The Westside varsity football team heads into week one of the playoffs, as they face off against the Papillion-LaVista South Titans on Friday, Oct. 29. 

This isn’t the first time the Warriors and the Titans have taken the field this year. Westside trampled the Titans with a score of 47-19 on Sept. 17.  Senior outside linebacker Jack Wimmer is excited to enter the playoffs with his team and it will help knowing they have gone up against the Titans earlier this year.   

“There’s a bit of confidence but we know that they’re going to go out there and play the best game they have all year just like we know the season is on the line,” Wimmer said. “Most of our confidence will come from our week of preparation.”

With the season on the line each and every night going forward, the Westside upperclassmen have taught the younger players what it takes to make it to the championship game. 

“As a senior who’s been to two state championships and has had great players come before me, I’ve made it known that now is when you have to push harder in every drill we do,” Wimmer said. “The seniors know what it takes and are making it known that average isn’t going to cut it.”

For the past two weeks at practice, the Warriors have been focusing on the little things, which they believe will lead to a state title. Assistant Coach Craig Secora, emphasized all of the tangibles that will need to go right for the Warriors. 

“The mindset is to be as prepared as you possibly can for your opponent,” Secora said. “Do your job with maximum intensity, controlling what you can control, winning turnovers, reducing penalties, and making  big plays are important to the success of our team.”

The whole Weststide community will never forget the 2020 Warrior football team consisting of Cole Payton, Avante Dickerson, and Kobe Bretz, who stampeded the Elkhorn South Storm in the state championship to cap off an undefeated season. Secora highlighted that the past is in the past, and the focus is on winning this season.

“We don’t really talk about it because this is a different team than last year,” Secora said, “Last year’s seniors graduated, and we’ve got new seniors this year. We’ve got new guys that have moved up the ranks. We’re really just focused on improving each week and becoming that better team each week.”

Westside will take a 21-game winning streak into the opening round of the playoffs against Papillion-LaVista South at 7 p.m. at Phelps Field.