Over the course of this past decade, it’s no secret that Westlake football has become nothing short of a dynasty. That trend has continued through the era of coach Tony Salazar.
Salazar has been within the Westlake program for 10 years, dating back to when he was hired in 2014 as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for coaching legend Todd Dodge. He would take over the reins of the program two years ago, after Dodge retired.
Given that he inherited a well-established power, how have things been altered under Salazar’s direction?
“I think we took a big step in our special teams last year,” he said. “We’ve got tremendous speed on our special teams, just as we do on our offense and defense. For us, we use it as an opportunity for other guys to find roles within our program. The more kids you can get involved, the more buy-in you have from the team as a whole, leads to success.
“Furthermore, since I have a defensive background, I really focus on the physical part in all facets of the game. That has never wavered. We’re always going to win the physical battle every week, no matter the scheme.”
Through the first half of the fall season, Westlake has been on a roll. They’ve already begun to establish a new win-streak, as they are currently 6-0 (4-0 in district) following their recent 67-14 win over Anderson.
Given the exceptional level of district competition that the Chaparrals face on a yearly basis, including Lake Travis – who Westlake defeated 20-14 – as well as Dripping Springs, Salazar acknowledged what it means for the program to succeed on a consistent basis.
“In our program, we have three determining factors of success,” said Salazar. “The first one is to win a district championship. We have a 10-game schedule and obviously the majority of those are made up of district opponents. If we can enter the postseason with a title, it gives us the best possible seeding and mindset.
“Secondly, we want to practice on Thanksgiving, which would mean we’re in the second or third round of the playoffs when a lot of great teams are already sitting at home. If that happens, we’ll have our kids’ attention for the final goal, which is to win a State Championship.”
Despite being a well-known power in Texas High School Football, Westlake has a small-town feel, which the community thrives around.
“Most principals, administrators and superintendents will tell you that the best way to have a successful year is to have a good football season,” Salazar said. “There’s so many moving parts, with the band, dance and cheer teams being involved as well.
“We all get highlighted when we’re playing, and it’s a great meeting place for everyone in town on Fridays or Saturdays in the playoffs, when they come to support all of our groups. I think these kids and the community are very proud of the colors we wear, and that big red ‘W’ that we all get to stand behind.”
With Dripping Springs on the horizon, the postseason won’t be far behind. In which case, the Westlake faithful will have plenty to look forward to in the coming months.
