Photo credit Undre Smith/Ossports
After Austin Westlake scored its last touchdown with 5:38 left in the 3rd quarter, the Panthers had its way, scoring 21 unanswered points. However, Spencer Barnett’s dramatic 59-yard field goal took the air out of Ridge with 6:18 remaining as the Chaps claimed a 31-21 victory on Friday night at Mercer Stadium.
“We’ll take a win in any way we can take it against an outstanding football team like Ridge Point,” Austin Westlake Coach Tony Salazar said.
Trailing 31-21, the Panthers missed an opportunity to make it a one-score game with 1:56 to play. The snap from center was low, and the holder bobbled it. Kicker Brettson Booker recovered the loose ball. However, Chaps junior defensive lineman Cullen Devine drilled Booker on the play, dashing any hopes of a comeback.
The turning point occurred when Austin Westlake faced third and long, but the Panthers’ defense stopped tailback Jack Kayser in the backfield, forcing a fourth down. Yet, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty accessed against Ridge Point followed, giving the Chaps a first down. Again, Ridge Point forced a fourth down.
Despite the odds, Barnett connected on a 59-yard field goal with ease, setting off a dramatic emotional explosion as Austin Westlake increased its lead to ten, 31-21, with 6:18 remaining. He missed a 38-yard field goal attempt when it sailed wide left with 28 seconds left in the second quarter.
“We saw him do it in practice,” Chaps head coach Tony Salazar explained. “First of all, we knew he could do it. We had the wind at our back, a little bit, a little light breeze. He had an opportunity earlier that he missed. He had to redeem himself. He was going to step up for his team. I knew he had it in him, and obviously, that was the backbreaker to get us up by ten points.”
The tail of two halves watched cornerback Aiden Feris record ten tackles while helping Ridge Point’s defense turn the tables, forcing three consecutive three-and-outs. It allowed the offense led by junior quarterback Austin Carlisle to direct three straight scoring drives to draw the Panthers within a touchdown.
“We knew we would have our hands full, and they gave us everything we could handle tonight,” said Salazar. “We had the opportunities in the second half, but they made the plays we didn’t.”
Carlisle scored his first of two touchdowns on a ten-yard run with 1:47 left in the third quarter to make the score 28-7. Then he used a short scoring run to cap the frame, cutting the lead in half, 28-14, following Booker’s extra point kick. Later, he tagged up with wide-open junior receiver Dane Jones on a 68-yard strike, who had seven receptions for 127 yards. That made it a seven-point contest as the Chaps led 28-21 with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter.
“They (Ridge Point) are going to win a lot of games,” says Salazar. “Last year, they spun off ten straight games after we beat them in the first game. That’s a dang good football team. Hats off to them for fighting back.”
Carlisle had a busy, productive day, passing for 233 yards on 17-of-29, a touchdown, and one interception. He added 90 rushing yards on 20 carries.
“They (Austin Westlake) are ranked No. 4 in the state, and after the way we played today, we know we can stand up against other teams in the state, Panthers’ quarterback Carlisle said.”
Linebacker Rhett Steppe seized an opportunity by blocking Ridge Point’s Trae Tune’s punt, to give Westlake possession at the Panthers’ six-yard line. One play later, Kayser, who finished with 88 yards on 20 carries, carried the ball to the end zone, increasing the deficit, 28-0 following Barnette’s kick.
It was all Chaps in the first half as its defense bent but made stops when needed while its offense fed off the energy, scoring three first-half touchdowns.
“This game will have many things to learn from, but I’m very proud of this team,” Salazar mentioned. “Our objective goal was to win.”
Ridge Point took possession of the opening kickoff. After a false start, Carlisle bolted up the middle for a 20-yard gain at the 40-yard line. Running back, Quincy Drummer ripped off a ten-yard carry before the series eventually stalled a few plays later.
Then the Chaps engineered a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead after Barnett’s bonus kick. Westlake shook off a slow start when Quarterback Paxton Land avoided two defenders and threw a quick pass to Kayser who showed why he’s a part of the Chaps 4×100 and 4×400 Meter Relay Team, by rumbling 26 yards to the Panthers’ 31-yard line with 7:43 left in the first quarter. A few plays later, Land hooked up with 6″6’ 185-pound junior receiver Brody Wilhelm for its first score of the game.
Panthers next possession appeared promising as Carlisle tossed a nine-yard pass to receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, coupled with Drummer’s 12-yard pickup to the 46. But the next play, Chaps defensive back Luke Vail picked off Carlisle at the Westlake 19 with 4:19 to go in the first quarter.
Later, the teams traded a possession until Westlake’s defense recorded three consecutive turnovers on downs, allowing it to build a 21-0 lead. During that span, Kayser and running back Nathan Acosta scored on runs of one and 12, respectively.
Senior defensive back Judson Crockett and junior linebacker Elliott Schaper led the Chaps’ defense with a combined 18 tackles. It also chalked up four sacks.
Land finished 16-of-32 for 178 yards and one touchdown. Junior receivers Wilhelm had six receptions for 48 yards and a score, and Cal Livingood snagged five balls for 61 yards.
Westlake will host Judson next Friday, while the Panthers welcome Dickinson to Mercer next Saturday.