Washington head football coach Garrison Carter directs the Demons through offensive drills during fall camp. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.

With all the extra activities involved in during homecoming week, many high school football coaches across the region are relieved when the week concludes. Washington Demon head football coach Garrison Carter is not one of those football coaches.

Carter, in the middle of his second season leading Washington football, says he loves homecoming week. “I coached a couple years at the college level and I just didn’t love it.” Carter said, “I love high school football in small town Iowa. I love homecoming, I love the relationships you make with the alumni, I love going into the gas station on Saturday mornings and somebody asking me how the game went. All of it I am passionate about. ”

Washington was successful in Carter’s first homecoming game as the Demons’ head football coach, cruising to a 65-20 victory last year versus the Fort Madison Bloodhounds. This year’s homecoming opponent is another member of the Southeast Conference in the Keokuk Chiefs. Keokuk, under the direction of first year head coach Matt McGhghy, has lost five of their first six games this season.

McGhghy says his team will try and play the spoiler role, but expects to play a focused Washington football team this week. “Hopefully we can get off to a good start and take some of the wind out of their sails but I know its going to be tough.” McGhghy said, “The kids at Washington are going to play hard because it is their homecoming and alumni are coming back so they want to play hard for those guys.”

Washington and Keokuk are set to square off in the Demons’ homecoming football game this Friday at Case Field. Live play-by-play coverage begins with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 7 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.