September 30th, 2022 marks the last loss for the Westside football team, and the only loss for head coach Paul Limonji. The Warriors are looking to win three state championships in a row for the first time since Creighton Prep won five in a row from 1985-1989. The 2023 team broke many records last season having eight all-state players. The closest game was 17 points against the number two team in the state. The Warriors shut out their final three playoff opponents, winning by an average margin of 46 points including a 56-0 win in the state championship which was the first time ever someone broke the 50 point mark in the state final and had the second biggest margin of victory in the NSAA playoff era. Westside scored over 30 points every game they played in last and some consider them one of the best teams ever in Nebraska high school football. The Warriors come into 2024 with lots of unknowns after losing 26 seniors from last year’s undefeated team.
Offense-
The offense that scored over 600 points in 13 games is coming back with some experience and new players as well. For the first in three years there will be a new quarterback at Westside sophomore Braylen Warren, who appeared in a couple games last year as the third string, but won the starting job and will be the head of the offense come opening day.
“He’s got good size, good strength, a really live arm and good feet,” Head coach Paul Limongi said. “We just want to get him game experience and he’ll get better week by week.”
Warren won’t be by himself; he’ll have returning receivers Keaynan Cotton, Christian Jones, Eli Johnson, Trea Spady, Omaha North transfer Titan Glassman and Lincoln Northstar transfer Maurice Purify II there to back him up along with an offensive line that is returning multiple starters..
“We have a lot of great weapons,” said Warren. “Titan, Keynan, Maurice, Eli, Christian. All those guys with their hands and speed will be great targets to throw to.”
Warren, showed out at camps all summer, off his powerful arm and ability to extend plays really caught the eyes of schools including Iowa State who has already given him an offer. The only question mark of this offense is running back. The offensive line is also looking pretty solid, a group that was underprasied last season that only gave up one sack all year. The main loss was tackle Broc Regener but most of the starters on the line are returning, led by seniors Jonny Hurtado, Joe Soria, Connor Wayne and junior Owen James as they adjust to a new quarterback. The receiving group is also looking deadly. They lost both Caleb Benning and Teddy Rezac but have great returning talent including top returning threat Keynan Cotton, seniors Christan Jones and Titan Glassman, juniors Eli Johnson, Trea Spady and Maurice Purify II boast a really deep receiver room with a lot of targets for the new quarterback.
“I feel no pressure going into this season,” Warren said. “I’m excited to go out and see what I can prove at westside and bring another state championship back here.”
This 2024 team has big shoes to fill this season. The team has hopes to make one of the best offenses in the state this season.
“We want to be explosive,” Limongi said. “We want to be one of the best offenses in the state, and we want to be better every week. We have a certain standard here that we have to make sure we get to, and this year is no exception.”
Defense-
The common theme on all sides of the ball remains the same, losing seniors from last year’s team. The Warriors lose the leading in tackles, Beau Ryan, leader in sacks, R.J. Eckhardt and leader in interceptions Caleb Benning, among many other big defensive pieces. Despite all the losses the Warriors return the top recruit in the state, Christian Jones.
“Everybody has to do their one-eleventh,” Jones said. “Everyone has to play sound football and communicate.”
The situation for Westside isn’t new to them, as they’re always replacing players after graduation. Head coach Paul Limongi goes into the year with a similar mentality.
“You practice with a purpose and it’s the next guy up mentality,” Limongi says. “We got some guys that we feel will accept the roles. Even though we have guys that have never done it before, just as last year’s team had to do once in their career, we have guys that are ready to take the next step and be playmakers. I’m sure once the time arises, they’re going to be well trained to get the job done.”
The kicking game will be run by a new face. Everest Scherlizin will try to continue the long line of kickers stemming from the Westside Special Teams.
The season for the Warriors will begin at home facing Omaha North Vikings Aug.29. The Warriors will begin the season as the top-ranked team once again.
Special teams-
Special teams are another important part of football. Special teams coach Garet Moravec likes the competition on the team at punter.
“Right now we have Owen Wright who is a senior, and he looks really strong, and has been rated high,” said special teams coach Garet Moravec.
Wright punted the ball five times last year for a total of 214 yards and an average of 42.8 yards per punt.
No matter how good the offense or defense is, in order to succeed the team needs a good special teams. Westside football is no exception. Moravec has also been impressed with race for place kicker.
“We have Everest Scherlizin who is a junior who looks pretty good but is being pressed by Tyler Hanna,” Moravec said.
Scherlizin is a junior at 5’8” and 145 pounds. Last year he made three PAT’s in five attempts.
Sophomore kicker Tyler Hanna will make it a tough competition for that spot. As a freshman Hanna played on the junior varsity team as a kicker. This year he will be working hard and trying to earn playing time.
