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Sports
Westside football to compete in their third straight state championship
he second-seeded Westside Warriors are one win away from winning back-to-back state championships after taking down the third-seeded Bellevue West Thunderbirds 41-26 in the Class A Semifinals. The Warriors varsity football team will compete in their third consecutive Class A State Championship Game on Tuesday, Nov. 23 against the fifth-seeded Gretna Dragons. “Certainly we’re comfortable with the process, the preparation, the time, how much we practice and we don’t,” Froendt said. “Obviously the kids pick up on that and they know that we’ve been there before so I hope that translates to them and gives them confidence that our preparation is proceeding in the right way.” Westside’s 28 seniors have all experienced this type of game before, whether it was in 2020 at Phelps Field, or in 2019 at Memorial Stadium. Unlike in 2019, senior running-back and safety Dominic Rezac will be playing
comfortable on the big stage is something that is going to be emphasized. “It’s a part of what we as coaches have to communicate to the kids in terms of what they’re gonna expect,” Froendt said. “We’re Sophomore safeties, Caleb Benning and Grant Buetler, celebrate gonna get on the field a little bit before the after deflecting a pass from Bellevue West’s Luke Johannsen to game just to experience that before we warm up. It’ll be up to the kids to make force a turnover on downs and guarantee a Westside victory. that adjustment quicker and to make sure “They’re just ‘dawg’s’ up front,” Froendt they’re focused on the game and not the said. “Those guys have played hard and they h a v e surroundings.” After back-to-back wins over top-10 ranked teams, played against guys that are much bigger than them. Coach sophomore safety Caleb Benning feels that there isn’t much [Justin] Haberman coaches them to play with speed and physicality and the fact that they are not playing the other more the team has to prove. “People doubted us against Burke and we won by 40, side of the ball means they’re fresh.” Along with the dominant defensive line, an experienced people doubted us this past week too and we won by two touchdowns,” Benning said. “We’ve been looking at that linebacking core has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. all season but they don’t know what we build day Against Bellevue West, senior linebackers Tommy Connelly in and day out in practice so I think our preparation and Jack Wimmer combined for 13 solo tackles, two sacks and two pass deflections and will look to add onto it against helps us a lot.” The rushing attack for the Warriors, led Gretna. “Our linebackers complement [our defensive line] with by Class A’s third-leading rusher in Dominic Rezac, has been a big piece to Westside’s offense. a lot of speed and I think what other teams don’t appreciate Sophomore Jahmez Ross has also added a new layer about us is our team speed,” Froendt said. “We recover to the ground game for the Warriors averaging 103 fast on mistakes and when we have to cover ground to get yards in his last four games and was the leading sacks, to get roll outs, we’re there quick.” For coach Froendt, the team’s culture has been a key to rusher against Bellevue West. Coach Froendt said that Dominic and Ross will both factor into the state success this season. “You have teammates and brothers who have each championship game. “Dom was fighting some injuries last week and other’s back and are constantly positively lifting each really didn’t take one practice rep on either side of other up and it’s needed in order for your team to optimally the ball,” Froendt said. “We had to go into the game perform when it matters the most,” Froendt said. “The Sophomore running-back Jahmez Ross finds open space against with a conservative thought with him and we have culture is strong because this team has bought into it more Bellevue West in the Class A State Semifinals. Ross ran for a Jahmez so we decided to play it by ear. Dom’s going than others and as much as anyone and I think they’re going total of 123 yards on 12 carries. to be ready to go and he’ll be ready to do anything to be as juiced as they have been all year for this game.” The Class A State Championship game between we ask of him this week.” alongside his two brothers, Anthony and Teddy Rezac. On the other side of the ball, Westside’s defense has Westside and Gretna will be held at Memorial Stadium in For Dominic Rezac, the perceived glamour of Memorial excelled in their three playoff appearances. After only Lincoln, at 7:15 p.m. It will also be available to watch on Stadium can be a distraction, it will be a positive experience allowing 182 yards in their first two games against Nebraska Public Media television (Cox Cable Ch.12). The Warriors will look to claim their fourth Class A for him and his family. Papillion-La Vista South and Omaha Burke, the Warriors “Obviously it means something being down there with held Class A’s highest scoring offense in Bellevue West to state title in program history while the Dragons are looking for their first title. the full family but honestly I liked playing here at Phelps just six points in the second half. last year,” Dominic Rezac said. “It’s going to be cool to get Much of this has been attributed to the Warriors’ that experience down at Memorial and hopefully we can dominant play at the line of scrimmage. Coach Froendt have a better outcome than we had two years ago.” expressed how well the defensive line has played, even For coach Froendt, getting his players time to feel when mismatched.
Story by Jaden Taylor, Design by Sydney Rolles, Photos by Mary Nilius
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