Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

Today’s Spotlight: Austin Westlake Chapparals

The Rundown

Austin Westlake is one of the two most preeminent programs in Central Texas, a brand as synonymous with high school football as the University of Texas is to college football just over six miles to the east. While a plethora of NFL quarterbacks (Drew Brees, Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger) grab the headlines, Westlake has made it to 12 state championships behind complete team efforts. 

By The Numbers 

Class – 6A Division I
Enrollment – 2,825
Location – Travis County, six miles west of state capitol building

Trophy Case

State Championships – 4 (1996, 2019, 2020, 2021)
State Championship Appearances – 12 (1990, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024)
District Championships – 29 (most recent: 2024)
Playoff Appearances – 40 (most recent: 2024)

Glory Days 

Austin Westlake’s 2021 state championship sent head coach Todd Dodge into the sunset of retirement as a back-to-back-to-back state champion on a 40-game win streak. The Chaparrals' offense, headlined by Gatorade Texas Player of the Year Cade Klubnik, scored a school record 908 points on the year. Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse set a title game record with 236 receiving yards in a 40-21 win over Denton Guyer.

The GOAT
There have been plenty of NFL quarterbacks to walk the Westlake halls, but Drew Brees started the legacy by winning the program’s first state championship in 1996. His 3,529 yards as a senior were the best in Class 5A by over 1,000 yards. Westlake is not Westlake without Brees.

The Architect

Todd Dodge may not have been the coach to build Austin Westlake into a perennial power, but he did take the program to previously unforeseen heights. His 90-13 (.874) record and three state championships over seven years was the most prosperous era in school history.

Battle Lines

The Battle of the Lakes between Austin Westlake and Lake Travis first began in 2006 and has since established itself as a never-ending war between the city’s two premier football programs. Lake Travis held a 10-game win streak over Westlake until 2017. Since then, Westlake is 6-1.

Home Turf

Austin Westlake has played home games at 10,000-seat Chapparal Stadium since 1970. But the field was renovated and renamed for Ebbie Neptune in 2002. Neptune was the Westlake athletic director for 22 years and coached the football team from 1982-86.

The Year That Was

Austin Westlake avenged back-to-back losses in the Class 6A semifinals to Galena Park North Shore to reach its first state championship of the Tony Salazar era. Salazar, a defensive coordinator by trade, coached a dominant unit headlined by District MVP linebacker Elliott Schaper and Defensive MVP edge rusher Maddox Flynt. 

Looking Ahead

The Chapparals got a taste of the state championship last season and are only hungry for more after a 50-21 loss to North Crowley. Austin Westlake should contend for its fifth-consecutive district championship behind senior quarterback Rees Wise, who compiled nearly 3,000 yards and 38 total touchdowns.

Xs and Os

Offense – Spread
Defense – 4-2-5

On the Rise 

Cornerback Wylie Nichols is a rangy defensive back at 6’3, 185 pounds who had 35 tackles and six pass breakups as a sophomore. 

In Their Own Words

“It’s the total school buy-in of understanding that we’re all working together to give these kids the greatest platform to go achieve success … These kids know how to work when they leave our program. For 16 games and a bye week, we ask these kids to show up to work at 5:00 a.m. That means you have to go to bed the night before. We’ve been practicing on Thanksgiving for these families and communities for the last 12-13 years straight. Their families move Thanksgiving to Austin, Texas, with the anticipation the Westlake Chaps are having practice that morning. We have a small-town feel in the big city… All these kids in the community grow up wanting to wear that Red W. They play all their Pop Warner games here at historic Ebbie Neptune Field, Chaparral Stadium. We have six-year-old kids and high school seniors wearing the same Red W.” - head coach Tony Salazar.