Coming off a blowout win against the third ranked team in the state Omaha North the Warriors will return home to face the Columbus Discoverers in the Warriors home opener. Last Thursday Westside put up 58 points on Omaha North in a 58-27 win. Westside only put up more than that total in one game last season which was against Fremont. This win was headlined by running back Tay Tay Jenkins who picked up right where he left off last season with 252 yards on the ground and four touchdowns to go along with it. “It felt really good,” Jenkins said. “I’m focused on what we’re doing this year and winning.” Westside now sets their sights on the Columbus Discoverers who are making the one and a half hour drive south to Phelps Field. Columbus also won their first game of the season beating Norfolk 31-10. The Discoverers won that game on the ground rushing for a mind whopping 419 yards and four rushing touchdowns between seven running backs.
Westside has a plethora of threats, in the backfield Braylen Warren who threw for 108 yards on 12/20 attempts and two touchdowns in their win and the aforementioned Jenkins trying to continue dominating to begin the season. Westside has two division one receivers for Warren to throw to, Iowa State commit Bryson Williams and Washington State commit Mo Purify II both combined for 50 yards and a touchdown. Along with Eli Johnson Westside has a stacked receiver room going into the game.
Columbus and their rushing attack was led by a 168 yard preformance from Senior Michael Voichoskie and 90 yards from Sophmore Evvann Neal. Voichoskie led the Discoverers in rushing yards last season with 620 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the passing department is first year starter Connor Williams, he went 7/10 for 65 yards in his first game as a quarterback. Leading the receivers are Seniors Conrad Renteria, Omar Rozikov, Keagen Wemhoff, and Laitenn Braithwait all of which recorded at least one catch in their win over the Panthers with Renteria leading the pack with 43 yards.
Defensivly Westside allowed only 27 points last year which was the state championship loss to Millard South. However the Warriors’ defense looked strong forcing three turnovers, two fumbles off of kickoffs and a key early game interception by Monte Costello. The Warriors defensive held the Vikings to under 100 passing yards and just under 150 rushing yards in the game.
The Discoverers defense also was dominant in their win forcing three interceptions, two by Xavien Lopez-Long. The discoverers also were doing work in the backfield forcing six tackles for loss along with the multiple turnovers. Coming off a defense that allowed 28 points a game last season setting the tone by allowing only ten points is a good start to the season for Columbus.
This will be a good test for Westside as they open their home games, Westside has not lost a home game since 2018 and has defended Phelps field for over 40 games. The Warriors also look to set the tone for the season coming off of a top five win and with more top ten opponents on their schedule. Columbus is looking for a little upset magic as they face their toughest opponent on their schedule. It should be a solid matchup between the dominant Westside Warriors and the up and coming Columbus Discoverers. “We got to keep doing the preparation we’ve been doing,” Jenkins said “We’ve got to keep doing better every game.”
The game is Friday September 5th at 7:00
