Westlake shakes off rough 1st half, rolls to bi-district playoff win over Vista Ridge

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Defense and special teams kept the Westlake Chaparrals afloat in the first half against Vista Ridge on Friday, and then it all changed in the third quarter.

Westlake turned an 18-10 halftime lead into 39-10 by the end of the third to run away with a 46-17 victory in the opening round of the Class 6A Division I football playoffs at Chaparral Stadium.

After struggling in the first half, Westlake quarterback Rees Wise found Brody Wilhelm for a 43-yard touchdown and then Elijah Clark dashed 47 yards for a score on the following drive to give the Chaps a big boost.

Westlake head coach Tony Salazar called his team's first half "sloppy," but the Chaps ironed things out offensively in the locker room to put 21 points on the board in the frame.

"There wasn't much said at halftime. I put it on our senior leadership," Salazar said. "We came out and responded. I couldn't be more proud of that. That looked more like us in the second half."

For good measure, Wise found Wilhelm for another explosive play early in the fourth quarter. Just before he took a big shot, Wise launched a pass downfield and Wilhelm grabbed it in stride for a 70-yard score, extending Westlake's lead to 46-10 with 9:17 left.

JD Jackson had both of Vista Ridge's touchdowns, an 8-yard reception in the first half and a 6-yard run late in the game when it was already decided. Jackson's first score gave the Rangers a 7-5 lead in the first quarter. Clarence Deiprarine hit a 28-yard field goal for the Rangers in the first half.

Westlake (10-1) will face San Antonio Brennan in the second round. The Bears beat SA Reagan 28-7 to advance. A time and site for the game have yet to be determined.

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