Cade Klubnik and Quinn Ewers have a history. The two high-profile college football quarterbacks will actually play against each other for the second time in their lives when Clemson takes on Texas in Austin next weekend.
It is a rematch of the 2020 Texas High School Football State Championship!
Klubnik, a five-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022, played at Westlake High School. This first round matchup is a homecoming of sorts.
On the other side of the field, Quinn Ewers was a five-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2021. He played at Southlake Carroll.
Southlake and Westlake met on Jan. 16, 2021 at AT&T Stadium for the 2020 UIL Football State Championship game. Westlake put a beatdown on Southlake to win the D-I 6A title by a score of 52-34. The two quarterbacks had very different games.
Klubnik completed 18 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 11 yards and two scores on 17 carries. It was as good of a performance as you could ask.
Ewers did not have the same success. His 23 completions for 351 yards and three touchdowns kept the Dragons in the game. His two interceptions took them right back out.
Cade Klubnik and Westlake ultimately went on to dominate Quinn Ewers and Southlake. It was over by the end of the third quarter.
Now, less than three full years later, Klubnik is the starter at Clemson and Ewers is the starter at Texas. They are once again going to play for (a shot at) a college football national championship. Stakes are much higher this time around.
The fifth-seeded Longhorns will host the 12th-seeded Tigers at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 21! Buckle up because the first matchup was fun. This latest game between the two former Lone Star State phenoms should be even more so.