Saturday's College Football Playoff game between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas will be the first meeting between the two programs.However, it won't be the first meeting between Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik and Longhorns counterpart Quinn Ewers, who have crossed paths before.Indeed, Klubnik — an Austin, Texas, native — and Ewers have played in a win-or-go-home situation before: Klubnik led Westlake High School (Austin, Texas) against Ewers and Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) in the 2021 UIL Texas football state championship game for Class 6A, Division 1.REQUIRED READING:Everything Clemson football fans need to know about Texas ahead of CFP gameNow, they will meet again as No. 12 Clemson (10-3) travels to No. 5 Texas (11-2) on Saturday for a spot against No. 4 Arizona State in the CFP quarterfinals.Hopefully for the Tigers, Klubnik can recreate the end result in his last matchup with Ewers, as Westlake defeated Southlake Carroll 52-34 that night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.“Quinn and I go way back,” Klubnik told reporters on Monday. “We played each other in 7th or 8th grade in 7-on-7 and stuff. Then met my junior year in the state championship game. It was definitely a very high-profile game. My head coach was the father of Quinn’s head coach, they called it the Dodge Bowl. Then you know, Quinn and I playing against each other. It was a really cool deal. It was really fun to experience that.”Klubnik was also teammates with Texas safety Michael Taaffe, a former Longhorns walk-on who has since blossomed into one of Texas' best defensive players this season.Here's a look back to Klubnik vs. Ewers ahead of their latest meeting, this time in the CFP:REQUIRED READING:Where Clemson football improved, regressed in 2024 ahead of first-round CFP game vs TexasCade Klubnik vs Quinn Ewers in high schoolClemson and Texas' first-round meeting in the 12-team College Football Playoff will be the second game between Klubnik and Ewers, both likely future NFL quarterbacks.Klubnik's Westlake team, located just minutes from the University of Texas, defeated Ewers and Southlake 52-34 in Texas' second-highest division in the state. Both quarterbacks had strong showings, as Klubnik completed 18 of 20 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown, along with 97 rushing yards with two additional scores.Ewers, meanwhile, was 23 of 39 passing for 351 yards with three touchdowns to two interceptions.Klubnik and Ewers were both juniors at the time. However, Ewers reclassified to the 2021 recruiting class, enrolling a year early to play at Ohio State the following fall. Ewers, of course, redshirted that season before transferring to Texas.Klubnik was already committed to Clemson, and the game was a battle between five-star quarterbacks. The game was also a matchup between father-and-son coaches, as Westlake's Todd Dodge is the dad of Southlake's Riley Dodge.Westlake went into halftime with a 28-21 lead after Klubnik threw for a 15-yard touchdown and ran for another from a yard out in the first half.It was all Westlake from there, however, as Klubnik ran for another touchdown as his offense deployed a rushing attack that Southlake Carroll couldn't stop. Westlake held a lead as big as 52-21 before Ewers led back-to-back touchdown drives to end the fourth quarter.Klubnik's second-leading receiver on the night was Taaffe, who caught five passes for 50 yards in the game.Klubnik and Ewers spent a week together in the months prior at the Elite 11 quarterback competition, the nation's top quarterback event that features 12 finalists. Klubnik was named the MVP of the contest, which featured future college quarterbacks like Drew Allar, Conner Weigman and Ty Simpson."We saw each other at the Elite 11, and the regional, I guess you would call it," Klubnik said Monday. "That was really the first time we got to spend a lot of time together. We hung out together for a week at Elite 11 and spent some more time together this summer at Manning Passing Academy."We've definitely got a great relationship. Got to know Arch (Manning) this summer, great guy, love both those dudes. They're both just great guys that love ball and are going to have great careers and excited to see them on Saturday."REQUIRED READING:Inside the numbers for Dabo Swinney's defense, Cade Klubnik before Clemson vs Texas in CFPCade Klubnik Texas state championship statsHere are Klubnik's stats in the 2021 Texas state championship game:Passing: 18 of 20 passing (90%) for 220 yards and one touchdown (two sacks)Rushing: 17 rushes for 97 yards (5.7 yards per carry) for two touchdownsQuinn Ewers Texas state championship statsHere is how Ewers fared vs. Klubnik and Westlake:Passing: 23 of 39 passing (58.9%) for 351 yards and three touchdowns to two interceptions (three sacks)Rushing: Eight rushes for 11 yards (1.4 yards per carry), one fumble (lost)Cade Klubnik, Quinn Ewers scores in Texas state championshipKlubnik and Ewers each accounted for three touchdowns in their state championship game. Here are the touchdowns Klubnik and Ewers accounted for in Westlake's win vs. Southlake Carroll:First quarter (6:24): Quinn Ewers 49-yard pass to Brady Boyd (Westlake leads Carroll 14-7)Second quarter (10:51): Cade Klubnik 15-yard pass to Jaden Greathouse (Westlake leads Carroll 21-14)Second quarter (6:44): Quinn Ewers 27-yard pass to Brady Boyd (Westlake, Carroll tied 21-21) Second quarter (1:12): Cade Klubnik 1-yard run (Westlake leads Carroll 28-21)Third quarter (6:48): Cade Klubnik 4-yard run (Westlake leads Carroll 42-21)Fourth quarter (4:25): Quinn Ewers 10-yard pass to RJ Maryland (Westlake leads Carroll 52-27)REQUIRED READING:Who’s calling Clemson vs. Texas game? Announcers for CFP first-round gameCade Klubnik vs Quinn Ewers highlightsHere is a recap of Klubnik and Ewers' meeting in the 2020 6A DI Texas high school football championship, courtesy of the "Dave Campbell's Texas Football" YouTube page:Cade Klubnik 247 ratingHere's Klubnik's 247Sports Composite rating out of Westlake High School in the 2022 class:Stars: Five starsNational rank: No. 6 overallPositional rank: No. 1 QBState rank: No. 1 player from state of TexasQuinn Ewers 247 ratingHere is Ewers' 247Sports Composite rating out of Southlake Carroll High School in the 2021 class:Stars: Five starsNational rank: No. 1 overallQB rank: No. 1 QBState rank: No. 1 player from state of Texas

Saturday’s College Football Playoff game between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas will be the first meeting between the two programs.However, it won’t be the first meeting between Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik and Longhorns counterpart Quinn Ewers, who have crossed paths before. Indeed, Klubnik — an Austin, Texas, native — and Ewers have played […]

Saturday’s College Football Playoff game between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas will be the first meeting between the two programs.However, it won’t be the first meeting between Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik and Longhorns counterpart Quinn Ewers, who have crossed paths before.

Indeed, Klubnik — an Austin, Texas, native — and Ewers have played in a win-or-go-home situation before: Klubnik led Westlake High School (Austin, Texas) against Ewers and Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) in the 2021 UIL Texas football state championship game for Class 6A, Division 1.

REQUIRED READING:Everything Clemson football fans need to know about Texas ahead of CFP game

Now, they will meet again as No. 12 Clemson (10-3) travels to No. 5 Texas (11-2) on Saturday for a spot against No. 4 Arizona State in the CFP quarterfinals.

Hopefully for the Tigers, Klubnik can recreate the end result in his last matchup with Ewers, as Westlake defeated Southlake Carroll 52-34 that night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Quinn and I go way back,” Klubnik told reporters on Monday. “We played each other in 7th or 8th grade in 7-on-7 and stuff. Then met my junior year in the state championship game. It was definitely a very high-profile game. My head coach was the father of Quinn’s head coach, they called it the Dodge Bowl. Then you know, Quinn and I playing against each other. It was a really cool deal. It was really fun to experience that.”

Klubnik was also teammates with Texas safety Michael Taaffe, a former Longhorns walk-on who has since blossomed into one of Texas’ best defensive players this season.

Here’s a look back to Klubnik vs. Ewers ahead of their latest meeting, this time in the CFP:

REQUIRED READING:Where Clemson football improved, regressed in 2024 ahead of first-round CFP game vs Texas

Cade Klubnik vs Quinn Ewers in high school

Clemson and Texas’ first-round meeting in the 12-team College Football Playoff will be the second game between Klubnik and Ewers, both likely future NFL quarterbacks.

Klubnik’s Westlake team, located just minutes from the University of Texas, defeated Ewers and Southlake 52-34 in Texas’ second-highest division in the state. Both quarterbacks had strong showings, as Klubnik completed 18 of 20 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown, along with 97 rushing yards with two additional scores.

Ewers, meanwhile, was 23 of 39 passing for 351 yards with three touchdowns to two interceptions.

Klubnik and Ewers were both juniors at the time. However, Ewers reclassified to the 2021 recruiting class, enrolling a year early to play at Ohio State the following fall. Ewers, of course, redshirted that season before transferring to Texas.

Klubnik was already committed to Clemson, and the game was a battle between five-star quarterbacks. The game was also a matchup between father-and-son coaches, as Westlake’s Todd Dodge is the dad of Southlake’s Riley Dodge.

Westlake went into halftime with a 28-21 lead after Klubnik threw for a 15-yard touchdown and ran for another from a yard out in the first half.

It was all Westlake from there, however, as Klubnik ran for another touchdown as his offense deployed a rushing attack that Southlake Carroll couldn’t stop. Westlake held a lead as big as 52-21 before Ewers led back-to-back touchdown drives to end the fourth quarter.

Klubnik’s second-leading receiver on the night was Taaffe, who caught five passes for 50 yards in the game.

Klubnik and Ewers spent a week together in the months prior at the Elite 11 quarterback competition, the nation’s top quarterback event that features 12 finalists. Klubnik was named the MVP of the contest, which featured future college quarterbacks like Drew Allar, Conner Weigman and Ty Simpson.

“We saw each other at the Elite 11, and the regional, I guess you would call it,” Klubnik said Monday. “That was really the first time we got to spend a lot of time together. We hung out together for a week at Elite 11 and spent some more time together this summer at Manning Passing Academy.

“We’ve definitely got a great relationship. Got to know Arch (Manning) this summer, great guy, love both those dudes. They’re both just great guys that love ball and are going to have great careers and excited to see them on Saturday.”

REQUIRED READING:Inside the numbers for Dabo Swinney’s defense, Cade Klubnik before Clemson vs Texas in CFP

Cade Klubnik Texas state championship stats

Here are Klubnik’s stats in the 2021 Texas state championship game:

Passing: 18 of 20 passing (90%) for 220 yards and one touchdown (two sacks)
Rushing: 17 rushes for 97 yards (5.7 yards per carry) for two touchdowns

Quinn Ewers Texas state championship stats

Here is how Ewers fared vs. Klubnik and Westlake:

Passing: 23 of 39 passing (58.9%) for 351 yards and three touchdowns to two interceptions (three sacks)
Rushing: Eight rushes for 11 yards (1.4 yards per carry), one fumble (lost)

Cade Klubnik, Quinn Ewers scores in Texas state championship

Klubnik and Ewers each accounted for three touchdowns in their state championship game. Here are the touchdowns Klubnik and Ewers accounted for in Westlake’s win vs. Southlake Carroll:

First quarter (6:24): Quinn Ewers 49-yard pass to Brady Boyd (Westlake leads Carroll 14-7)
Second quarter (10:51): Cade Klubnik 15-yard pass to Jaden Greathouse (Westlake leads Carroll 21-14)
Second quarter (6:44): Quinn Ewers 27-yard pass to Brady Boyd (Westlake, Carroll tied 21-21)
Second quarter (1:12): Cade Klubnik 1-yard run (Westlake leads Carroll 28-21)
Third quarter (6:48): Cade Klubnik 4-yard run (Westlake leads Carroll 42-21)
Fourth quarter (4:25): Quinn Ewers 10-yard pass to RJ Maryland (Westlake leads Carroll 52-27)

REQUIRED READING:Who’s calling Clemson vs. Texas game? Announcers for CFP first-round game

Cade Klubnik vs Quinn Ewers highlights

Here is a recap of Klubnik and Ewers’ meeting in the 2020 6A DI Texas high school football championship, courtesy of the “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” YouTube page: