Westlake and Cedar Ridge Face Off for District Honor

The top two teams in the American-Statesman’s 6A power rankings will meet on Friday night for a contest that determines at least a share of the District 25-6A title. There are no official district championship games in Texas high school football, but this matchup serves as the de facto decider. Westlake hosts Cedar Ridge at its home stadium, putting the Chaps’ standing against the undefeated Raiders.

Cedar Ridge enters the game with an 8-0 record and a 4-0 mark in district play. The team has emerged as one of the most surprising squads in the state this season. Westlake is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the district. The Chaps may have been underrated by their own standards during the preseason, but they currently hold the second spot in the regional power rankings.

The path to this game began with both teams dominating their respective early-season schedules. Cedar Ridge has maintained its undefeated status through eight matches. Westlake suffered one loss early in the season to Prosper, allowing 510 yards. Since that defeat, the Chaps have won all four of their district games, including a physical rivalry victory over Lake Travis last week.

The primary tactical question involves Cedar Ridge’s defense against Westlake’s rushing attack. Westlake relies on a straightforward offensive scheme that emphasizes running the ball. The Chaps possess an offensive line with five starters who could potentially play at the college level. Running back CJ Jones has attracted more than 30 Power 4 offers, while quarterback Patton Jones provides dual-threat capabilities.

Cedar Ridge counters with two of the area’s top defensive players in the front seven. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Passmore and linebacker Ayden O’Brown aim to force Westlake into third-and-long situations. This strategy would create opportunities for defensive backs Trent Bell and Bekett Lohman to make plays against the pass.

The passing matchup between Dylan Snoga of Cedar Ridge and the Westlake secondary is another critical factor. Snoga has been electric this season and utilizes talented receivers led by Terrez Harrison. Westlake contained a talented Lake Travis receiving corps in their previous meeting, allowing only one play to succeed. The Chaps will need a similar performance to limit Cedar Ridge’s speed.

Cedar Ridge also employs a running game that features Snoga scrambling and a committee of running backs paced by Devin Patterson. This offense represents the best and fastest group Westlake has faced since the Prosper loss. How the Chaps handle this speed may determine the outcome of the game.

Coach Bryan Vardeman of Cedar Ridge noted that his team approaches this contest like the previous eight games. He emphasized the mental makeup of the squad. For Westlake, the challenge is a quick turnaround following the intense rivalry game against Lake Travis. The Chaps must manage the emotional hangover from that contest while playing the biggest game of their regular season six days later.

Special teams will play a decisive role for both squads. Westlake dominated this aspect against Lake Travis, securing good field position throughout the game. Cedar Ridge has the ability to flip the momentum of the contest with a punt or kick return for a touchdown.

The American-Statesman predicts Westlake will win the game 37-30. The Chaps are expected to give up yards but will make a game-defining defensive play. These teams could meet again in the regional finals of the Class 6A Division II playoffs in early December.