Westside versus Millard South a game that has been in the making all season between the two best teams in the state. It is a rematch of last year’s state championship match in which the Patriots ended Westside’s 32 game win streak and on the back of two interceptions plus a 220 yard day by Jett Thomalla, the Patriots pulled off the upset to become state champions. This is different however Millard South are heavy favorites going into the game being ranked as a top 50 team in the nation with their dominant wins as they look to repeat as state champions. Westside is playing for its seventh straight appearance in the state championship game with the last time they haven’t made it that far coming in 2018.
Both teams are coming in at a 11-1 record but the paths for both teams are very different. Westside’s one loss came in a shocking upset at home against Omaha Central where the eagles ran and passed with no stop winning that game 31-28. Millard South’s one loss was against Arbor View high school in Las Vegas, the Patriots won that game 49-7 but a couple of weeks after the game they were hit with infractions by the NSAA and had to forfeit their game against the Aggies. Otherwise than those two losses both teams are perfect going into Friday with electric offenses and hard nosed defenses.
Both teams have very electric offenses in different ways. The Warriors are a run first team on the back of running back Tay Tay Jenkins who has the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in Class A this season. Along with Jenkins in the backfield is quarterback Braylen Warren, who has been a dominant passer this season for the Warriors complimenting a one, two combo along with Jenkins running ability. Warren has passed for 1660 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. Warren has a plethora of targets to throw to, leading the pack is Mo Purify II who is the leading receiver in all categories with 552 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, alongside him are Northwest Missouri State Eli Johnson who has tallied 369 yards and six touchdowns this season and Iowa State commit Bryson Williams who has been a key third option for Warren 367 yards and eight touchdowns including 101 yards and a touchdown against Kearney in the quarterfinals. The Warriors have the key ability to seamlessly switch between both sides of the offense and they are going to have to keep doing it against a stout patriot defense.
“It means a lot having that duel therat in the backfield,” Warren said “A lot of defenses game plan around Tay Tay so it gives me the opportunity to have my guys go down the field and win their one on ones.”
Millard South has a pass oriented offense and has put up over 57 points a game which lead class A by far. The Patriots are led by third year starter and Alabama commit Jett Thomalla who has led the Patriots to a 32-4 during his time as the starting quarterback for the Patriots this year he has passed for 2726 yards along with a mind boggling 44 touchdowns to only three interceptions along with breaking many state including being the first quarterback in Nebraska to pass for 100 touchdowns in a career. Running the ball is the combo of Illinois commit Nelsyn Wheeler and Augustana commit Gabe Prucha. Wheeler who is a transfer from Grand Island leads the Patriots both rushing yards with 618 and rushing touchdowns with 13. Prucha is not far behind him tallying 524 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. In the receiver room the patriots will be out with their leading receiver Amarion Jackson who leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns but is out against the Warriors with an injury. Millard south still boasts a deep recieving room with the next in line coming from Missouri commit Issac Jensen and Fresno State commit Dallas Gaius Anyaegbu who combined have 17 touchdowns and nearly 900 yards of production. For the Patriots they have a many targets with 15 separate players that have scored a touchdown this defense and along with the Warrior both the run and passing games compliment each other perfectly which provides a deadly punch for the patriots playing a big reason in their scoring onslaught this season.
On the other side defense will also play a big part in this game trying to stop both of these high scoring offenses. For the Warriors turnovers has been the catalyst of their success defensively forcing about two turnerovers a game including a span where they had four pick sixs in five games. Johnson leads the team with seven turnovers this season including five interceptions with Williams also tallying five picks as well. The Warrior defense have held opponents to only 13 points per game with the most they have given up being 31 in the loss to Omaha Central but have only allowed 14 points throughout the playoffs. Compared to last season Westside has no clear defensive leader but the dominance is still there with the Warriors boasting a deep core of linebackers and safeties.
“Turnovers have always been a good thing,” Warren said “Just getting a head start and not having to go the whole length of the field it means a lot.”
Millard South has been the most dominate defense in Class A this season with only allowing two touchdowns the entire season and they have only given up 23 points all season mostly coming from field goals including five shutouts . It has been the front seven that have the Patriots to success with a average of five sacks a game, headlined by Brody Anderson who is tied for the most this season in Class A with 11 sacks. The Patriots also have forced 18 turnovers on the year with a even split of fumbles and interceptions allowing the offense to start in great field position.
This game has been circled on the calendar for many people around the entire state of Nebraska, the rematch of last year’s state championship game with a lot on the line. Westside looks to make it to their seventh straight state championship game and get revenge from last seasons loss while the Patriots are looking to double down knocking off the Warriors once more and go back to the state championship game. This game will involve over 20 future division one and division two recruits headlined by both quarterbacks but both sides have lots of talent going to the next level. The weather at kickoff will be around 70 degrees a rarity in november but it should be a positive for Millard South and their passing game but either way it will be a game to remember with all eyes not only in Nebraksa but around the country tuned in on this game between the top two teams in the state colliding at Phelps field.
“We have to come out a play physical,” Warren said “Were going to come out and punch them in the mouth, play our most physical game and be prepared for war.”
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