INSTANT REACTION: Westlake Too Much for Carroll to Claim No. 3
ARLINGTON - In a matchup with so many storylines, the main theme of the 6A Division I State Championship was Westlake's ability to score at will and hold a dynamic Southlake offense in check in the second half.
Southlake touted the 5-star, No. 1 quarterback in the nation in Quinn Ewers, but Westlake's Cade Klubnik stole the show with his pinpoint accuracy, poise in the pocket and his pure athleticism when he carried the ball.
Klubnik took home offensive MVP with three total touchdowns, including two on the ground.
The game completely turned when Westlake got the game's first stop and subsequently took the lead. Southlake responded late in the second quarter to tie the game at 21, but Westlake went on a methodical, 5-minute drive to go up 28-21.
A hurried Ewers threw an interception on Carroll's ensuing possession. To start the second half, Westlake scored to open up a two-score game - a perfect bookend around the half - as that was a start of a big run by Westlake, highlighted by a big, one-handed interception by Michael Taaffe - his second of the night.
Taaffe's two INTs was enough to name him defensive MVP for the second straight year.
At that moment, the game was essentially over and Westlake would coast to a 52-34 win and its second straight state title.
INSTANT REACTION: Katy Dominant to Claim No. 9
ARLINGTON - Last week, Katy just completely ran away with things in the first half over Buda Hays, using a dominating defense and a strong ground-and-pound offense with timely passes sprinkled in.
Once again, Katy, which has looked like vintage Katy this year, made things miserable on both sides of the ball for Cedar Hill on the way to an emphatic 51-14 win - Katy's ninth state championship and the first since 2015.
The game unfolded exactly as Katy would have liked: slow; low-scoring. But once the dam broke on Cedar Hill's defense, Katy just poured it on.
No matter what Cedar Hill tried to throw at Katy in the first half, nothing worked, and nearly everything worked for Katy on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead.
Cedar Hill finally found some life after a fake punt brought the ball all the way down to the Katy 4. Cedar Hill scored a few plays later but it was too little, too late.
Seth Davis took home the offensive MVP with 124 yards and a touchdown with his brother netting 104 yards on the ground with a score of his own.
As was thought to be the case before the game, Katy's rushing attack and tough defense was just way too much for Cedar Hill to handle, with Kaidon Salter unable to do much.
