By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
Despite an impressive night from Westwood quarterback Cooper Waits, the Austin High Maroons couldn’t be denied Thursday night.
Trailing 34-28 with under a minute to play, quarterback John Latham connected with fellow senior Bryson Batts for a 53-yard touchdown pass to push Austin High past Westwood 34-35 at House Park Stadium in downtown Austin.
Batts finished the night with three touchdowns, helping the Maroons to their first 2-0 start since the 2020 season.
More photos
Austin High’s Reid Childers (23) scores a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood defensive end Brady Daugherty (36) is blocked by two Austin High offensive lineman during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Austin High quarterback Whit Davenport (12) scrambles to make a pass during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Members of the Westwood Star Gazers perform a routine during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood cheerleaders cheer on the Warriors during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Members of the Westwood High School ROTC run with flags after the Warriors scored a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood’s Xavion Sutton (24) scores a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood’s Xavion Sutton (24) runs with the ball during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood’s Drew Norrell (4) scores a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood’s Drew Norrell (4) is greeted by teammates after scoring a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood’s Jack Kelley (13) and Cam Greene (32) attempts to tackle Reid Childers (23) of Austin High during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Austin High’s Reid Childers (23) takes the handoff from Whit Davenport during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Austin High quarterback Whit Davenport (12) makes a pass during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Austin High’s Reid Childers (23) scores a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
A member of the Austin High marching band color guard cheers on the Maroons during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westlake quarterback Tillman Subicz (0) scrambles to make a pass during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood quarterback Tillman Subocz (0) makes a run during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood and Austin High players shake hands before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Westwood players run onto the field before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
AUstin High’s Holden Taylor (31) and Owen Whatley (34) lead the Maroons onto the field before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
A member of the Austin High Red Jackets performs during pregame before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
A member of the Austin High Red Jackets performs during pregame before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
Austin High head coach Bernard Riley watches on during pregame warmups before a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal) 
The Austin High drumline performs during a high school football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at House Park Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)
Westwood (0-2) looked like a completely different team from last week’s 43-7 loss to Waco Midway.
The Warriors offense exploded to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter behind an impressive performance from sophomore quarterback Cooper Waits, who threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Scott Uffelman blew through the Austin High defense for a 60-yard touchdown run on Westwood’s second play of the game to give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Waits completed a 20-yard pass to Drew Norrell to extend the lead to 14-0.
The Maroons stopped the bleeding with a 3-yard touchdown run by junior Reid Childers, his first of two for the game. Before Childers could score his second, Westwood running back Xavion Sutton scored on a 1-yard run late in the first quarter.
The Warriors took a 21-14 lead into the locker room, but Austin High quickly tied the game in the first minute with a 30-yard touchdown run by Batts.
Waits answered on the Warriors next possession, finding Norrell for his second touchdown reception of the game.
Batts tied the game again midway through the fourth quarter on a 60-yard touchdown run and then answered another Warriors score with his last-minute heroics.
