leading receiver Merrik Bloomgren was Ames' top target yet again, picking up 160 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.

Westlake's loss dropped their record down to 7-3. As for Dripping Springs, their win was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-1.

Coming up, Westlake will square off against Vandegrift at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Dripping Springs, they will challenge Vista Ridge at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Tigers will need to watch out since the Rangers have now posted at least 31 points in their last five games.