RECAP: Westside falls at winless Burke, moves to 3-3

After winning three straight district games to turn around a season that started with two losses, the Westside Warriors were upset in an overtime game against the then-winless Burke Bulldogs.

In a first half, the Warriors were listless as the offense struggled to move the ball. Meanwhile, Burke capitalized on two Westside turnovers to take a 13-0 lead heading into the half, scoring one touchdown on an 18-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown with 7:31 remaining in the half and the other on a 41-yard touchdown pass three plays after a fumble at the Westside 44-yard line with 2:59 remaining in the game (the extra point was blocked).

“The coaches can’t bring [the energy],” Westside head coach Brett Froendt said. “We had a good week of preparation, but when it comes to the ballpark, everybody’s got to be on the same page. You’ll have to ask the players where their energy was. I don’t know.”

In the second half, the Warriors found some offensive success. With 5:17 remaining in the third quarter, junior Mitchell Hagan found senior Drew Combs for a 36-yard touchdown pass to get the Warriors within a possession (This was Westside’s first touchdown since the second quarter of its victory over Grand Island).

On the next Burke possession, senior Ryan Golden, who had a tremendous game defensively, recovered a Burke fumble at the Burke 41-yard line. Five plays later, Westside narrowed the gap even further, as sophomore Jack Finnochiaro connected on a 35-yard field goal attempt to make it 13-10.

Burke responded on its next possession, driving 70 yards before scoring on a one-yard run to make it 20-10 with 11:55 remaining in the game.

But the Warriors got a major boost on the ensuing kickoff as senior Drew Combs, who missed Westside’s last two games with an injury, returned the ball 99 yards for the score, bringing Westside back within a possession.

After a Burke three and out, Westside found itself in the driver’s seat, leading 24-20, for the first time all game when senior Mitch Schenkelberg punched the ball in on a six-yard carry to cap off an eight-play, 53-yard drive with 8:40 remaining in the game.

The lead would only last a 1:21. Burke scored on an 18-yard run with 7:19 remaining in the game to take a 27-24 lead.

Westside tied the game on a 19-yard field goal by junior AJ Nolin with 2:01 remaining, setting up the 27-27 score leading to overtime.

Burke would have the final possession, although a flawed rule kept the Warriors from getting a final shot to score. On third and 26, the ball popped out of a Burke player’s hand as he went to the ground. If it was, in fact, a fumble, Westside would have had the ball inside the Burke 30-yard line with 31 seconds and a timeout remaining. If it wasn’t a fumble, Westside would have gotten the ball on an ensuing punt. But because of a referee whistle error, the third down was replayed.

No whistle was called when the player fumbled the ball, signaling a live ball. While a Westside player was returning the ball, an inadvertent whistle blew the play dead. Because of this, the play had to be replayed, getting rid of Westside’s final chance.

In overtime, which is set up similar to college except teams start at the 10-yard line and there are no first downs, Burke was able to score a touchdown as it got possession first. Westside blocked the extra point, meaning a touchdown and made extra point would end the game and allow Westside to escape with a win.

After a two-yard run on first down, two straight incomplete passes set up fourth down from the eight-yard line. On fourth down, Hagan dropped back into the pocket before firing a ball towards Combs in the end zone. Combs was unable to pull it in, and Burke completed its shocking upset of the top team in its district.

“We got out-played, we got out-coached and we got out-prepared,” Froendt said.

With the loss, Westside moves to 3-3 on the season and 3-1 in district play. Westside faces Columbus next week for Homecoming. Make sure to check out Westside Wired all week for Homecoming coverage.

CRAZE Magazine Post Game Report