Although the phrase states, defense wins championships, it goes without saying that offense is just as important. An offense’s ability to communicate and stay focused is what puts points on the board.  This season Westside’s offense has done just this. It has scored a total of 66 touchdowns in its 12 games and averaged about 360 yards per game. The offense has done it’s job in supplying the team with eight games in which it has scored over 41 points and three wins in which it has put 24 points or more on the board.

Westside’s offense is a solid unit, which works together on and off the field to make plays each Friday night, and these plays begin with the line.

“Coaches will tell you every time,” said offensive line captain senior Henry Dobson. “Football starts with the offensive line. Our job is to push the other guys around, make holes for Fitz and Lane and protect Christian.”

In order to have an offensive line like that of Westside, communication must be strong both on and off the field. The line prides itself in being a tightly knit group who work hard to create options for the rest of the offense.

“[Being on the offensive line] is really unlike any other experience I have ever had,” Dobson said. “You have to be able to communicate using simple words and with four other guys. It’s very physical and demanding. You are beating the … other guy every play. You can’t take a play off.”

The hard work the offensive line does is crucial to the overall success of the team.

“[One thing that makes us great] is our line,” quarterback senior Christian Hagan said. “If they don’t do their job, we can’t do ours. It all starts up there and it all comes together.”

Behind the offensive line lie the playmakers: the quarterback, the receivers and the running backs, all of which have to work in tandem to pull off a win. This year Westside’s receivers have averaged 175 receiving yards per game and the offense has been attributed with rushing for over 185 yards per game.

These numbers aren’t made by themselves. The players know they have to work together and communicate to find the end zone.

“I have to trust [Hagan],” wide receiver senior Jamaal Conway-Smith said.”I run my route and he puts the ball in my hands.”

In addition to trust and communication the offense has worked hard for half a year to allow for a successful season. Its training began in the summer with 6 a.m. practices, and today they continue to put the time and effort into completing as many repetitions as possible, in hopes that everyone can come together to prefect its plays.

“Everyone does their job,” Hagan said. “They do it as good as they can. We tell people they need to do their job and everything will come together.”

This year, for the offense, things have come together. The offense has led the Warriors to 11 victories and their first play off win in seven years.

“We just gotta keep playing,” Conway-Smith said. “You have to keep moving. We just wanna get back on the field, play some defense and score some more [touchdowns].”

The Warriors play in the Class A State Championship tonight at 7:15 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.