On the back of every Westbrook jersey are the letters A.O.E.
All Out Effort.
Westbrook’s defense certainly lived up to that motto on Wednesday afternoon as the Wildcats secured a 69-24 victory in the 1A Division I State Title Game.
The Wildcats held Abbott to just 17 yards rushing on 25 attempts and limited star Abbott running back Mason Hejl to negative one yards on 15 carries.
Westbrook head coach Homer Matlock said his team’s defense has flown under the radar all year long, but they proved their worth on the biggest stage.
“Our defense didn’t get the credit it should’ve gotten through the year, but if you look at our schedule, we played number one [teams], number two [teams], number three [teams] all year long,” Matlock said. “When our defense is still considered pretty good and you played those kind of teams, it kind of goes hidden a little bit, and I think this afternoon we put that on display. I was really proud of our defense.”
With the Westbrook defense shutting Abbott down offensively, the Wildcat run game took advantage.
Cedric Ware and Grayson Jeffrey combined for 280 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as the Wildcats earned their second-straight state title.
Westbrook is GOING OFF!!! 😮💨@WestbrookISD 🐾: 38@AbbottFootball 🐆: 16@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/bqGiLEG4tx
— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 14, 2022
Matlock said that while Ware and Jeffrey are talented backs, the players paving the holes for them to run through deserve just as much credit.
“[Cedric] will be the first to tell you, it’s a team effort,” Matlock said. “We talked blocking all year. Parker [Matlock] is our quarterback. He doesn’t get a lot of credit and that’s fine. Because we’re a blocking team. I want him pitching the ball and going to hit someone. When the whole team buys into that, people can be successful. I think Ced’s benefitted from that.” 
On the other sideline, Abbott coach Terry Crawford tipped his cap to the Westbrook defense, saying they completely shut down the Panther run game.
“You can’t play behind the chains,” Crawford said. “We had to establish the run, and we weren’t able to do that. They’re just hard to block. They’re so athletic. We pride ourselves on quickness, but those guys are quick.”
It was a defensive struggle from the very beginning of the game as a 34-yard touchdown pass from Parker Matlock to Ware served as the only score on the first six drives. The others ended in two turnovers on downs and a punt by Abbott, while Westbrook fumbled and also threw an interception.
After the slow start, the offenses eventually got going. Matlock found a wide-open Jeffrey for a 32-yard touchdown before Abbott scored on a six-yard run by Isaiah Singleton.
Abbott then found paydirt on a one-yard touchdown run by Hejl, but two touchdown runs by Jeffrey on either side of that Hejl score meant the Wildcats held a 32-16 advantage at the break.
A three-and-out at the beginning of the second half began to spell doom for Abbott.
“We always know that the first one coming out [of halftime] is important,” Crawford said. “We couldn’t establish anything there. We were whiffing on blocks, and we hadn’t done that on year.”
On the ensuing possession, Ware broke free for a 56-yard touchdown for his first score of the game.
And even though Abbott got a touchdown on a 29-yard pass from Karsyn Johnson to Joey Pavelka, two more rushing touchdowns from Ware from 11 and seven yards out had Westbrook up 54-24 heading to the final quarter.
The Wildcats needed just a minute of the fourth quarter to wrap proceedings up as a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jeffrey to Colton Walters, an interception by Matlock, and a 13-yard touchdown run by Ware helped Westbrook reach the 45-point lead it needed for the mercy rule.
THE WESTBROOK WILDCATS ARE GOING BACK TO BACK!!! 🏆@westbrookisd 🐾: 69@Abbottfootball 🐆: 24@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/xpWpUe1Xb3
— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 14, 2022
Wednesday marked Abbott’s third trip to a state title game and first since 2015. Even though it didn’t end the way the Panthers wanted, an emotional Johnson said it was a special accomplishment for him and his teammates.
“It was a fun experience for sure, one I’ll never forget,” Johnson said. “It was breathtaking really. It didn’t seem real. But we didn’t come out with the win, so it’s heartbreaking.”
After a 13-1 season a year ago, Abbott went one game further this year, finishing 14-1. Sophomore Joey Pavelka said deep playoff runs in back-to-back years is a testament to the Abbott senior class. 
“There was a period where we were going 3-7, not making the playoffs,” Pavelka said. “This class right here is part of putting the program back. I’m proud of them. They’re my brothers, and I think we brought it a long way.”
Meanwhile, Westbrook started football all the way back in 1938, but the Wildcats didn’t win their first state championship until a 72-66 victory over May a year ago.
Now, the Wildcats are back-to-back state champions after a 14-1 season this year.
Ware said it was a culmination of the work he and his teammates put in all season.
“This is amazing, especially with this group. I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.” Ware said. “We bought into the weight program. We’ve been grinding, and we got it done.”
The moment @WestbrookISD won state for the second year in a row.#UILState #txhsfb @texashsfootball pic.twitter.com/rFAOKnj2ow
— Adam Ogburn (@aogburn00) December 14, 2022
Offensive MVP: Cedric Ware, Westbrook
Ware rushed for 142 yards and four touchdowns, while also catching a 34-yard pass for a score.
Defensive MVP: Cedric Ware, Westbrook
Ware finished with 10 total tackles, including one for loss.
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