Westside versus Creighton Prep has been one of the premier game in Nebraksa high school football ever since the teams first met. This year’s game, however, has the biggest stakes in the rivalry in a long time – the right to the number one seed in the playoffs and home field advantage on their way to Memorial Stadium.
This rivalry has been called the neighborhood rivalry and has been played since 1958. In recent years Westside has dominated the series, winning nine games in a row with the Junior Jays last win coming in a 45-41 contest in 2017. Usually the winner of this rivalry has been the one of if not the top team in the state with a high seed in the state tournament. During their recent dominance in this rivalry, Westside has made it to six consecutive state championships going 3-3 in those six games. Creighton Prep’s last championship appearance was in 2015 when they lost to Omaha North 41-0.
Westside comes back home for the first time this game after getting upset by Omaha Central 31-28. However the Warriors came out swinging after the loss putting up 121 points over their last two wins, with most of the points coming in the first half. These include a 58-21 win over then number two Elkhorn South. The Warriors are led by a dual threat backfield of quarterback Braylen Warren and running back Tay Tay Jenkins. Jenkins, who transferred from Creighton prep going into his sophomore season, currently leads all of class A in rushing yards with 1242 and has 21 touchdowns already on the season. This is one away from his career high, which he set last season. He is averaging nearly 180 yards a game. Westside can also sling the ball with a triple threat of receivers for Warren to target. Currently Eli Johnson leads the pack in yards with 327, but along with other seniors Mo Purify and Bryson Williams, the Warriors can spread the ball nicely if Warren has the time to throw.
“We got to get better, stronger, faster,” head coach Paul Limongi said. “We’re improving in all phases and we have to come out and get better.”
Creighton Prep is undefeated coming into this game at 7-0 and though they’ve played an easier schedule than Westside, they have beaten Omaha Central who the Warriors lost to. The Jays are led by a ground and pound offense and are looking to upset the Warriors and force the Warriors’ first back to back home losses since 2011 as well as stay undefeated.. The Jays are led by running back Angelo Walker who leads the team in yards with 863 and 16 touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Jack Lammers will sling the ball for the Junior Jays. He has 511 yards and four touchdowns but has thrown four interceptions.
Defensively the teams are about the same, with both teams defending the run really well and forcing the offense to pass along with forcing turnovers. The main question for both teams is how the defensive line will perform. Both lines have had good games all season, and one not so good game for the Warriors against Omaha Central where they allowed over 200 rushing yards and couldn’t get to the quarterback. For Prep, they struggled most their first game of the year against De Smet Jesuits where they also didn’t record a sack. For both teams, especially Creighton Prep, the pass rush will be a big part in if they are able to set the edge and stop the two biggest names on both sides of the ball.
This iteration of the backyard rivalry should be the biggest game between these two teams in a long time. Whoever wins this game is likely the number one team heading into the playoffs. This is a prove it game for both teams to show off why they should be number one and who will have a better chance at trying to take down state championship favorite Millard South. This game will be decided by the running game – both Jenkins and Walker are top running backs in the state and will have to prove themselves against two top defenses who are also looking to make a state. Kickoff is at 7pm on Friday, October 17th, at Phelps Field.
