When the College Football Playoff committee unveiled the first-ever 12-team bracket, it delivered a blockbuster matchup dripping with fascinating storylines. The pairing of No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas in Austin this Saturday is not just a battle of college football bluebloods – it’s a reunion of Texas high school football legends.
The Klubnik vs Ewers Rematch
In January 2021, Cade Klubnik of Austin Westlake and Quinn Ewers of Southlake Carroll met in the 6A Division II state championship game. It was a showdown for the ages between the state’s top two quarterback prospects in a matchup dubbed the “Dodge Bowl” – Westlake coach Todd Dodge facing his son Riley, Carroll’s coach.
Klubnik’s Westlake emerged victorious 52-34 in that epic clash at AT&T Stadium. Now, the star QBs meet again on an even bigger stage in their hometown of Austin. Longhorn fans are buzzing at the chance for Ewers to avenge that title game loss and advance Texas’ national championship dreams.
It’s definitely cool for sure. Me and Cade have a good relationship and he’s a cool dude and it is definitely cool to get to play each other again. It’s come full circle.
– Quinn Ewers on the Klubnik reunion
Hometown Ties Everywhere
The connections go beyond just the quarterbacks. Klubnik will be playing against six of his former Westlake teammates now at Texas. His family’s pastor at Austin Ridge Church is in a dilemma – a Clemson grad shepherding a Longhorn flock.
Texas safety Michael Taaffe, the defensive MVP of that 2021 title game with two interceptions of Ewers, is looking forward to the challenge of facing his longtime friend and former QB. They’ve already engaged in friendly trash talk about who will impose their will on the other.
It feels a little weird watching on tape, watching Cade, knowing that he was my quarterback for a couple of years and now I’m playing against him. It’s going to be so fun.
– Michael Taaffe on facing Klubnik
The Dodge Coaching Legacy
Underlying this web of relationships is the profound impact of coach Todd Dodge. The mastermind behind Southlake Carroll’s rise to a Texas high school football juggernaut, Dodge’s coaching tree and influence extends far and wide. From developing top college QBs to his son Riley’s success, the Dodge name is royalty in the state.
Those two quarterbacks, what a matchup and what great players. I’m so proud of both of them as they lead their teams into the college playoffs.
– Todd Dodge on the Klubnik-Ewers showdown
- Todd Dodge: 79-1 record & four state titles at Southlake Carroll (2002-2006)
- Riley Dodge: Undefeated and 4 state titles at Austin Westlake (2015-2021)
Can Hometown Hero Klubnik Shock the Horns?
While Texas enters as a solid favorite with Heisman hopeful Ewers, the Clemson Tigers are a dangerous 12 seed with Klubnik’s dynamic dual-threat abilities. With so many ties binding these teams, the emotion and intensity will be off the charts under the lights at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
In a season where the expanded playoff format has already delivered incredible drama, this Lone Star clash of titans may become an instant classic. The entire state of Texas – and two communities in particular – will be riveted watching Klubnik and Ewers duel once again, with a trip to the national quarterfinals on the line.
The Clemson-Texas playoff matchup is so much more than a first-time meeting of storied programs. It’s a showcase of the immense talent and passion of Texas high school football. With deep hometown connections fueling this clash, it promises to be one of the most compelling and personal showdowns in College Football Playoff history.
