Washington’s Aaron Vittetoe (No. 60) runs towards the endzone for his first career varsity touchdown versus the Fort Madison Bloodhounds. Photo courtesy of Susan Harshman/Washington Demon Football.

A pair of Washington senior football players are being praised for their high marks in the classroom. The Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA) has recognized John Dillon and Aaron Vittetoe with Academic All-State Honors. Along with impactful seasons on the gridiron, the members of the Academic All-State football team must be a junior or a senior who post a grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Dillon started on the Demon defense as an inside linebacker. He recorded a team-best three interceptions and tallied 27.5 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Opposing offenses averaged less than 200 yards against Washington’s defense, scoring 12.2 points per game.

Lineman Aaron Vittetoe saw time on both sides of the field, but started as a guard on the offensive line. He was a part of an offensive unit which averaged a school-record 445 yards per game, the second most in the state. The blocking by the line resulted in 7.3 yards per carry for Washington’s running backs, the fourth best in Iowa. Vittetoe caught his only career touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play against Fort Madison on Senior Night.

The Washington Demon football team ended the 2016 season with a 6-3 overall record, the squad’s sixth straight winning season.