Litman Lake
Football and faculty soccer analyst
Riley Dodge understands why everyone seems to be speaking about this story, as a result of he’s too.
In January 2021, Texas highschool soccer powers Southlake Carroll and Austin Westlake met on the largest stage: the 6A state championship sport at AT&T Stadium exterior Dallas. It was a high-profile affair for a variety of causes, one in every of which was that the sport was nicknamed the “Dodge Bowl,” marking the primary father-son matchup in Texas state championship historical past. Riley, the Southlake coach, was dealing with his father Todd, the Westlake coach.
The different predominant purpose was that the sport could be a shootout between two elite junior quarterbacks named Quinn Ewers and Cade Klubnik.
Ewers was the No. 1 total recruit within the nation and had already dedicated to Ohio State; Klubnik was the No. 2 quarterback within the state and was uncommitted on the time. The two had identified one another, having performed in 7-on-7 tournaments throughout the state since center college. Klubnik had the sting and led Westlake to a 52-34 victory — it could win three state titles from 2019-21, the final two as a starter.
On Saturday, the quarterbacks meet once more – and in the identical state as their final matchup – when the No. 1 seed. 5 Texas (led by Ewers) hosts the No. 1 seed. 12 Clemson (led by Klubnik) within the first spherical of the College Football Playoff.
And this time the stakes are a bit of greater than they have been nearly 4 years in the past.
“It’s loopy,” Riley Dodge advised FOX Sports. “I believe each of them are so mature and clever past their years and I believe they perceive that it isn’t about Cade and Quinn, it is about Quinn going towards the Clemson protection and Cade going towards the Texas protection.
“I believe it is a pure factor that everybody desires to speak about. I’m intrigued by it, too. But they each have jobs to get finished.”
For Ewers, this is a chance to additional solidify his standing amongst Texas’ nice quarterbacks. When he transferred from Ohio State earlier than the 2022 season, he was the Longhorns’ first No. 1 prospect to commit since Vince Young in 2002. He led this system to consecutive championship video games: Texas received the Big 12 the final yr and narrowly misplaced the SEC title to Georgia this yr, in addition to back-to-back appearances within the CFP.
Klubnik is coming off sizzling after throwing 4 landing passes in Clemson’s ACC championship sport win. This is a chance for him to construct on that efficiency and take the Tigers one other step nearer to successful a nationwide title.
And what’s higher than doing it in your hometown? Klubnik is from Austin and may have many family and friends within the stands. He did not develop up a Longhorns fan, as a substitute preferring rival Texas A&M, as that is the place most of his household went. But he performed in the highschool playoffs at Darrell Okay. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and has seen some Texas-Texas A&M video games there up to now. Running on the pitch might be a surreal feeling for him.
“It’s going to be fascinating,” Klubnik stated of his upcoming feelings. “It’s going to be particular. But you’ve gotten a job in entrance of you and on the finish of the day, all of the (associates) that I’ve on the opposite facet, they need precisely the identical factor that I would like. So you must separate it a bit of bit.
“We have a job to do and we have to maintain enterprise.”
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The world was a special place the final time these quarterbacks dueled. For one factor, it was through the peak of COVID and fan attendance on the 100,000-plus seat AT&T Stadium was restricted. “The place would have been packed (in any other case),” Dodge stated.
That’s as a result of followers wished to see Ewers towards Klubnik, two of the very best highschool gamers within the nation on the time. Ewers was one of many best-known recruits. He had a bleached blond mullet and was already dedicated to taking part in for the Buckeyes. Klubnik did not have the identical resume, however he was a future five-star expertise.
Quinn Ewers handed for 351 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Cade Klubnik within the state title sport.
Klubnik outplayed his opponent, going 18 of 20 for 220 yards and a landing with 97 yards speeding and two extra scores.
You would by no means have identified he hadn’t thrown a single go in observe all the week main as much as the sport as a result of he was coping with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. He had injured himself the earlier week and remembers arriving at half-time of the semi-final considering he had damaged his collarbone as a result of he had by no means felt that type of ache.
“We received, I went dwelling and my brother stated, ‘Great sport!’ and nailed me within the shoulder,” Klubnik stated. “I could not even raise my arm (the subsequent day) and I assumed, ‘How am I going to play in a state championship sport this week?’”
He made it work. In observe, Klubnik sat behind his backup, did visible reps and went by way of the motions.
“When we obtained to Saturday, I shot myself, pulled out the wire and went to play,” Klubnik stated. “I struggled and I believe that is the crew we have been and the kind of participant I’m. I’m not going to let an damage cease me from taking part in.”
Cade Klubnik did not even observe earlier than the state title showdown with Quinn Ewers, as he was injured within the earlier sport. “When we obtained to Saturday, they shot me and I kicked the ball out,” he stated.
Ewers was battling his personal accidents, which was a recurring theme all through a lot of his Texas profession as nicely. He missed a part of the season and wanted double hernia surgical procedure. He did not return till the third spherical of the playoffs, after which obtained banged up through the Southlake semifinal. Like Klubnik, Ewers did not throw all the week main as much as the championship, however handed for 351 yards and three touchdowns within the loss.
“I believe what I discovered rather a lot in regards to the man through the playoff run when he obtained wholesome was his psychological and bodily toughness,” Dodge stated. “To need himself to get on the sphere, he is such a participant.”
Westlake led 28-21 at halftime, however the trajectory rapidly modified when Michael Taaffe – now a beginning security at Texas – intercepted Ewers within the third quarter. Taaffe completed the sport with two interceptions and was named Defensive MVP.
Taaffe, a former walk-on, has developed into an indispensable a part of the Longhorns’ most extremely regarded passing protection. He stated he is given Ewers “some crap” about these picks since they turned faculty teammates.
“You have to do that, proper?” Taaffe stated with a chuckle. “It was fairly cool that only a walk-on may take out the No. 1 participant within the nation.”
Taaffe and Klubnik, in the meantime, have identified one another since third grade. They spent the 2020 COVID season throwing the ball and working routes. “We had nothing to do aside from develop into finest associates as a result of we have been making an attempt to win a state championship,” Taaffe stated. So when the ultimate CFP bracket got here out, they clearly despatched a message.
“It was all love,” Taaffe stated. “‘I really like you man, I really like you too.’ It’s type of bizarre watching Cade on tape understanding he was my QB, and now I get to play towards him it should be so enjoyable.”
But Taaffe does not suppose his relationship with Klubnik might be an enormous benefit. Sure, he is aware of Klubnik’s tendencies, however Klubnik additionally is aware of his personal.
“Cade does all the things to attempt to win, he’ll do no matter it takes,” Taaffe stated, noting that his good friend is “essentially the most aggressive participant I’ve ever performed with,” whether or not in a pickleball sport or a soccer sport .
“I do not assume there might be an enormous departure from Cade on Saturday,” Taaffe added. “There most likely will not be many steps out of bounds, particularly if he sees me. He’ll undoubtedly put his shoulder down on me and discuss to me about it, too.”
And there’s extra to this rematch: Clemson beginning security RJ Mickens went to Southlake with Ewers, whereas Texas defensive backs Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek, offensive lineman Conner Robertson and large receiver Bryce Chambers are all alumni of Westlake.
“It’s undoubtedly good to have them on our facet,” Ewers stated. “They devastated us in highschool.”
When Klubnik displays on the reckoning of 2020, he recollects “numerous chatter, numerous noise much like (this week).” He cannot wait to see all his former teammates once more and face Ewers once more. The QBs have gotten nearer over time, competing within the Elite 11 in 2021 and going to the Manning Passing Academy final summer season. If they wished to, they may commiserate about what it is wish to face Georgia’s suffocating protection, provided that each Texas and Clemson have misplaced to the Bulldogs this season.
Ewers stated dealing with Klubnik a second time might be a “full circle” second, and Klubnik is “excited to provide him a clean up.”
“I do know they’ve numerous respect for one another,” Dodge stated.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
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