By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

PFLUGERVILLE – For the first time in a decade, the Austin-metro area will be without a representative in the University Interscholastic League state football championships.

Galena Park North Shore’s defense held Westlake to 113 total yards and defeated the Chaps 23-14 Saturday in a Class 6A-Division I state semifinal at The Pfield in Pflugerville.

• See more photos from Saturday’s game

Westlake’s 113 yards was the fewest yards produced by a Chaparral offense going back to 2014, which was the last year stats were available.

The loss, accompanied by Liberty Hill’s loss to Port Neches-Groves and Wimberley’s loss to Bellville, keeps the Austin area out of the state championships for the first time since 2013.

“We’ll be right back in this spot,” said Westlake head coach Tony Salazar. “Before we won all those championships, there were some tough losses, and this was one of them to go right there with the other ones. We’ll regroup, and for these young guys, I hope it stings like I know it will.”

Westlake (14-1) took it right to 5-star standout Devin Sanchez and the North Shore defense. With the game at a stalemate, sophomore quarterback Rees Wise drove the Chaps down into Mustang territory and capitalized with a 9-yard touchdown run.

North Shore returned the favor in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown by Kaleb Bailey on fourth down. After one of two interceptions by the Mustangs, D’Andre Hardeman ran in a 9-yard touchdown to give North Shore a 14-7 lead with 2:35 left in the half.

The score would stay that way through halftime until Westlake’s first play of the second half when Jack Kayser broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run on Westlake’s first play from scrimmage.

North Shore added a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter to retake the lead by three points.

Both defenses kept the opposing offense at bay for the rest of the game. However, on the game’s last play Wise attempted a hail marry that was tipped and caught in the endzone by North Shore’s Charles Ross for a touchdown.

“I think it’s on us, we could have played better,” Kayser said. “Their defense is really good, you can watch the film, but I think we left meat on the table.”