What We Learned: Westlake 32, Katy 29

[caption id="attachment_21315" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Graham Staniforth Photo by Graham Staniforth[/caption] Hype is rarely reached. That wasn’t the case in Austin when Westlake knocked off Katy, 32-29, in a game featuring two teams favored to win another regional championship in 2016. It was an impressive home win for Westlake. Senior quarterback Sam Ehlingher, a Texas commit, lived up to the hype. Katy’s star was sophomore running back Deondrick Glass. Region IV runs through Westlake Westlake won its region in 2015, losing in overtime of the 2015 title game. Realignment moved the Chaps to Region IV and talk focused on favorites since Westlake and Lake Travis are likely to end up Division I in the playoffs. Add in Cibolo Steele and Converse Judson and the region became deep and talented overnight. Lake Travis fell in Week 1 to Converse Judson. Westlake made an emphatic statement in Week 1, as did the Rockets, and both emerge as the favorites to win Division I in Region IV with Steele likely in D2. The expectations will only rise for Westlake and the Chaps seem to like it that way. Ehlinger is the truth It wasn’t Ehlinger’s best game. He was hobbled for much of the game and didn’t put up the staggering stats Westlake fans are used to viewing in the box score. Instead, Ehlinger did exactly what he needed to do for his team to win. He ran the ball when necessary. He rolled out and made big plays when nothing else was working. He completed short passes and bled the clock as Westlake tried to ice out the Katy offense in the fourth quarter. He proved again why he’s so highly touted in recruiting circles. A star was born Sophomore running back Deondrick Glass would have preferred a victory, but he’ll settle for 179 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. The Tigers always find a running back and it looks like Gary Joseph won’t be lacking for running back talent for the next three years. Glass showed a burst combined with strength a sophomore shouldn’t possess against a quality defense. Katy must develop weapons around the running game to beat the best teams in the state. The defense isn’t quite the 2015 defense that gave up 62 points in 16 games last season. Glass’ star was realized against Westlake, but it wasn’t enough against a fellow top five program.

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