The Westwood Warriors faced off against the Austin High Maroons for their yearly showdown on Thursday, Sept. 5, to see if they could win their ninth consecutive game against the Maroons. However, due to a crushing turn of events and tradition-destroying strength, Austin High has won their first game against Westwood since 2016, 35-34.

As the Warriors took the field, they were more than hyped and ready to win their first game of the season after their disappointing loss against Midway at UMHB the previous week. Right after the initial kickoff and hit, they ran a go route to shoot for the end zone, putting the score at 7-0 in the primary moments of the game. This energy continued well into the first quarter as the defense forced a three-and-out drive from the Maroons with powerful tackles for a loss from the D-line. Westwood, capitalizing on their field position, threw the ball down the field one more time after a clutch 4th down conversion, putting them up 14-0 five minutes into the first half. However, this perfect game quickly shifted after Austin High found a foothold and got the ball. After the start of the drive, it was clear that the Warriors would struggle with tackling for the rest of the game. This problem was made evident as a Maroon shot down the field with two quick moves and an over-pursuing cornerback to put Austin High on the board 14-7 to end the first quarter. 

“Our expectation every time is to go out there and win the football game,” Coach Anthony Wood said. “It’s just that tonight we did not play well enough tonight to win.”

Neither offense let up throughout the second quarter; after the huddle, both teams went out and quickly scored again, bringing the score to 21-14. The Warrior energy on offense soon shifted as Austin High shifted their play calling to focus on the pass, through the use of zones which put an end to any attempts downfield and hindered the run, keeping Westwood from scoring for the rest of the half. This loss of offense means the defense had to step up and match the energy the Maroons would throw at them. The Warriors did just that by putting in a Cover One to prevent any tricky breakaway runs and quick passes over the middle. This scheme also minimized damages from long bombs toward the end zone and completely stopped the Maroon’s momentum in its tracks, forcing them to punt three times before the half was over.

“The best way to recuperate and prepare for the next game is just to work,” Coach Wood said. “That is what we did, we went to work, and did the basic things we needed to do.” 

The energy shifted at the start of the second half. Quickly after Westwood kicked it off to Austin High, they took it back with a breakaway run after four missed tackles to tie the game at 21 in the first 10 seconds of the half. But the Warriors had an answer to that quick play with their deep passes and runs to the outside to soon put seven points up on the Maroons making the score 28-21 with 9:50 left in the quarter. Soon after the matching touchdowns from each team came a repeat of the second quarter with strong defensive stands keeping each team from putting a single point up. This shutout playstyle, courtesy of the defensive line, caused the Maroons to run the ball to no avail and forced them to punt twice before the end of the quarter with a score of 28-21.

Now with the Warriors seven up, the Maroons came out looking for quick and sharp offensive drives. But the Warrior defense still held their own, forcing the Maroons to go for it on fourth down in the red zone, soon missing their chance at tying the game giving the Warriors the ball on the six-yard line. Unfortunately, this offensive drive soon came to a close as two more penalties on Westwood ended their drive on the 50, forcing another punt. This halt of momentum gave Austin High a chance to tie the game. And they took it, making the score 28-28 halfway through the final quarter. Mercifully, a consistent and put-together drive by the Warriors, spearheaded by running back Xavion Sutton ‘25, put Westwood in the endzone. But after a botched PAT, the Warriors were only up six and had to make a defensive stand. And the Warrior D-line once again proved their worth with another three-and-out with the Maroons forcing them to punt again to Westwood. In a devastating turn of events, the Warriors fumbled the ball on the Maroon 28-yard line giving them one last shot at a win. But after a near stop with Austin High third and 15 in their territory, the Warriors thought they had won the game. However, a devastating pass assisted by two Warrior penalties put the Maroons on Westwood’s 28 and soon in the endzone, ending the game in a touchdown which put the Maroons up 35-34.

“We just have to start correcting our mistakes to get to where we can play,” Coach Dezmun Williams said. ”We have a good team, we have a young team so I think we will be fine later on in the football season.”

Varsity football will play again at home on Friday, Sept. 13 against the McNeil Mavericks in their first actual home game of the season.