TexasFootball.com

Kirkland Michaux and Drew Brees have something in common — the only quarterbacks to lead Austin Westlake to a state championship title.

Michaux directed the Chaparrals to a 24-0 win over Denton Guyer in the Class 6A Division II state championship game before 35,278 fans on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Brees, the New Orleans Saints QB who broke the NFL record for career TD passes on Monday, led the 1996 Chaparrals to the Class 5A Division II state championship, a 55-15 win over Abilene Cooper.

Weslake (15-1) improved to 2-7 in state title games. One of those losses was to John Tyler in 1994, a 35-24 decision.

Guyer was hindered when star junior quarterback Eli Stowers was injured on a 5-yard run on the Wildcats’ first possession of the game. Stowers, a four-star recruit committed to Texas A&M, couldn’t put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the field, and he was taken away on a cart. He did not return.

Stowers had accounted for 47 touchdowns and 4,113 yards of total offense entering Saturday. He was replaced by freshman Jackson Arnold, who had thrown just one pass all season.

Guyer (14-2) was trying to win its first state championship since claiming back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. But an offense that was averaging 46.1 points and 511.6 yards of total offense managed only 187 yards as Guyer saw its 10-game winning streak end. Running back Kaedric Cobbs led Guyer with 162 yards rushing on 28 attempts. Arnold was 2 of 11 for six yards and two interceptions. He was sacked three times. Stowers was 2 of 3 for nine yards.

Michaux was named Offensive Most Valuable Player. He threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns on 20 of 31 passing attempts. He had an interception. The leading rusher for the Chaparrals was Gray Nakfoor, who gained 12 yards on two carries.

Westlake junior defensive back Michael Taaffe was voted Defensive MVP. Taaffe had an interception, a sack, two tackles and broke up two pass attempts.

Westlake, coached by Todd Dodge, scored on its opening possession, driving 65 yards in eight plays. Michaux hit Jake Misch for a 5-yard TD. David Leadbetter’s kick put the Chaps ahead 7-0 with 9:00 showing in the first quarter.

On Guyer’s first possession, Stowers rushed three times with the QB going five yards on third-and-7 to get the ball to the Wildcats’ 48. That was the play he was injured. The Wildcats eventually got to the Chaps’ 30, but Arnold was intercepted by Taaffe in the end zone.

In the second quarter, Michaux tossed a 33-yard TD pass to Mason Mangum. Leadbetter’s PAT made it 14-0 with 6:32 before halftime.

In the third quarter, Westlake went up 21-0 as Jackson Coker hauled in a 39-yard TD pass from Michaux. Leadbetter made the PAT with 4:50 on the clock.

The final score of the game was a Leadbetter 33-yard field goal with 33 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter.

Ryan Lindley had seven catches for 65 yards for Westlake.

The only loss for Westlake was a 26-25 decision to rival Lake Travis. Guyer’s loss during the regular season was a 46-34 decision to Southlake Carroll.