KEARNEY – Omaha Westside proved their No. 1 overall ranking Friday night at Foster Field, handling the Kearney Bearcats and handing the home team their first loss of the 2023 season 56-0. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the contest 6-0 after taking down Grand Island the week prior 10-7. Westside, meanwhile, had been the most dominant team in Class A to date – averaging 48 points per contest while only allowing 4 points per game defensively.
The Bearcats won the opening toss and deferred to the second half, as Westside’s offensive dominance started early. The opening drive went five plays, 80 yards quickly as quarterback Anthony Rezac electrified with a short first down pass to brother Teddy Rezac, then running down the far sideline 62 yards for a score. The defending state champions were up early 6-0 with 9:44 remaining in the contest as Kearney’s Zander Reuling blocked the point after attempt while breaking through the line.
Kearney’s opening offensive possession ended in a three-and-out, as Westside wasted no time going three plays in three rushes to Jahmez Ross, ending on a four yard touchdown run. Warriors led 14-0.
After a good return by Reuling on the kick return, Kearney’s offense again went backwards on back-to-back plays with a tackle for loss followed by a sack given up as the Bearcats would punt once again. The Warriors took less time to score, as Rezac hit his slot receiver Christian Jones for a 64 yard touchdown pass on the second play of the drive, quickly going up 21-0 with 6:32 left in the opening quarter.
The Bearcats next drive was their most successful of the first half, converting their first first down with a pass to Reuling. Unfortunately for Kearney, their next punt would come four plays later to send back to Westside at their fifteen yard line.
The Warriors again flexed their muscles, churning yardage repeatedly on a ten play drive, moving down the field with a mix of the run and pass for a final ten yard touchdown toss from Rezac to tight end Trevor Spady. Westside had the rout on 28-0 with a minute and change remaining in the first quarter.
Kearney’s next possession was set up favorably as Reuling once again broke free on a kick return, exploding into the Westside side of the field and coming down at the 27 yard line of the Warriors. Quarterback Griffin Novacek would sling a ball to the middle of the field, resulting in his first interception of the season as Notre Dame commit Teddy Rezac stepped in front of the ball for the turnover.
Westside would work six plays after back-to-back runs by Ross and Eli Johnson to get back into Kearney territory. Another first down pass to receiver Caleb Benning followed by a Ross gain set up the senior back’s second touchdown rumble, going in from five yards out. Westside would lead 35-0 10:55 in the second.
The Bearcats would fumble on their third play of the following series, and Westside’s Beau Ryan would run in a the sixth touchdown of the night, as Kearney trailed 42-0.
Ross would add another sixty yard touchdown run while Westside ended the first half with a 31 yard touchdown pass from Rezac to Jones.
Westside’s 56-0 lead would hold from the 2:18 mark of the second quarter until the end of the contest, giving the Warriors their signature win on the road while Kearney fell to 6-1 on the year.
The Bearcats head to Lincoln Northeast (0-7) on Thursday night next week for a matchup at Seacrest Field. Westside battles unbeaten Millard South next Friday.
KGFW UNOFFICIAL STATS:
KEARNEY:
PASSING: Griffin Novacek: 7/14, 56 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
RUSHING: 27 carries, 21 yards, 0 TD
Eli Randolph: 6 carries, -4 yards
Sam Nachtigal: 6 carries, 11 yards
Able Molina: 5 carries, 12 yards
RECEIVING:
Zander Reuling: 3 catches, 43 yards
Beau Skala: 2 catches, 11 yards
Able Molina: 1 catch, 4 yards
