The Westlake Chaparrals and the Judson Rockets had two of the most prominent head coaching hires in the state over the offseason.
Westlake’s Tony Salazar and Judson’s Mark Soto each won their openers. They’ll face each other Friday at Rutledge Stadium.
Salazar, as respected a defensive coordinator as there was in the state, takes over as head coach, the anointed successor of the retired Todd Dodge. Salazar’s mission: to keep the momentum of a team that’s won 40 consecutive games and three straight state championships while helmed by Dodge, one of the greatest high school football coaches in the history of the state. Plus, Salazar’s Chaparrals would open against Fort Bend Ridge Point, a team that has never missed the playoffs and went 11-2 and undefeated in district in 2021.
So far, so good.
Westlake dominated the Panthers 44-14, controlling every phase of the game. They held Ridge Point to 257 yards of offense, had 5 sacks and 2 interceptions. Aside from defense, Westlake had blocked 2 punts, and controlled the ball with Jack Kayser’s 23 carries for 168 yards. They built their 44-14 advantage in three quarters.
All this, with Notre Dame bound wideout Jaden Greathouse catching only two passes.
The Judson Rockets faced a tougher battle. They built a 27-7 first half lead, then staved off a ferocious Johnson Jaguars rally to win 46-43 in the KSAT Pigskin Classic. The offensive showed amazing balance: 286 yards rushing, 276 yards passing. The Rockets had more yards rushing AND more yards passing than Westlake gave up total against Ridge Point.
Judson’s two quarterbacks, Jaden Castillo and Andres Villagran, exceeded 120 yards passing. Castillo and Nathaniel Stanley each surpassed 100 yards rushing. The defense gave up yards and points, but had two interceptions.
While the Chaparrals are trying to maintain momentum, Soto’s Rockets are trying to regain it. Judson football had winning seasons 44 years in a row until their 4-6 record in the 2021 campaign snapped the streak. Judson now shares the record of 44 consecutive winning seasons with Refugio. It was Judson’s first losing season since Gerald Ford was president (1976.) The streak was 10 seasons old when Soto began his playing career at Judson in 1987.
(Westlake last had a losing season in 1986; their 35 consecutive winning seasons is tied for fifth all-time with Celina; they trail Judson, Refugio, Calallen, and Plano. All the streaks except Judson’s and Plano’s are current.)
These teams have met in the playoffs three times: in 2000, 2009, and 2016. All were Westlake victories.
Mark Kusenberger
August 28, 2022
Read more from Mark on his blog at https://mkusenberger.wixsite.com/website/blog