Recovered from meniscus surgery, QB Ehlinger to return for Westlake

Sam Ehlinger will be Westlake’s starting quarterback Friday night against visiting Hays, Chaparrals coach Todd Dodge said Monday.

“Sam has been released (to play) by his doctor and will start this week,” Dodge said.

Ehlinger, a senior who’s a Texas Longhorns pledge, has not played since a season-opening victory over Katy.

A few days after that game, he underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a tear in the medial meniscus. A week before the Chaparrals faced Vandegrift to open District 25-6A play, Ehlinger said he would return for that game, but he didn’t take the field as Westlake slipped past the Vipers 17-10 this past Friday.

Senior Matthew Gense has started for Westlake (4-1) during Ehlinger’s four-game absence, passing for four touchdowns and one interception. He has completed 48 percent of his attempts for 404 yards.

After Westlake’s victory over Vandegrift, Dodge spoke about Ehlinger during his postgame comments, saying, “He practiced during the week in shorts. He threw 1-on-1, he threw routes on air, he threw 7-on-7. It was good having him back out, starting to knock some rust off. He’s been very diligent in his rehab. Everything is starting to come around now.”

In helping Westlake to an upset of then-No. 1-ranked Katy, Ehgliner completed 17 of 26 passes for 256 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass. He also rushed for 63 yards and a TD on 17 carries.

Near-record result for Reagan QB: Reagan quarterback Alvin Harper flirted with a state record Friday when he tossed eight TD passes in a 69-2 victory over Lanier. Refugio quarterback Travis Quintanilla set the state mark in 2012, throwing for 10 TDs against Taft.

“Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” magazine lists four players who have thrown nine touchdown passes in a game.

Harper finished with 20 completions in 38 attempts for 490 yards. His touchdown tosses included three to Charles Brown — covering 11, 52 and 53 yards — a 49-yarder to Vontray Harper and a 33-yarder to Tyrese Sanders.

Reagan won its District 25-5A opener after dropping its first four games of the season.