KATY, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- The third time was the charm Saturday, as the Westlake Chaparrals soundly defeated the Galena Park North Shore Mustangs 35-10, securing a spot in the 6A Division I state title game next week.
"We talked about it all year long - being a complete football team... offense, defense, special teams. You saw all three of those things execute tonight, and when you play a complete game like that, you get that kind of outcome against a great football team," Chaps head coach Tony Salazar said postgame.
North Shore (14-1) brought Westlake's season to an end in each of the past two seasons, but the Chaps were determined to stop the three-peat behind a ferocious defensive effort and four touchdowns from quarterback Rees Wise - three through the air and another on the ground.
The Mustangs' only lead of the night came with an early field goal; after that, Westlake rushed to a 21-10 halftime lead before completely shutting North Shore out in the second half.
A momentum breaker came early in the third quarter, with North Shore attempting to get within one score of the Chaps. A fourth down conversion attempt deep in the Mustangs' own territory failed, giving Westlake the ball in the red zone - and on the very next play, Grady Bartlett scored from 19 yards out to put the Chaps up 28-10.
Westlake (14-1) will make its 12th appearance in a state final, taking on North Crowley next Saturday night at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington - with the Chaps making their first return to the state championships since 2021.
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