Friday’s showdown between Nebraska’s top-two high school quarterbacks went decidedly in favor of Braylen Warren.
The Missouri commit tossed four touchdown passes and ran for another in Class A No. 1 Omaha Westside’s 41-17 win over No. 2 Millard South at Buell Stadium.
“I knew there was a lot of hype going into it, but I know the player I am, and so being able to be here and go out and play like I know I can, that’s a lot for me,” Warren said.
Warren put the Warriors (9-0) ahead early in the third quarter. Kor’Dai Richard intercepted a Trae Taylor pass and set up the Warrior offense inside the Patriot 30-yard line. Westside needed just three plays to find the end zone, with Warren finding Luke Weiss wide open at the goal line for a 26-yard score to lead 17-10.
“We’re just playmakers, and (Warren) went out and made plays,” Weiss said. “That’s what he did at the end of the day.”
The Patriots (8-1) quickly responded with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Taylor hit Tay Ellis for a 17-yard gain and followed with a 40-yard completion to Carter Margheim. Aidan Marshall finished the drive off with an 18-yard touchdown run, running a sweep around right end to tie the score at 17-all midway through the third.
The Warriors took the lead for good on another short scoring drive set up by the defense. Micah Benning intercepted a Taylor pass and returned it to the Patriot 26-yard line. Warren and Tay Tay Jenkins split the carries on the drive, with Warren taking an option keeper into the end zone from 4 yards out to regain the lead at 24-17 late in the third quarter.
Following a Millard South punt, the Warriors went on a nine-play, 66-yard march that ended with Warren finding Bryce Johnson Jr. in the back of the end zone for a 29-yard score. Warren scrambled to his right and threw it to Johnson in between two defenders, and Johnson got a foot inbounds for the score to lead 31-17 early in the fourth quarter.
“I just look and try to find open space, and I know he’ll get the ball (to me),” Johnson said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country, so he can put it where I need to get the ball.”
Warren added his fourth passing touchdown of the game on the next Warrior drive, rolling to his right and finding Weiss open along the sideline for a 67-yard touchdown.
Warren finished with 251 yards passing and the four touchdowns, and he also ran for 74 yards and a score. Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz and quarterback coach Garrett Riley were in attendance to see Warren play.
“Those are my mentors,” he said. “They’re great coaches, and so being able to see them on the sideline and just kind of give them a smile, give them a wave, is really cool for me.”
Weiss had two catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Yasir Grixby had four catches for 82 yards, and Johnson caught three passes for 68 yards and two scores.
The Warriors intercepted Taylor three times in the second half and limited the Patriots to 101 yards of offense over the final two quarters.
Millard South’s 17 points were the fewest the Patriots had scored since a 24-13 loss to Elkhorn South in the 2023 Class A state semifinals.
“Our defense balled out,” Warren said. “It was a big, big night for them. A lot of expectations and so for them to come up and make big time plays was amazing for us.”
Omaha Westside had a 416-279 advantage in total yards.
Taylor threw for 203 yards. He also led the Patriot rushing attack with 38 yards and a first-half touchdown, but he did not have a passing touchdown for the first time this season.
Ellis had four catches for 85 yards, and Margheim had four grabs for 45 yards.
The Warriors will be the top seed in the Class A playoffs, while the Patriots will be the No. 2 seed. The official pairings will be announced Saturday.
