Euless Trinity vs. Austin Westlake: A Texas Powerhouse Rematch
The first time Euless Trinity and Austin Westlake met was in the 2009 Class 5A Division I State Championship, which is now equivalent to 6A Division I.
During the 2000s, Euless Trinity established itself as one of the biggest powerhouses in Texas high school football and one of the top programs in the entire nation. The Trojans became nationally recognized for their dominance, with many believing some of those Trinity teams were talented enough to be considered national championship caliber squads. Trinity captured three Texas state championships in 2005, 2007, and 2009, cementing itself as one of the defining programs of the era.
That 2009 championship came in the first ever meeting between Trinity and Westlake. In an instant classic, the Trojans survived a 41 to 38 thriller to capture their third state championship in five seasons.
Trinity returned to the state championship in 2010, giving the Trojans an opportunity to go back to back, but fell to Pearland 28 to 24. That remains Euless Trinity’s most recent appearance in a state championship game.
Westlake eventually returned to the state championship in 2015 but came up short. A few years later, the Chaparrals began one of the most dominant runs in recent Texas high school football history, winning three consecutive state championships in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The 2021 season also featured another meeting between Westlake and Trinity. This time, Westlake came out on top, defeating the Trojans 34 to 14.
2024: Both Programs Back Near the Top
Fast forward to 2024, and both programs were once again among the stronger teams in Texas.
Euless Trinity put together an impressive season and gave Southlake Carroll one of its biggest challenges of the year. The Trojans scored 48 points against Southlake in a 56 to 48 shootout, one of Trinity’s biggest offensive performances of the season.
Trinity later advanced to the regional round of the playoffs, where its season ended in a heartbreaking 22 to 21 loss to Allen. The season left plenty of questions about what could have happened, especially after running back JT Harris, now a freshman at Texas State University, suffered an injury. Many believed Trinity’s playoff run could have ended differently had Harris remained healthy.
Westlake also put together a huge 2024 campaign. The Chaparrals made another deep playoff run and eventually reached the state championship, where they ran into a historic North Crowley team and fell 50 to 21.
2025: A Step Back
After strong 2024 campaigns, both programs entered 2025 with high preseason expectations. However, neither season went according to plan.
For Trinity, its rematch against Southlake Carroll looked completely different from the shootout the year before. After scoring 48 points against the Dragons in 2024, the Trojans suffered a 44 to 6 loss in 2025, a massive difference from the competitive shootout the two programs had played just one season earlier.
Trinity also suffered an upset loss to Byron Nelson before eventually falling to Mansfield Lake Ridge in the first round of the playoffs, ending the season with an 8 and 3 record.
The Trojans dealt with several reported setbacks throughout the season, including multiple injuries, academic related suspensions, and instability at the quarterback position caused by both injuries and inconsistent performances. For a program that entered the season with major expectations, 2025 became a difficult year.
Westlake experienced an unusual down season by its standards as well. The Chaparrals suffered four losses, including defeats against Prosper, Lake Travis, and Dripping Springs, before their season ended with a first round playoff exit against 2024 defending state champion Vandegrift.
Both Texas powers had taken a step backward.
What Trinity’s 2026 Defense Could Have Been
Going into 2026, there is also a major “what if” surrounding Euless Trinity’s roster.
The Trojans potentially could have entered the season with five star prospect John Meredith III alongside Oklahoma State commit Chayce Davis, giving Trinity two major defensive talents on the same unit.
Meredith transferred from Euless Trinity to North Crowley but was later ruled ineligible to play following decisions at the district and state committee levels. With his eligibility situation preventing him from playing at North Crowley, Meredith ultimately did not return to Trinity for his senior season. Instead, he chose to enroll early at the University of Texas, where he became the Longhorns’ new No. 0.
It leaves Trinity fans with one of the biggest questions surrounding what the 2026 team could have looked like. A defense featuring both Chayce Davis and John Meredith III could have given the Trojans one of the most talented defensive combinations on their roster and significantly changed the national recognition surrounding this year’s Trinity team.
Instead, Trinity enters 2026 without Meredith and with a roster that does not carry the same amount of national recruiting attention as many of the program’s teams from the past.
2026: They Meet Again
Now, after the ups and downs of the previous two seasons, Euless Trinity and Austin Westlake meet again in Week 2 of the 2026 season.
Both programs enter the matchup 1 and 0.
Trinity opened its season with a 28 to 17 victory over Richardson Berkner. Despite getting the win, the performance was not viewed as particularly impressive, and the Trojans dropped in both the MaxPreps and NTXPreps rankingsfollowing Week 1.
Westlake, meanwhile, opened its season with a victory over California opponent Inglewood, giving the Chaparrals momentum heading into their matchup with Trinity.
On paper, Westlake enters as the favorite because of its coaching, overall roster, and recent program success. However, this matchup looks different from some of the meetings and seasons these programs have experienced in the past.
Both Trinity and Westlake enter 2026 with rosters that are not as nationally recognized as some of their teams from recent years. These are two programs that have regularly featured highly recruited prospects and nationally known names, but this season both sides have fewer nationally recognized players entering the matchup.
For Trinity, one of the biggest names is 2027 Oklahoma State commit Chayce Davis, who stands out as one of the Trojans’ top players.
Westlake is in a similar position. While the Chaparrals still have plenty of talent throughout their roster, this year’s group does not carry the same amount of national recruiting attention as several of Westlake’s recent teams. One of their notable prospects is senior interior offensive lineman Jackson Cook, a Texas commit and one of the top offensive line prospects in his class.
That makes this meeting even more interesting. Instead of being centered around nationally known stars, this matchup gives both programs an opportunity to show what their current teams are capable of.
Recruiting rankings, stars, and preseason expectations do not decide what happens on the field.
In 2009, Trinity defeated Westlake 41 to 38 with a state championship on the line.
In 2021, Westlake got its revenge with a 34 to 14 victory over the Trojans.
Now, in 2026, two of Texas high school football’s most recognizable programs meet once again.
Trinity is looking to prove that it can still compete with the state’s elite. Westlake is looking to show that its 2025 season was only a setback and that the Chaparrals remain one of Texas’ premier programs.
Will Austin Westlake continue its recent dominance, or will Euless Trinity shock the state and pull off its biggest win since 2024?
