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Column Westlake’s Sam Ehlinger hurt but ‘probably’ won’t need surgery Posted August 27th, 2016


Westlake quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who led the Chaparrals to an upset of defending Class 6A Division II state champion Katy in Friday night’s season-opener, told the American-Statesman that he injured both knees in the game but will keep playing and “probably” will not need surgery.

Early Saturday night, Ehlinger texted that he “tore medial meniscus in (his) left knee and lateral meniscus in (his) right knee.”

Ehlinger, last season’s Texas Associated Press player of the year and a University of Texas commitment, threw for 256 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 63 yards to lead the fifth-ranked Chaps to the win before more than 11,000 fans at a sold-out Chaparral Stadium. The loss was Katy’s first since 2014, and it validated Westlake’s strength in opening the season after losing in last year’s 6A Division I title game to Galena Park North Shore.


Ehlinger seemed to injure himself midway through the second quarter and walked gingerly off the field at halftime but returned to the field and play an outstanding second half. The Westlake senior is known as a gritty player who can play with pain.

Asked how long he might be out, he said, “Not sure. Doesn’t hurt bad at all so should be good soon.”

He added that his head coach, Todd Dodge, is “confident” he will be fine.

Ehlinger signed off on a text by saying, “Might be good by next Friday.”