Westlake answered an important question Saturday afternoon: does a win over your bitter rival feel better in the playoffs than it does in the regular season?

Behind a defense that forced a trio of fourth-quarter turnovers – including a diving Denim Collins interception that led to a clinching touchdown – Westlake topped Lake Travis 21-14 to win the 6A, Division I, Region IV title and advance to next Saturday’s state semifinal round. In the process, the Chaps topped the Cavaliers for the 4th straight time and 6 times in the last 7 meetings.

Running back Jack Kayser, who exploded onto the varsity scene with a big game in a 63-21 win over Lake Travis in 2021, said Saturday’s win felt just that much better than another playoff win.

“I think just going out 4-0 as a senior class against them, it’s just nice to know that there’s no more talking and it’s over now,” Kayser said after scoring both of his team’s second-half touchdowns. “It is a rivalry, so we don’t like each other, but there’s a mutual respect between us and Lake Travis. There’s respect during the game, and we know that we have to play our butt off on every single play.”

Elliott Schaper came up with one of those turnovers as part of Westlake’s workmanlike effort.

“These games are going to be close,” Schaper said. “We have some dogs and they have some dogs. We came out on top today so that’s good.”

Lake Travis’ defense certainly made Kayser work for the win. Kayser rushed for 165 yards in Westlake’s 20-14 regular season win, but he managed just 80 yards on 26 rough carries on Saturday. Westlake overcame 4 turnovers to outlast a Lake Travis team that had its chances but couldn’t convert enough of them.

“Both teams were laying it all on the line out there,” Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said. “We had some knucklehead plays at the wrong time and against a really good team you just can’t do that. We were out of sync (for much of the game) and credit to them. At this point in the season, you can’t afford to do that against anyone you play.”

Westlake coach Tony Salazar acknowledged how hard his team worked throughout the day but wouldn’t say that the win meant more than any other playoff win.

“It’s always sweet in the playoffs because you’re still alive,” Salazar said. “If you don’t get that outcome, there aren’t smiles here on the sideline. There would have been a lot of sad guys because it would have been our seniors’ last game.”

On the other sideline Carter – after consoling one senior after another – said it wasn’t possible for the playoff loss to Westlake to hurt more than any other playoff loss.

“Anytime you lose in the playoffs, it freaking stinks and I don’t care who you lose to,” Carter said. “It always hurts to infinity. Maybe this one is infinity plus one.”

Words Kayser and his Westlake teammates can appreciate more than most.

“I wouldn’t trade (beating Lake Travis) for anything, but we’re on to bigger and better things,” he said.

Westlake plays Galena Park North Shore next Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.