PFLUGERVILLE — When Tony Salazar gathered his players together after Saturday's 23-14 loss to Galena Park North Shore, he told them he expects to be back in the state semifinals again next year. With a different result.

After all, this was the seventh straight year the Chaparrals have reached the Class 6A semis. Three of those teams (2019-21) went on to win state championships.

Salazar offered no excuses for the way his team performed Saturday afternoon at the Pfield. Simply put, Westlake's defense played well enough to win, but the offense didn't make enough plays to make a difference.

Westlake (14-1) has lost to North Shore (15-0) in the past two state semis. And the loss closed the door on the Austin-area season as well, as the area's two other state semifinalists, Liberty Hill and Wimberley, lost Friday night.

Running game had its moment but needed moments

For a few fleeting moments Saturday, it appeared Westlake had a chance to beat North Shore. With the Chaps trailing 14-7 after a lackluster first half, dynamic running back Jack Kayser scored on a 45-yard run on the first play of the third quarter. Westlake fans were standing and shouting and had reason to feel optimistic.

In the end, though, the Chaps didn't have enough offense to beat such a highly regarded team. They finished with 115 total yards, and their 14 points were their fewest since they lost to Cy-Fair 14-6 in the 2017 state finals.

Salazar was asked what surprised him the most about Saturday's game.

"Our inability to run the ball more," he said. "We believe we have the most dynamic running back in Texas (Kayser), and we weren't able to free him up enough times today. Hats off to (North Shore). It came down to one score there in the fourth quarter. We had a chance but didn't make enough plays to win the football game."

State semifinal loss was a tale of two offenses

After Kayser's touchdown tied the game 14-14, North Shore drove down the field and scored what turned out to be the winning field goal. Jonathan Soto's 26-yard kick through a stiff breeze gave the Mustangs a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

Neither team would score again until North Shore's Charles Ross intercepted a Rees Wise pass in the end zone on the game's final play.

While Westlake struggled on offense, North Shore relied on a power running game led by quarterback Kaleb Bailey and running back D'Andre Hardeman, who combined for 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Bailey was also an effective passer, completing 13 of 16 for 110 yards.

Although Kayser's touchdown to open the second half changed the momentum, North Shore coach Willie Gaston wasn't worried.

"There was a lot of football left to be played," Gaston said. "You can't just let one play determine how you respond. I loved the way our kids responded with a long drive on the next drive to kick the field goal."

Wise, a sophomore, said he "could have done more" to help the Chaparrals. He said he's going to miss the players, especially the seniors who played their final high school game.

Given Westlake's pedigree, it won't be a surprise if the Chaparrals make another solid run for state in 2024. Salazar noted that Westlake had lost three straight semifinal games before winning state three straight years.

"A lot of people think it's easy," he said. "Well, it's not. The state semifinals have been a thorn in our side. We're about 50-50 now (in semifinal games) and we have to get back on the winning edge of this game."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Westlake football's seventh straight Class 6A state seminal was a loss