Sophomore Ryan Reighard (No. 1) attempts to break a tackle while sophomore Mark Engelken (No. 74) blocks down field. Reighard and Engelken were among four sophomores in the Demons starting line up last Friday versus Pella. Photo courtesy of Susan Harshman/Washington Demon Football.
The Washington Demon football team faced a tall order last Friday night in Pella. With several new faces in key positions, the Demons held their own against the No. 1 Pella Little Dutch, falling to the defending state champions 42-24. The 24 points scored were 10 more than last years Demon football team put up in two matchups with the Little Dutch.
Head football coach Garrison Carter says he was overall pleased with his team’s performance last week, “There is nothing we can do, or at least that I have learned in my coaching career, that we could of done to completely prepare those sophomores for stepping on the field against the No. 1 team in the state.” Carter said, “To make them not be a step hesitant or a step slow as they feel out the game for the first time. When you are feeling out the game against the No. 1 team in the state, you are going to struggle out of the gate.”
The Demons started four sophomores on Friday, including Ryan Reighard at quarterback, Javion Willis at wide receiver and corner back Mark Engelken at offensive tackle and Tanner Murphy at inside linebacker. Washington fell behind 22-0 early in the second quarter before outscoring Pella the remainder of the game 24-20.
The Demons are now focused on tonight’s home opener, another non-district showdown with the Marion Indians. Washington has won the previous two meetings between the schools, including last season’s 35-25 victory in Marion.
The Indians come into tonight’s game on a nine game losing streak which dates back a full calendar year. Coach Carter is surprised by Marion’s struggles last season, “They were a talented group with very talented individuals.” Carter said, “Of course there is a lot more that goes into winning a football game than talent, but they were much better than their 1-8 record last year.”
Marion struggled to hold onto the ball offensively during their week one clash with the Mount Vernon Mustangs (1-0). The Indians turned the ball over five times in a 37-14 setback to the Mustangs last Saturday in Mount Vernon.
Kickoff of tonight’s home opener between the Washington Demons and the Marion Indians is set for 7:30 p.m. Live play by play coverage from Case Field will begin with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 7 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.