It is hard to argue the success seen the month and a half with the Washington Demon football team (6-1 overall; 4-0 Class 3A District 5). Last week’s 50-7 victory over the Keokuk Chiefs ran the Demons’ current winning streak to six games and reserved them a spot in this year’s Class 3A playoffs. The only blemish against the Demons is a 42-24 setback in Week 1 to the No. 1 ranked and defending Class 3A champions the Pella Little Dutch.
This season’s success comes as a surprise to some, especially considering Washington had to replace seven all-district players and two all-state honorees who graduated in May.
Senior running back and safety Jack Giardino says aspirations of this type of season began this offseason. “During our senior meetings we established (this year) as us against the world.” Giardino said, “No one expected this from us and we have liked coming out and proving everyone wrong and so far so good.”
The team’s biggest question mark entering the season was how sophomore Ryan Reighard would handle being the leader of the Demon offense. Reighard, who played primarily running back in youth football and also on last year’s freshman football team, was asked to fill the shoes of Daryn Sebelius, a three year starting quarterback who earned all-state honors in 2014.
Senior wide receiver and linebacker Michael Ellingson commends the work Reighard put in this offseason to prepare for being the Demons’ offensive leader. “He knew he had big shoes to fill coming in and I have seen a lot of progress in his reads and in his passing game.” Ellingson said, “I think its becoming a strength of his.”
Reighard’s play, coupled with the continued maturity of the Demons’ offensive line (Seth Townsen, Aaron Vittetoe, Tanner Renoux, Gabe Griener, and Mark Engleken), has helped Washington average 52 points per game over the last two weeks in victories over Fort Madison and Keokuk compared to 29 points the first five weeks of the season.
On the surface, tonight’s meeting with their bitter Southeast Conference rival the Mount Pleasant Panthers (0-7 overall; 0-4 Class 3A District 5) could render a memorable result for the Demon football team. A victory over the winless Panthers would push Washington’s current winning steak over the Panthers to five games, and it would be the 10th straight victory for Washington at Case Field. A win also guarantee’s the Demons a home playoff game in the first round, and would set up a winner take all district championship battle with Davenport Assumption (5-2 overall; 4-0 Class 3A District 5) next Thursday at Brady Street Stadium.
Senior Ethan Hansen says tonight’s game with the Panthers has been one has been waiting for all season long. “I haven’t played Mount Pleasant since my 7th grade year and I have been looking forward to this one game.”
Washington celebrates the Class of 2016 tonight, hosting the Mount Pleasant Panthers at Case Field. Live play-by-play coverage begins with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 7 p.m. leading up to the Coleman Construction Opening Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.