Top-ranked Westside is heading to its fifth straight state title appearance, after beating No. 5 Millard West 41-0. The semi-final was a record setting game for the Warriors. The win completes a perfect home record for the class of 2024, as both Jahmez Ross and Anthony Rezac are new school record holders.
The class of 2024 completed a historical mark with the win, going undefeated at home. Phelps Field has been a place full of wins and memories for the Warriors, but this win is near the top. Rezac says the home field has been special to him.
“That means a lot,” Rezac said. “Growing up here, coming to games, always being around Phelps Field, it’s a special place with alot of special people and to never lose a game here, like ever, is a pretty cool and impressive thing.”
Ross broke the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season. The senior running back rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns, the performance put him on top with 20 touchdowns on the year. Ross missed much of last season with an injury, and he came back better than ever. Ross’ name will be added to the record board.
“It feels good, my four years here I always wanted to leave something here,” Ross said. “Finally I get to have my name and I get to have people remember me now.”
Rezac is now the passing king at Westside, after he broke the record for most passing completions, yards and touchdowns in a season by a Warrior quarterback. Rezac completed 10 of 17 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 140 completions for 2,072 yards and 29 touchdowns in his career. Rezac broke the record on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christan Jones in the second quarter.
“That’s definitely really cool,” Rezac said. “Just knowing all the good quarterbacks that have come out of Westside, especially recently, Dylan Plautz, Cole Payton and being able to get on the record board above them or with them, it’s just really cool.”
The win is nothing new for the Warriors. The defense completed their seventh shutout of the year. The defense is holding teams to under four points per game heading into the state championship. Defensive captain Beau Ryan had nine tackles and one tackle for loss.
“The main thing is just keep doing what we do,” Ryan said. “That’s just our mindset going in, just ET [effort and toughness] and out hit them.”
Westside will head to their fifth straight championship, and look to win the second in a row. The game will be against an unfamiliar face, Elkhorn South. The last time the Warriors have faced the Storm was in the 2020 state championship game, when the Warriors won 37-21. That was the freshman year for the seniors on the team which meant most of the players have never played against the Storm. Elkhorn South enters the game with an 11-1 record, after upsetting No. 2 Millard South.
“I’m really excited, we obviously haven’t played them,” Rezac said, “I’ve never played them in my high school career, so I’m super excited, looking forward to it. I know a few dudes over there, they’re super talented, really well coached. So it’s going to be a fun game.”
The Class A state championship game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
