Rivalry week: Prep looks to keep streak alive against undefeated rival Westside
Lists of things “better than Westside.”
Preparing for “Prep Weak.”
The list goes on.
But these are among the more subtle examples of jokes thrown around once a year, all stemmed from one of the metro’s most historic rivalries. On Friday, September 21, over 1,000 seats lining Benson Stadium will be filled in red and blue alike. The rivalry between Omaha Creighton Prep and Omaha Westside will be renewed once again.
Such a big game comes with serious pressure. Prep defensive back Thomas Corpuz believes that playing under such pressure leads to greatness.
“Weak players let the pressure crush them,” Corpuz said. “But great players take that pressure, turn it into energy and focus, and play even greater.”
The Junior Jays are banking off two straight wins over Westside by a combined score of 83-44, with the most recent being last year’s 45-41 comeback road victory. Since 2003, neither team has been able to claim a three consecutive wins in the series — a series that’s tied at eight wins apiece in that same time period.
Prep quarterback Reid Burke, who will be making his first-ever start against the Warriors after missing last year’s game, is confident that his fourth-ranked Junior Jays are more than prepared for the matchup.
“We are feeling good heading into the game,” Burke said. “We’ve had a great week of preparation and [we have] a lot of confidence.”
But don't expect seventh-ranked Westside, whose most recent win over Prep was a 41-0 domination in 2015, to go down without a fight on Thursday. The undefeated underdog Warriors look to prove themselves as a legitimate contender in Class A — and hope to do so by earning a quality win against their biggest rival.
“We are all excited to strap the pads up and go at it with those [Junior Jays],” Westside wide receiver Dylan Packett said. “We are very prepared and energized.”
Following a postponement on Thursday due to weather, the Warriors and Junior Jays will go to battle on Friday, September 21 at 7 p.m. Catch the game at Omaha Benson.
