Texas high school football fans remember the Dodge Bowl, the epic 2020 state championship game between Westlake’s Cade Klubnik and Southlake Carroll’s Quinn Ewers.

But what happened the week before sheds more light on Klubnik pain tolerance and what type of competitor the Longhorns are facing Saturday the College Football Playoffs.

If you’ve never experienced the magic of Texas high school football in full-blown “Friday Night Lights” fashion, listen to how Clemson’s starter recalls what he did to get on the field.

Westlake played Galena Park North Shore the week before in the state semifinals. At some point in the first half, Klubnik recalled that he tore his right AC joint. “Got to halftime, I thought I broke my collarbone because I never had something like this,” Klubnik said. “Got a shot, finished the game, we won.”

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Klubnik said he couldn’t even raise his throwing arm the entire week leading up to the blockbuster final against Carroll. He stood behind the backup all week in practice and took mental reps, never throwing a football in practice.

“By the time we got to Saturday, I got it shot up and gritted it out and went and played,” Klubnik said Monday. “Just kind of fought through it. I think that’s just the team that we were but also the player I am. I’m not going to let an injury stop me from playing in that.”

Westlake won 52-34 in the Class 6A Division I championship game. Klubnik completed 18 of 20 passes for 220 yards while running for 97 more and scoring twice as the game’s offensive MVP.

That story probably sounds wild to anyone who isn’t from Texas. But it’s what you do when you grow up in Austin and attend Westlake. That type of toughness wins over teammates and college coaches.

“One of Cade’s best strengths is his grit, his toughness. He’s a tough kid,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We’re going to have to get him on the ground, because he’s not just going to run and slide. You’re going to have to get him on the ground.”

That’s why it feels like Texas safety Michael Taaffe is in an impossible position this week. Taaffe literally grew up with Klubnik, playing 7-on-7 with him since third and fourth grade. Taaffe’s job to is to intercept one of his best friends or bring him down on a safety blitz.

“I'm a competitor. No matter who it is, I’m a competitor,” Taaffe said. “My job is to take my opponent's soul. That's what I try to do. No matter if it’s my best friend or the guy that I hate the most on this planet, that's my job. That's my goal on the field.”

Klubnik and Taaffe are two of eight former Westlake players that now call either Texas or Clemson home. There was so much communication back and forth last week, Klubnik joked that it would have been nice to have a flip phone.

Anyone who thinks Klubnik is awe-struck to play against his hometown Longhorns would be wrong. Klubnik’s entire family grew up watching and attending Texas A&M. If anything, his family would love nothing more than for Cade to ruin Texas’ national championship hopes.

Sure, Klubnik went to some Texas games growing up in Austin. But Clemson is where he felt most comfortable, and now his goal is to keep the Tigers afloat in the CFP.

It just so happens all this will take place in Klubnik’s hometown.

“I think once I get there, it'll definitely be a little wild, flying to that airport and making that drive and stuff,” Klubnik said. “Yeah, it'll be cool.”