Dual threat Ehlinger accounts for seven touchdowns and passes his way to Westlake’s record books
Cy-Fair –
Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger had a hand in seven touchdowns as Austin Westlake opened up a 42-21 third quarter lead and went on to defeat Atascocita, 49-28 in the Class 6A Division I Region II Finals on Saturday night at the Berry Center.
Westlake will face Allen, who defeated Denton Ryan 48-27 next week in the semifinals at a time and date to be determined. Atascocita (12-2) season comes to an end after a second-place finish in District 16-6A behind the Woodlands.
Most of Westlake’s damage was done by its dual-threat quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who passed for 263 yards on 17-of-25 attempts with five touchdowns and one interception. He also led the chaps in rushing with 174 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns.
The patient Ehlinger hid behind a huge offensive line and waited for running lanes to open, as he sliced through Atascocita’s defense for chunks of yards. When the gaps were plugged, Ehlinger found success in the air with an arsenal of receivers, including Reed Klubnik and Chase Cokley, who had eight catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns while Cokely added seven receptions for 97 yards.
“We found a running back to get us on the perimeter,” says Austin Westlake coach Todd Dodge. “Sam has been a physical runner for us all year long and our offensive line is getting better and better.”
In the process of Ehlinger’s great day, he also rewrote the record books by becoming Westlake’s all-time leading passer. With Klubnik becoming the all-time receiver in Chaparral’s history.
Ehlinger moved past St. Louis Ram’s quarterback Nick Foles, a former Westlake player in passing yards.
In the third quarter, Westlake took full control of the game with a five play, 68-yard scoring drive. From the Chaps 32 yard line, Ehlinger, who was chased out of bounds by defensive lineman Nickolas Kalbaugh for a six-yard loss at the 26-yard line, made up for the loss with a big play following a false start penalty against the Chaps.
On second and 21, Ehlinger bolted through a gap in the line and raced 64-yards to the Atascocita’s 15-yard line. Two plays later, Ehlinger hooked up with receiver Andrew Boykin for a 12-yard touchdown reception with 9:37 to go in the third quarter.
After Atascocita’s four-play series which led to a punt, Westlake turned the ball over when linebacker Norris Celestine picked off Ehlinger’s pass at the Atascocita’s 41. He returned the ball three yards to the 44.
The Eagles had great field position until a personal foul backed it up to its 29-yard line, where it eventually came up empty.
Meanwhile, Ehlinger guided the Chaps to another touchdown; sparked by a big play. Ehlinger scrambled away from defenders in the pocket and found receiver Reed Klubnik wide open down the middle of the field at the Eagles 12 yard line. Then klubnik finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ehlinger to help the Chaps build a 42-21 lead. Kicker Ryan Rees was solid on the evening, nailing all of his extra points.
“Our team is just starting to play its best football which you hope that if you hang around long enough, that you are playing your best football in December,” Dodge said.
Atascocita answered with a five-play 79-yard drive. Capped on junior running back Lavender Paylor’s four-yard scoring reception with 1:09 left in the game. Receiver Niyl Campbell’s 45-yard reception gave the Eagles possession at the four before Paylor’s catch. That made the score 42-28.
Quarterback Daveson Boyd, who gave his best effort, passed for 409 yards on 28-of-47 attempts and three touchdowns. Coye Fairman caught ten passes for 159 yards. Campbell finished with nine catches for 169 yards and one touchdown.
Ehlinger tossed an insurance touchdown to receiver Chase Cokley, who ran a deep post and ended, in the end zone with the catch, increasing the lead, 49-28 for the game’s final score.
A seesaw battle watched the Chaparrals grab a 28-21 halftime lead.
“We knew we had a tremendous challenge ahead of us in Atascocita,” Coach Dodge explained. “What a fabulous football team and Coach Craig Stump has done a great job with that bunch in his fourth year.”
Westlake used a short field at the 49 of Atascocita to get on the board first. Ehlinger spotted receiver Grant Byram in the corner of the end zone. The Chaps led 7-0 with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
Atascocita answered with an impressive drive which covered 87-yards in five plays. Receiver Campbell turned a short pass into an athletic gym when he reverse the field to avoid defenders while cutting back up the middle of the field and racing to the end zone.
Westlake then converted two turnovers into 14 points to hold a 21-7 lead with 8:22 left in the second quarter. Eagles quarterback Daveson fumbled after being blindsided and defensive back Barnett Chambers recovered at the Chaps 46. That led to a touchdown after Ehlinger converted a 4th and 11 by rambling to the Atascocita’s 13-yard line. A play later, Ehlinger rushed in from eight yards out.
“We’ve played teams just as good as Westlake, but we didn’t play well today,” Atascocita’s coach Craig Stump said. “Congratulations to them.”
Klubnik blocked David Heaton’s punt and recovered it at the 16 of Atascocita. Ehlinger rushed the ball four times before scoring on a two-yard run.
Quotes:
“We’ve play just as good of teams but we didn’t play well today. Congradulations to them. He played well (Daveon Boyd). Hes just a junior. He can only get better. We had some penalties and some things in the game that I didn’t agree with. But it comes down to they won and we didn’t. The program’s in good shape. These seniors been around for four years. Atascocita’s coach.
“We knew we had a tremendous challenge ahead of us in Atascocita. What a fabulous football team and Coach Craig Stump has done a great job with that bunch. In his fourth year. This is the farthest that team has been. Congratulation to them on a great year. Our team is just starting to play its best football which you hope that if you hang around long enough, that your playing your best football in December. We found a running back to get us on the perimeter. Sam has been a physical runner for us all year long and our offensive line is getting better and better.” Todd Dodge
‘They were very discipline. They made the most of their opportunities and we didn’t. So they came out with the win. We knew they were going to be physical and well coached. Coye Fairman Atascocita’s receiver.