2016 Week Zero - Westlake vs Katy

For the second game of my weekend double header to kick-off the 2016 football season,  I went to Chaparral Stadium to see the Westlake Chaps host the perennial power KatyTigers.

Westlake is coached by Todd Dodge.  The Chaps ended last season in a heart breaking overtime loss to Galena Park North Shore in the 6A Division 1 state championship game.  They entered this game ranked #5 in the Associated Press preseason poll.   The Katy Tigers are led by Gary Joseph.  Last season ended on a triumphant note for the Tigers as they dominated Westlake’s district rival Lake Travis for the 6A Division 2 state championship.  They start this season ranked as the #1 6A team in Texas.

This game is an early season bout between two real heavy weights of Texas football.  Can Katy’s defense harass Sam Ehlinger and slow down the high powered Chap offense?  Can Westlake stop the always powerful Katy running attack?  We’ll find out. . .

Before we get to the game, let’s talk about barbecue. . .

The Barbecue

Kerlin BBQ has been serving up delicious smoky treats from a food truck at its 1700 East Cesar Chavez location for three years.  Don’t let the humble set up fool you.  Their barbecue will stand up with any barbecue served by their better known competitors in central Texas.

Their brisket was superb: moist and tender, with a deep smoky flavor.  The outer bark was very peppery and the taste lingered after every bite.  The pork ribs were meaty and juicy.  The meat came away from the bone with a gentle tug and melted in my mouth.  Their sauce was a typical ketchup/vinegar type sauce, but was totally unneeded.  The barbeque was served with a big slice of red onion and homemade pickle chips.

Kerlin BBQ is an undiscovered gem.  Spectacular food, friendly staff, and a comfortable atmosphere.  A great place to hang out with friends and enjoy some great BBQ.  I give Kerlin’s my highest rating: two Hook ‘Ems!

The Game

Both defenses dominated in the first quarter.  Each team only got a couple of first downs and the quarter ended with no score.  After a short second quarter punt, Westlake started a drive.  Connor Howard burst through a hole and scampered untouched for the game’s first score.  The PAT kick was no good and Westlake led 6-0.  Katy fumbled the ensuing kick-off and the ball was recovered by Westlake.  A couple of plays later, Izaiah Faz scored from the one.  The try for two was good and Westlake led 14-0. 

In a secret laboratory under his office, Coach Gary Joseph manufactures great running backs.  This year’s edition is Deondrick Glass. He answered for the Tigers on their next possession with a 59 yard power sweep to the left for a touchdown.  Katy missed the extra point and the first half ended with Westlake up 14-6.

Katy came out hot after half time.  On their first possession, strong runs by Glass moved the Tigers deep into Westlake territory.  Kevon Copeland picked up a critical first down on fourth and three to move the ball to the Chaps 18.  Quarterback Rocky Emery hit JC Angulo in the right flat.  Angulo avoided two tacklers to score.  The Tigers went for two, but Glass was stopped short leaving Westlake ahead 14-12. On Katy’s next possession, Glass needed just one play to go off tackle for a 37 yard score.  The extra point was good and Katy took the lead at 19-14.

Austin skyline in the distance

The Tiger lead did not last long.  Chaps quarterback Sam Ehlinger found Howard deep for a 64 yard completion to the Tigers 11. After an interference penalty, Ehlinger took it in himself.  The try for two was good and the Chaps regained the lead at 22-19 with 5:16 left in the third. 

Katy returned the ensuing kick-off to their 40 yard line.  Time again for Glass to rumble.  The Tigers moved the ball into Westlake territory, but had to settle for a 35 yard field goal to tie the score at 22.

Westlake started their next drive from their 25.  Ehlinger hit Noah Skrudland on a slant pattern for seven yards.  Then Ehlinger teamed up with Andrew Boykin for a 43 yard completion down to the Tigers 25.  As the action moved into the fourth quarter, Westlake made a 28 yard field goal to regain the lead at 25-22 with 10:10 remaining on the clock.

Katy returned the kick-off to their 30 yard line.  The Tigers once again relied on their strong running game to move the chains, but their tight end dropped a first down pass on third and five.  Katy’s punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback.

Clinging to a three point lead, Westlake started from their own 20 yard line with 8:08 in the game.  The Chaps mixed up their attack: short passes from Ehlinger and runs by Ehlinger and Nakia Watson.  The Tiger defense was starting to tire as the Chaps reached the Katy 17.  With three minutes left in the game, Ehlinger scrambled to avoid the Katy rush, then found Andrew Boykin in the end zone.  The extra point pushed the Chaps lead to 10, 32-22. 

Katy answered with a 64 yard bomb from Emery to Angulo to cut the Westlake lead to three with 2:06 to play, but their dream of a miracle come back ended when their onsides kick bounced out of bounds.  Westlake took possession and ran out the clock to win 32-29.

Katy ended the game with 361 total yards.  Deondrick Glass had 16 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns.  Devon Copeland ran the ball seven times for 29 yards.  Rocky Emery completed 6 out of 13 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. JC Angulo had three receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

The story for Westlake was their all-star quarterback Sam Ehlinger.  He completed 17 of 27 passes for 264 yards and the game clinching touchdown.  He also carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards and a touchdown.  Andrew Boykin had seven catches for 115 yards, including the crucial catch in the end zone at the end of the game.  Connor Howard had two runs for 35 yards and a touchdown.  He also caught 4 passes for 91 yards, but had to leave the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.

News and Notes

Upcoming games

Lake Travis travels to Cibolo to face the Steele Knights.  The Cavaliers are coming off a loss to Converse Judson.  They scored 21 points in the third quarter to take the lead, only to give up 15 unanswered points in the fourth to lose 35-28.  Cibolo dominated San Antonio Madison to claim their first win of the season.

Vandegrift faces old district rival Cedar Park.  Vandegrift made the move from 5A to 6A for 2016.  They lost their first game on the road at Odessa Permian 21-20.  Cedar Park won their opening game and moved up to #1 in 5A football.

How did the Top Ten do in the first week?

AP Top Ten – 6A                                                     

1. Katy                                                    Lost to Westlake 32-29.  Fell to 5^th.
2. Lake Travis                                         Lost to Judson 35-28.  Fell to 8^th.
3. Cedar Hill                                           Lost to Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 44-14.  Fell to 9^th.            
4. Allen                                                   Beat Hoover 25-7.  Moved up to #2.             
5. Westlake                                             Beat Katy 32-29.  Moved up to #1.               
6. DeSoto                                                Beat Dallas Jesuit 47-13.  Moved up to #3.               
7. Cibolo Steele                                      Beat SA Madison 37-7.  Stayed at #7.           
8. Galena Park North Shore                   Beat Dekaney 56-19.  Moved up to #6.                     
9. Euless Trinity                                     Beat Broken Arrow 39-16.  Fell to 10^th.                    
10. Converse Judson                                 Beat Lake Travis 35-28.  Moved up to #4.                

AP Top Ten – 5A

1. Aledo                                                  Beat Colleyville Heritage 41-36.  Fell to #2.
2. Cedar Park                                          Beat Waco Midway 43-13.  Moved up to #1.
3. Denton Ryan                                       Beat Lancaster 35-23.  Stayed at #3.
4. Manvel                                                Beat Crosby 35-21.  Stayed at #4.
5. Temple                                                Beat Belton 28-20.  Stayed at #5.
6. Frisco Lone Star                                 Beat Heritage 62-14. Stayed at #6.
7. Highland Park                                     Beat Rockwall 43-21.  Stayed at #7.
8. CC Calallen                                         Beat Mercedes 20-7.  Stayed at #8.
9. Richmond Foster                                Beat Katy Taylor 28-17.  Stayed at #9.
10. Lancaster                                             Lost to Denton Ryan 35-23.  Fell out of Top Ten.

Attached is the video for this adventure:

2016 - Week Zero - McCallum vs Anderson

I began the 2016 season with a weekend double header.  On Thursday, I saw the Taco Shack Bowl at House Park played between north Austin rivals McCallum and Anderson.  As always, I started my day with barbecue. 

The Barbecue

Like last year, I headed to Freedmen’s Bar for the first game of the season.  They are located at 2402 San Gabriel Street, in the bustling West Campus area of Austin.  The building was erected in 1869 and has been used for numerous things over the years: a residence, church, publishing house, and grocery store.  Now it is a full service bar that serves barbecue. A drunkard’s dream come true. . .

I ordered a half pound of sliced moist brisket, two pork ribs, and iced tea.  The brisket was very juicy and tender to the touch.  There was no need for any utensils, the brisket easily pulled apart by hand and melted in my mouth.  The ribs were big and meaty.  The meat easily bit off the bone and was very tasty. The BBQ was served with slices of homemade bread, wedges of homemade pickle, homemade pickled onions, jalapenos, and a sweet (not spicy) sauce that went well with the meat.  To top off the meal, I tried the smoked chocolate mousse and banana pudding for dessert.  

All in all, Freedmen’s is a good place to eat some barbecue with great atmosphere and friendly service.  I’d happily take friends and family there. Freedmen’s gets my highest rating: two Hook ‘Ems.

The Game

James Baran returned the opening kick-off to midfield, but Anderson was unable to pick up a first down.  Lined up to punt, the deep snap bounced off one of the Trojan blocking backs.  He fell on the ball, but McCallum took possession on the Trojan 27.  This led to a 26 yard field goal to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.

House Park - 2016 Taco Shack Bowl

On the Trojans next possession, quarterback Trey Lundquist ran for a first down, but fumbled.  The Knights recovered on the Anderson 30.  The Trojan defense held off the Knights and forced a short punt.  After a Trojan punt to midfield, Andre Blakemore broke loose down the left sideline for a 50 yard scoring run.  The extra point made it 10-0.  The Knights would get a 30 yard field goal to extend their lead to 13-0 with 0:27 left in the first quarter.

Anderson got a good kick-off return to their 41 yard line.  As action moved into the second quarter, the Trojans mounted a drive into Knights territory.  Lundquist found Jacob Graves behind the McCallum defense for a 29 yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 13-7.

The Knights answered with a 75 yard scoring drive.  Strong runs by Blakemore set up a 34 yard scoring pass from quarterback Max Perez to extend the Knights lead to 20-7.  Anderson was unable to move the chains on their next possession.  With a slight wind behind them, the Trojans punted and the ball rolled dead on the McCallum 4.

More strong runs by Blakemore and penalties against the Trojan defense moved the ball into Anderson territory.  Perez connected on his second touchdown pass of the night to put the Knights up 27-7 at the end of the second quarter.

McCallum got the ball to start the third quarter.  As in the first half, strong runs by Blakemore moved the ball into Trojan territory, but they turned the ball over on downs when Blakemore dropped a fourth down pass in the flat. 

The Trojans started from their own 35 and moved into McCallum territory.  After picking up a critical first down on fourth and 6, a great catch over the middle by Darian Fisher gave Anderson a first down on the Knights 16.  Lundquist hit Graves on a wide receiver screen.  He avoided the Knights defenders to score, making it 27-14 with 3:40 left in the third quarter.  On McCallum’s next possession, Trojan defensive back picked off a pass from Perez and took it into the end zone.  The pick six made it 27-20 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.

Unfortunately for Anderson, they would get no closer.  After a Trojan punt was downed on the McCallum 7, the Knights used their strong running game to move the chains and wind down the clock.  They drove down to the Anderson 20 where they gave the ball over on downs, but burned over four minutes of clock in the process.

Anderson took possession with 1:06 left to play and 80 yards between them and the end zone.  Lundquist had a receiver open deep on third down, but his pass was over thrown.  On fourth down, Lundquist was hit as he threw and his pass fell harmlessly to the turf.  McCallum took possession and ran out the clock.  McCallum ended their Taco Shack Bowl losing streak at two games by beating Anderson 27-20.

Andre Blakemore finished the game with 256 yards on 32 carries for McCallum and scored on a 50 yard run.  Max Perez threw for two touchdowns, but did give up a pick six.  Trey Lundquist threw for 147 yards and two touchdown passes, but the Trojans were only able to gain a paltry 35 yards on the ground.  McCallum out gained Anderson 410 to 182 total yards.  

Attached is my video for this adventure. . .

2016 Introduction

Like the little girl said in the classic horror film Poltergeist, “he’s back”. 

I had so much fun last year travelling around Texas on Fridays, eating barbecue and watching high school football games, then writing about my adventures on my blog.  So it was a no brainer to do it again this year.  A friend suggested I take my blog to the next level: post videos of my travels on the YouTube.  What?  You can do that?  Turns out you can. . .  Here is a link to my introductory video:

I spent some time over the summer getting ready for the season: getting a new logo, learning how to edit and post videos, scouting out new barbecue joints, checking the high school football schedules for potentially good games.  The Associated Press recently released their pre-season Top Ten list for 6A and 5A football (see below).  I am going to start the season with a double header:

            McCallum Knights vs Anderson Trojans – Taco Shack Bowl – 25 Aug 2016

            Westlake Chaps (#5) vs Katy Tigers (#1) – 26 Aug 2016

Should be another fun season.  You are cordially invited to join me on the ride.

AP Top Ten – 6A                                                      AP Top Ten – 5A

Katy                                                                            Aledo

Lake Travis                                                                 Cedar Park

Cedar Hill                                                                    Denton Ryan

Allen                                                                           Manvel

Westlake                                                                     Temple

DeSoto                                                                        Frisco Lone Star

Cibolo Steele                                                              Highland Park

Galena Park North Shore                                            CC Calallen

Euless Trinity                                                              Richmond Foster

Converse Judson                                                         Lancaster