The Westside varsity football team continued their 15-game winning streak, after they defeated  the Papillion-LaVista Monarchs 31-28 on Friday Sept. 10. 

The start of the game was a struggle for the Warriors. The Monarchs started off hot with a 75-yard touchdown pass and added another touchdown to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Westside quarterback Kolby Brown knew the Monarchs came to play and that something needed to change for the game to turn in favor of the Warriors. 

“We kinda just said alright game on, we spotted them fourteen points early and we had to dig ourselves out of that,” Brown said. “We ended up getting up before halftime 24-21 and still missed a drive that would have been a touchdown before halftime. It was a gritty game and we were glad to come out with a win.”

The word of the night was grit. After falling behind 14-0, the Warriors made a strong comeback. Westside’s Domonic Rezac’s 52-yard touchdown run pulled the Warriors to within seven points. Then Westside’s Curt Cubrich’s punt block for a touchdown tied up the game at 14-14. Westside kicker Tristan Alvano booted a field goal to give the Warriors a 24-21 lead at halftime.

The passing combination of Brown and Grant Guyett accounted for another touchdown to give the Warriors a 31-21 lead in the third quarter. Westside held on to win 31-28, to raise their record to 3-0. 

Westside head coach Brett Froendt believes the Warriors have to get off to a strong start every week.

“They just came out with a lot more energy and I told our team not to take anybody for granted because we got to come out and play strong from the beginning and try to play to what we think our opponents are going to be at. Papillon did exactly what I thought a team could do and exposed some weaknesses and we got to get healthy and get better at defending the pass and they took advantage of that early and hats off to them.” Froendt said.

The Warriors will host Papillion-LaVista South on Friday Sept.17. But Froendt expressed that his team has some things to improve on for the upcoming game with the Titans. 

“Not to take it and put it lightly, number one, just better preparation from a past defense standpoint,” Froendt said. “Our kids played hard, they stuck in there, they had some grit, Papio just had a good game plan. They are coached really well and we have got to get better at defending that type of thing.” 

The game between Papio South and Westside will kickoff at 7 p.m. on Friday at Phelps Stadium.