Photo courtesy of Washington High School Football.

The Washington Demon football team’s recent gaudy offensive numbers can be attributed in large part to the five young men fighting in the trenches.Seniors Kyle Collier, Tommy Peterson, and Brad Skubal anchor the offensive line, along with up and coming sophomores Aaron Vittetoe and Seth Townsen. The unit has helped generate an offensive explosion during the final month of the regular season.

Since their Week 5 loss to Solon, the Demons have averaged 55.5 points and 498 yards of total offense during their current four-game winning streak. The two guys getting most of the recognition for the recent offensive turn around have been seniors quarterback Daryn Sebellius and running back Jacob Henningan. Sebellius put up 878 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns in victories against Fort Madison and Keokuk, while Hennigan rushed for 505 yards and seven touchdowns combined in wins against Mount Pleasant and Davenport Assumption. Both are quick to attribute their success to the unit blocking in front of them.

Skubal knows he is doing a good job when his teammates are succeeding on the field.

“When you block and help them … they will do better.” Skubal said, “(In turn) the whole team does better. It’s a team effort and it’s good to know that you are doing your part to help that.”

Collier and Peterson both played on the offensive line that helped the Demons reach the UNI Dome last November. Peterson says after watching Vittetoe and Townsen on junior varsity last year, he knew those were players who could help the Demons return to the Dome.

“They (Vittetoe and Townsen) are just quick guys, they are naturally athletic,” Peterson said, “They are both farm kids so they are naturally tough and strong.”

The unit will be put to the test this evening as the 6-3 Independence Mustangs come to Case Field to open up postseason play. The Mustangs’ defense has pitched two shutdowns to end the regular season, including holding the no. 6 West Delaware Hawks off the scoreboard at home two weeks ago. Collier says Independence’s size poses a challenge, but nothing the team can’t handle.

“They are large individuals.” Collier said, “Anytime you have size going against you that is going to come into play. If we play low and we play hard, like we have been coached, that should do it.”

Washington opens up postseason play tonight at Case Field against Independence. Coverage begins with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIradio.com.