Washington senior Jack Giardino (No. 2) takes a hand off during the first week of football practice. Giardino is making the transition from wide receiver to running back. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner

It has been 294 days since the last time the Washington Demon football team lined up against an opponent in a meaningful game. The Demons will join teams across the state in opening the 2015 high school football season tonight, traveling to Pella to face the defending state champions the Little Dutch.

The last time Washington played in game action was in Pella in November 7, 2014, a Class 3A quarterfinal playoff game which saw the Little Dutch end the Demons season 31-14. While Pella brings back 20 seniors from their state championship team, Washington’s 2015 team will consist of several new faces and some old ones in new positions.

The Demons lost several players to graduation, including all-state quarterback Daryn Sebelius, all-state lineman Tommy Peterson, all-district running back Jacob Hennigan, all-district defensive linemen Thomas Bump and Alex Gonzalez, all-district linebacker Brad Skuball, and all-district kicker Jacob Baughman.

Head football coach Garrison Carter says week one is always a question mark, no matter who you’re lining up against, “It’s the first time bullets are flying and for our guys being as young and as inexperienced as they are, we want to leave (tonight’s) game with a really good idea of what we have.”

Carter has eight new faces in starting offensive positions, and seven new starters on the defensive side. Among the notable new faces on offense is sophomore Ryan Reighard, who will make his varsity debut tonight under center for Washington. Reighard played running back for the Demons’ freshman team last season.

A returning player who is switching offensive positions is senior Jack Giardino, who is moving from wide receiver to running back. Giardino caught 30 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Six of the Demons’ front seven on defense are new starters. Senior Josh Miranda is the lone returner with starting experience up front on the Demon defense. Miranda collected 6.5 tackles last season.

Even the special teams will have new faces in notable positions. Junior Kyle Anderson has been pegged as the Demons’ place kicker, while Reighard will assume Washington’s punter position.

Tonight’s non-district clash between the Washington Demons and Pella Little Dutch is set for 7 p.m. Live play-by-play coverage from Pella High School begins with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at a special time of 6 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.