ARLINGTON - What was expected to be an intriguing matchup between two teams that could score points, turned into a one-sided affair as Austin Westlake dominated Denton Guyer on the way to a 24-0 win in the 6A Division II State Championship.
Austin Westlake (15-1) got off to a solid start scoring on its first drive as quarterback Kirkland Michaux connect with Jake Misch on a five-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the game.
On Denton Guyer's ensuing first drive, disaster struck. Driving and having converted three fourth-down conversions, quarterback Eli Stowers exited the game with a lower body injury.
It completely let the air out of Denton Guyer's sails, which entered the game scoring 46.1 points per game. Without Stowers to be a throwing and running complement to running back Kaedric Cobbs, Westlake was able to key in on the run game and shut down the Guyer offense completely.
Westlake lost its starting running back on its next drive, but leaned on Michaux to make big plays the rest of the way. Time and time again throughout the game, Michaux connected with Ryan Lindley on big conversions to extend drives.
With freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold for Guyer, the offense stagnated to just 187 total yards. The Westlake defense brought a lot pressure time and time again and rattled the youngster on the way to three sacks, giving up only six yards on 2-of-11 passing and two interceptions.
It is Westlake's first state title since 1996 and is the UIL's highest classification shutout since 1998.
Graphic by Stephen Peters
