Week three of the high school football season has arrived, and the Washington Demons will be under the Friday night lights for the first time at Case Field in 2025, welcoming conference rival Burlington on Heroes Night in a game you can hear on KCII.

Washington enters with an 0-2 record after losses to No. 9 in Class 2A Mid-Prairie and No. 9 in Class 3A Independence. Last week against the Mustangs, the Demons fell behind early and could never recover, en route to a 45-7 loss. Kael Williams completed 11 passes for 139 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown toss to Liam Roberts. Williams also led Washington rushing with nearly 50 yards on 10 carries, and in total tackles defensively with nine. Brady Krantz added a pair of tackles for loss. This year, Washington scores 21 points per game, allows 48, and averages 280 total yards a game, 141 on the ground. Williams is the passer of record, having completed 21 of 41 passes for 277 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions each. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 31 carries for 152 yards and a score. His favorite target is Roberts with four catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Clayton Evans leads the Demon defense with 14-and-a-half tackles and one-and-a-half for loss. Washington has two turnovers as a team. Washington is top 10 in 3A in two statistical categories.

Burlington is unbeaten at 2-0 with wins over Fort Madison and Oskaloosa. Against the Indians, the Grayhounds managed to pile up over 400 yards rushing, led by senior Keshawn Wyldon’s 16 carries for 338 yards and four scores. Quarterback Caden Zaugg also threw a 17-yard touchdown to fellow senior Owen Difederico. Defensively, Adrian Perez-Hall made 10 total stops, with two being for loss. Kohl Lair recovered a fumble. This season, Burlington puts up 54 points per game, gives up 25, and averages 515 total yards per game, 456 on the ground. Zaugg has over 100 passing yards as the quarterback of record, Wyldon has seven rushing touchdowns on 24 carries and 479 rushing yards, and Zech Hart is the leading receiver with 76 yards and a pair of TD grabs. Perez-Hall is the defensive leader with 17-and-a-half tackles, four for loss. The Grayhound defense has three takeaways. Burlington is top 10 in 4A in 10 different statistical categories.

This week, Washington head coach Kelly Williams spoke with KCII Sports about his keys to beating the Grayhounds.

“They are averaging about 457 yards of rushing, so I would say slowing that run game,” Williams said. “Obviously, you are probably not going to stop it completely, but got to slow that running back down from getting to the edge. Offensively, consistently putting some drives together for us to be successful.”

In the Varsity Bound era, Washington has a 4-1 series grip over Burlington dating back to 2020 and have won three straight, including last season’s defensive struggle 14-6.

You can hear tonight’s Southeast conference matchup between Washington and Burlington on FM 106.1, the KCII1 App and streaming online at KCIIRadio.com beginning with the La Morenitas pregame show at 7 p.m. and kickoff between the Demons and Grayhounds at 7:30 from Case Field in Washington.