Photo Courtesy of Demon Football
Another season under the lights at Case Field commences tonight when the Demon football team starts up 2020 with a clash against #8 in class 4A Bettendorf.
The Demons were set to battle with Marion in week one, but derecho damage in the Cedar Rapids area caused the Indians to cancel and Bettendorf filled the open spot. The Bulldogs have no shortage of tradition on their side being a perennial playoff team including going 9-3 last year and qualifying for a 4A state semifinal. The Bulldog defense will be a handful returning a lot of guys from a squad that gave up just 16 points a night in 2019. Linebacker Ryan Cole is back after 73 tackles and University of Iowa commit Griffin Liddle anchors the line with 49 tackles and three sacks. The offense will be a new look for Bettendorf losing a lot of position players including their top four rushers and top receiver.
The Demon defense will look to cause an inexperienced Bettendorf offense fits headlined by linebacker duo Trashaun Willis and Wyatt Stout after 48 and 41 tackles, respectively last year and a defensive line that goes eight deep. Willis will take over the reigns at quarterback for graduated all-stater Luke Turner. The senior will have plenty of weapons around him that were a part of an offense that was top five in many statistical categories in 2019. Wyatt Stout compiled 732 yards on the ground and 14 scores while Zac Stout is back after 396 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Head Coach James Harris tells KCII Sports tonight is a great opportunity for his team. “Especially with everyone making the playoffs and the games not having an impact on the postseason, I thought it was a tremendous opportunity for us to play an elite 4A program. Iron sharpens iron and I feel like this is a chance for our guys to get better and see where we are at against one of the best programs in the state.”
The season kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight at Case Field. Listen to all the action on FM 106.1 starting with the KCII Football Friday Preview Show at 5:30 p.m. and pregame show at 6:30 p.m.