While the high school football season came to an end last week for the Demons, some Washington families’ football season continues at the collegiate level. Three recent Washington graduates have migrated to St. Joseph, Missouri, to continue their football careers for the Missouri Western State University Griffons. Nick Williams was the first Demon graduate to commit to the Griffons back in 2010.

Williams remembers receiving his first call from Missouri Western during the winter of his senior season, “I was on my way home from a basketball game against Muscatine, and I remember coach (Todd) Throckmorton gave me a call and said he was from Missouri Western.”

Throckmorton, a 1987 graduate of Missouri Western, has been the main recruiter of southeast Iowa players for the Griffons and is Missouri Western’s offensive coordinator. After finishing his call with Throckmorton, Williams called his older brother, Kelly. Kelly Williams played his collegiate football at Northwest Missouri State from 2001-2005, an archrival of Missouri Western. “He told me to check it out, you never know.” Williams said, “Then I came up here and saw the facilities, and the team, and how well they bonded and I just fell in love.”

Williams has played 25 games of his college career as a member of the Griffons’ offensive line. His best season came in 2014, when he started eight games for the Griffons. He helped Missouri Western’s rushing attack average 146 yards per game.

Brock Kimball found his way to St. Joseph in the fall of 2012. He said Williams played a role in his decision to become a Griffon. “We were out to eat and Nick (Williams) was there,” Kimball said, “I told him, ‘Hey Missouri Western is recruiting me.’ He told to not look at anyone else because you will love it. I didn’t believe him at first but I came on my visit, and as soon as the visit was over I knew Missouri Western was the home for me.”

Kimball has seen most field time this fall, playing primarily on the Griffon’s special teams unit. He has recorded a solo tackle in each of the last three games for the Griffons. He has totaled 17 tackles and one fumble recovery during his college career.

Thomas Bump is the newest Demon to find a home at Missouri Western State University. Bump, who graduated this spring from Washington, says he made up his mind to make St. Joseph his college home after Throckmorton visited Washington last year. “He talked to us and showed us what the program was all about and I was instantly interested.” Bump said, “They had me come up on an official visit and I was pleased with it. It just felt like the place for me.”

The Griffon coaching staff has redshirted Bump for the 2015 season, and is eligible to play four years of football starting next fall.

Missouri Western’s football team has struggled this fall, posting an overall record of 4-5. The five losses are the most in one season for Missouri Western since the 2008 season. The Griffons fell 24-10 to Northwest Missouri State last Saturday in St Joseph.

Williams, Kimball, and Bump all talk about their experience playing college football in northwest Missouri tonight on the PM Sports Page, making its debut at 6 p.m. on KCII.