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Derek Cohen, Westlake
Photo by Jim Redman
It must have seem like light years ago for
Derek Cohen.
Following a season win over Cedar Park, his
Westlake (Austin, Texas) Chaparrals lost three straight, the last one a most humbling 35-10 defeat at home to Steele.
But Cohen and the Chaps have rallied in a big way, winning nine of the next 10, including a 42-35 thriller over Plano West in the Texas 5A Division 2 quarterfinals on Saturday.
In the victory, Cohen finished off the win with his second interception of the game, two of four for Westlake, which now takes on Cedar Hill (10-4) in a semifinal game Saturday at Wasco ISD Stadium.
For his heroics, Cohen has been selected the Austin area Capital One Bank High Yield Student Athlete of the Week.
"We play exactly like we practice," Cohen told
Rick Cantu of the Austin American-Statesman. "These (turnovers) are just a reaction to what we always do."
Westlake junior Derek Cohen goes
high to make a leaping interception
in the end zone.
Photo by Jim Redman
What the Chaps have done lately is cause turnovers — 15 of them the last four games, according to the Statesmen.
Cohen's first pick was a leaping grab in the back of the end zone. His final one was a diving effort in the final minute of the game after Plano West had rallied from a 35-21 deficit.
Cohen's twin brother
Alec Cohen, along with
Jack Meredith,
John Dodd and
Tate Shaw limited Plano West passers to just seven completions in 19 attempts. Dodd and Shaw also had interceptions.
"We didn't create turnovers in big numbers today, but we got them when we needed them," Westlake coach Darren Allman told Cantu.
This will be the first time since 2009 that Westlake has reached the semifinals. The Chaps also lost a heartbreaking game to cross-town rival Lake Travis 14-11 on Nov. 2.
But Westlake responded to that loss with five straight wins.
