The Washington Demons suffered their second loss of the season last night, in their final game of the season.
The Demons were in the class 3A state title game and faced the No. 1 team in 3A Bishop Heelan Catholic, and before the night was over the Crusaders would show the Demons why they were undefeated and No. 1 all year long.
Washington started with the kickoff and couldn’t get anything going, having to punt due to the speed of Bishop Heelan quickly shutting down any offense the Demons had. Washington punted it to Bishop Heelan, and Mason Quigley stuck them on the one-yard line off a 52 yard punt. They were also forced to punt after missing on a long touchdown pass that just went off the finger tips of the intended receiver. Washington was stopped once again on their second attempt, and then it was time for the Crusaders. One play for 80 yards from Trenton Solsma to Conner Niles made it 6-0 after a missed field goal.
Despite being down Washington put together a nice drive mixed with passing and rushing, but they had a fourth down situation on the Bishop Heelan 36. The Demons looked to Carl Sivels to get the first down, but he decided that wasn’t enough and went 36 yards for the only Demon touchdown of the first half. Up 7-6 things still looked up for the Demons, but very first play of the next drive fro the Crusaders was another pass to Niles that put the Crusaders inside the Demon 10. A few running plays and then a quick pass over the middle to Phillip Jacobson put Bishop Heelan up 13-7 after one.
In the second quarter it was all Bishop Heelan, as the Demon defense started getting some pressure on Solsma which disrupted his passing, but they still found a way to score with 8:35 left in the second quarter on a nine yard jet sweep by Jacobson. Then one of the worst things that could happen for the Demons did. As Alex Coker was returning a huge kickoff return, he was out to the 30 yard line when he was tripped up and landed on his right shoulder. Coker would not return to the game. The Crusaders scored once more in the second off a 29 yard touchdown pass from Solsma to Jacobson and the Demons were down 26-7 at half.
In the second half Solsma padded his stats a little more with a 22 yard touchdown pass to Jacobson, and then 10 seconds later after a squib kick hit one of the Demon return men in front and the Crusaders recovered, he threw a 44 yard touchdown pass to Jacobson, and then one more touchdown pass from 56 yards out made it six on the night.
Washington did score once more against the second team defense of the Crusaders later in the fourth to make it 47-14 off a Daryn Seibelius run.
Solsma set three new state championship game records for the Crusaders, touchdown passes with six, yards with 453 and completions with 23.
Demon head football coach Randy Schrader said they are a tough team, but his kids fought to the end.
“They’re a great opponent, they’re a good team threw the ball really well, took what we gave them and then they exploited some mismatches against us. We had some trouble getting some things done offensively, had some special teams busts, and those things happen,” Schrader said. “All and all I thought our kids battled to the end.”
Washington ends their season 12-2 and class 3A state runner-ups for the first time in school history. The Demons lose 16 seniors to graduation. Make sure to come out and welcome them home at the pep rally at the High School this afternoon from 2:30-3:15 as all of the Demon Nation is welcome to cheer on the Demon football team like they have all season. If you can’t make it AM and FM KCII will broadcast the pep rally live from the high school.