By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

PFLUGERVILLE – There’s something about playing Lake Travis that brings out the best in Westlake running back Jack Kayser.

As a junior, Kayser rushed for a season-high 205 yards in Westlake’s 2022 regular season matchup the Chaps won. In this year’s game on Sept. 22, the now senior running back had his only 100+-yard game against the Cavaliers in a 20-14 victory.

• Photos: See more photos from Saturday’s game

On Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville, Kayser punished Lake Travis again, rushing for 84 yards and scoring two touchdowns in a 21-14 victory over Lake Travis in a 6A-Division I regional final.

“Come on, I don’t even got to say it,” the Army-bound Kayser said. “There’s a lot of talk during the week, but at the end of the day, there’s 100 yards, sideline to sideline, you got to go prove it.”

Westlake (14-0) moves on to play Texas high school football juggernaut Galena Park North Shore (14-0) in next week’s state semifinal. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.

The Chaparrals will need a defensive performance next week like the one displayed against their rival on Saturday.

Westlake’s defense silenced Lake Travis’ offense through three quarters of football while amassing a 14-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. But it was the opportunities that were missed that ended up hurting the Cavaliers worse.

The Chaps avoided going into halftime with a 0-0 tie when quarterback Rees Wise connected with Cal Livengood for a 15-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the first half.

While both teams committed multiple turnovers, it was Westlake that capitalized on them. A pair of interceptions by Elliott Schaper and Demin Collins led to Chaparral touchdowns, including a 12-yard scoring run by Kayser in the third quarter.

“I think that was the biggest thing,” said Westlake head coach Tony Salazar. “We talked about turnovers in big games being the difference all week, and we were able to get some big-time turnovers, get some big-time stops on the plus-side of the field, and recover two onside kicks. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”  

Lake Travis did get some momentum when Chaston Ditta found Kadyn Leon for a 49-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Cavaliers defense forced a Westlake turnover, but couldn’t capitalize on it.

After Kayser’s second touchdown of the game, the Cavaliers scored a late touchdown on a 2-yard pass from Ditta to Josiah Thomas. Westlake ended the comeback attempt by recovering the onside kick.

“We were physical with them, and our defense made big plays,” Kayser said. “They are a great program, with a lot of great players that are going to do great things in life. Nothing but respect for them.”