The high school football season in Texas came to a resounding close
over the weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington with championship games in classes 5A and 6A. Westlake (Austin) was among the
winners, taking
home the trophy in Class 6A Division 1 following a 52-34 win over Southlake Carroll.
That victory, coupled with its 14-0
record and tremendous play this season, makes Westlake the 2020-21
MaxPreps Champion for the state of Texas.
Led by the play of
Cade Klubnik, the game's offensive MVP, the Chaparrals broke open a 21-all tie midway through the second quarter by scoring 31 straight points en route to their second straight crown (they won the 6A-2 crown in 2019) and third overall. Drew Brees led Westlake to its other state crown in 1996.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Legendary coach Todd Dodge won his sixth state title and improved his career record to 218-70 after Klubnik completed 18-of-20 passes for 220 yards, rushing for 97 more and accounting for three touchdowns. He flawlessly directed an offense that piled up 528 yards, including 308 on the ground led by
Zane Minors (12
carries, 137 yards) and
Grey Nakfoor (74 yards, three touchdowns).
Defensive game MVP
Michael Taaffe led that side of the ball with five tackles and two interceptions, the first that thwarted a late second-quarter Southlake Carroll drive and the second a spectacular one-handed diving grab in the third quarter, that set up a short field and touchdown.
The victory capped a remarkable season that saw the Chaps outscore opponents 737-106 and trail only once during their first 13 games.
Klubnik, a junior, finished 239 of 353 on the season for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns against three interceptions. He also rushed for 590 yards and 15 touchdowns. Minors (1,073 rushing yards) and Nakfoor (946) each rushed for 20 touchdowns and impressive 6-foot-3, 195-pound sophomore
Jaden Greathouse led the team with 69 catches for 1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns, including five catches for 103 yards and a score in the title game.
• There were other landmark championship victories and season, including 6A-2 winner Katy, which claimed its ninth championship with a 51-14 win over Cedar Hill thanks in part to a combined 239 rushing yards and two touchdowns by brothers
Jalen and
Seth Davis. Katy finished second in the state and No. 17 nationally in the MaxPreps Top 25.
• Ryan (Denton) claimed its third state championship, but first in 18 years, with a 59-14 Division 5A-1 win over Cedar Park.
Seth Henigan
threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns for Ryan (15-0), which finished No. 3 in the state and No. 8 nationally.
• Aledo (13-1) won its third straight 5A-2 championship and record 10th overall with a 56-21 win over Crosby as
DeMarco Roberts rushed 30 times for 255 yards and six touchdowns.
• Carthage (14-0) won its second straight and eighth title in 13 years with a 70-14 victory over Gilmer in the 4A-2 championship game.
Brandon King had four interceptions, two that he returned for touchdowns.
2020 UIL state champions
Final Texas MaxPreps Top 25
