Entering his 10th season as Albia’s head football coach, Jerry Staton says he’s never been one to back down from a challenge. Staton, whose 48 year football coaching career has featured stops at Clarinda and Oskaloosa, believes playing the best teams brings out the best in his players. The Albia football program has responded in a positive way, winning 58 games under Staton and the Blue Demons have finished their season at the UNI Dome the last three seasons.

Staton has loaded up the Blue Demons’ non district schedule again this season, agreeing to games against 2015 playoff participants the Washington Demons and the Pella Christian Eagles to kick off the regular season. The Demons have been in ranked in multiple media publication’s preseason top 10 football polls, including receiving the Des Moines Register’s No. 1 preseason ranking in Class 3A football last week. Staton admits his team is rebuilding early in the season, trying to fill the voids left by 23 graduating seniors from last year’s 12-1 team.

The Albia Blue Demons welcome the Washington Demons to town Friday for the season opener for both schools. KCII Sports will have live play-by-play coverage from Albia High School, beginning with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.