After back-to-back state championships, Westside football begins anew

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Westside football heads into the 2024 campaign looking to pull off a feat no other Class A team has in 35 years: win three-straight state championships. The journey begins Thursday against Omaha North.

“We all know what’s at the top of the mountain,” head coach Paul Limongi said. “But we’ve got to look straight ahead.”

That’s the formula that has led the Warriors to back-to-back state titles, and they have no plans to deviate now.

“One thing we’re going after this year is striving for more,” senior running back Finn Christensen said. “You can always get higher, you can always do better. And that’s what we’re looking for this year.”

Anthony and Teddy Rezac are off to Notre Dame. Caleb Benning is preparing for UTEP in Lincoln.

But the Warriors are still loaded with talent, headlined by the state’s No.1 recruit: linebacker Christian Jones.

“For sure we lost a lot of great seniors last year like the Rezacs and Benning,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, it’s a new team and a new journey for us.”

At quarterback, Westside turns to sophomore Braylen Warren to lead the offense.

“He already looks like a senior,” Christensen said. “He’s a sophomore but he’s so calm in the pocket.”

“He’s got the size, he’s got the length, he’s got the intelligence, and he can whip it,” Limongi added. “So his development is going to be fun to watch.”

Last year’s Westside team scored nearly 50 points per game en route to an undefeated season. These Warriors aren’t there yet, but they’ve got a whole season of improvement ahead.

“We’ve got to take advantage of every day and get better every day and work as hard as we can,” Limongi said.

The Warriors season opener has been moved to a 4:00pm kickoff due to inclement weather.

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