This past Friday the Westside varsity football team hosted their second district game of the season against the Omaha Northwest Huskies.  The Huskies of Omaha Northwest had had a rocky start coming into 2019 as they were 1-4 going into the contest. Their lack of offense was a big reason for their record having not scored 20 or more points in their first 5 games and their only victory came off a 19-12 win over the winless Benson Bunnies.

Before the game at Phelps Field, rain and thunderstorms had scattered the forecast for the night and the possibility of the game getting postponed was still up in the air. As the rain clouds fell south, the Warriors had a storm brewing of their own. To start off the game the Huskies tried to surprise the Warriors with an onside kick however it was unsuccessful. The Warriors would go down 55 yards in just over a minute and go ahead 7-0 off of an 11 yard Cole Payton touchdown pass. Three straight three and outs would lead to three more Warriors touchdowns as they would go up huge early. The next two Huskies drives would end in lost fumbles and the Warriors would punch in another two touchdowns two go up 42-0 with just under a minute to play in the first quarter. Before the quarter could even end, the Warriors would fall on another fumble after a strip and sack and had prime field position once again to score. The Warriors would capitalize off of that fumble in the second quarter and would go up 49-0. At this point in the game, many non-starters were put into the game to preserve energy and reduce the risk of injury. Backup quarterback Kolby Brown came in for starter Cole Payton and was content to be out there and get in-game experience.

“Every play counts,” Brown said. “Whether it’s up in the second quarter and you’re up by 7 or up by 70 it matters. Playing complementary football really helps us.”

The Warriors would score another three touchdowns in the first half and would go up 70-0 in headed into the locker rooms. 70 points by one team in one half of play has never occurred before in Class A history. The Warriors would run out the clock in the second quarter and put up another touchdown late in the third quarter taking home the victory 77-6. A 77 point scoring affair is the highest ever in school history and is only right behind Fremont’s 85-0 victory in 1970 against Omaha Bryan in the Class A record books. The Warrior defense also showed their strengths throughout the game as well, forcing 8 fumbles, 6 of which were recovered as well as snagging two interceptions. Although team defensive performance is not shown in the NSAA record book the 8 turnovers given up by the Huskies is one for the books. Sophomore Tommy Connelly, a recipient of one of the two interceptions felt confident in the defensive output.

“We’re very strong as a whole,” Connelly said. “I don’t really see anyone having an impact on our defense [this year]. We’re pretty tight on that part.”

With the record setting the night, the Warriors will look to take that momentum and push them forward into their third top 10 matchup of the season. This time up against the #8 Elkhorn South Storm who are coming off their second loss of the year. The game starts at 7 pm on Friday night out at Elkhorn Stadium just shy of Elkhorn High School.