In reference to last year’s 40-14 week one loss to Marion, Washington head football coach James Harris called it being dealt a ‘piece of humble pie.’ Last night the ‘humble pie’ was returned, as the Demons opened up the 2019 campaign with a 27-6 win over the Indians on the road.
Marion punter Jaffer Murphy got a workout in this one, as the Washington defense was spectacular all night forcing many three and outs including only allowing five yards in the whole third quarter. Harris tells KCII Sports his defense was adaptable to what Marion threw at them. “All week we thought they were going to run 10-personnel like last year but we had an inkling they might play power football as well and that’s what happened. Our defense is built to be adaptable and we are a multiple front team. It’s about filling our gaps and flowing to the ball. Our swarm to the ball was excellent tonight.” The first half was a position field battle with both teams trading punts and turnovers until late in the second the Demons finally broke through. Wyatt Stout got the Demons on the board with a fourth and goal run from the seven that started to the right and the junior cut back to the left to reach the endzone. Washington took a 7-0 advantage into half. Marion got a spark early in the third when Connor Whalen picked off a Luke Turner pass and went 45 yards to the house. The Indians rolled the dice by going for two, but failed and it was all Washington the rest of the way. The next drive the Demon offensive line opened up a hole big enough that the world’s largest (humble) pie could fit through it and Stout went 47 yards untouched to the house. The lead grew to 20-6 late in the quarter when Turner scampered 55 yards on an option keeper that reached paydirt and he delivered the final nail in the coffin with a two yard score to open the final quarter. Turner finished nine of 22 through the air for 103 yards and 64 on the ground. Stout carried the rock 18 times for 103 yards and the two scores. Jace Buck led the lockdown defense with 10 tackles and Trashaun Willis had eight.
The Demons start the year 1-0 and host Oskaloosa at Case Field on Friday.