Another step closer

Despite taking a strong 35-6 lead over their rival and cruising to a victory, the Demons knew they still had work to do.

Washington turned the 29-point lead into a 42-24 victory over Mt. Pleasant on Friday night, but with the biggest game of the year coming up, the Demons aren?t celebrating.

?We won, but Mt. Pleasant hasn?t won a game all year,? Washington senior Ethan Hansen said. ?I?m not pleased with this. We played strong and let everything get ahead of us. We have a lot of work to do. We are going to get after it in practice and get ready.?

The victory marked Washington?s seventh-straight of the year, putting them at 7-1 with a 5-0 district record. That unblemished district record puts Washington in store for a Thursday night matchup with Davenport Assumption, who also stands at 5-0 in the district.

The winner of that game (played at Brady Street Stadium in Davenport) will win the district, and the opportunity to host their first two playoff games.

?It shouldn?t be hard to get the kids fired up for this one,? Washington second-year head coach Garrison Carter said. ?It?s for the district championship. That?s an opportunity to be a No. 1 seed, which guarantees you at least two home playoff games. That?s the mindset going forward. We?ll have to overcome (a different practice schedule). We work with our kids on adverse situations all the time.?

The passing game flourished for the Demons, as sophomore quarterback Ryan Reighard completed 72 percent of his passes (18-of-25) for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

Three of those scores went to sophomore receiver Jaivonn Willis, who caught 10 passes for 155 yards.

?I don?t think we were planning on throwing too much, but I think it worked out because me and (Jaivonn), we are a pretty good duo,? Reighard said. ?I couldn?t make any of those passes without the O-line protecting me.?

Reighard also led the rushing attack for the Demons, picking up 185 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries.

Washington started the scoring off quickly, taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field, with Reighard finding Willis for a 30-yard score two minutes into the game.

The Demon defense forced a three-and-out and tipped the Mt. Pleasant punt, to take over at the Panther 44-yard line, and after two plays, Demon senior Jack Giardino (4 carries, 63 yards) scampered 35 yards for the touchdown with 8:30 to go in the first quarter.

The next two Panther drives came away with missed field goals, but a second-quarter interception by Foster put Mt. Pleasant in business. Pat Canby caught a screen pass and broke a tackle behind the line of scrimmage before breaking off a 42-yard run to the end zone, making it 14-6 Washington.

A Demon fumble on the next drive led to a Mt. Pleasant interception, as Willis earned the pick. That turnover was converted to points a couple of plays later, as senior Ethan Hansen ran 15 yards on a jet sweep pitch to pick up the touchdown.

A late second-quarter touchdown run by Reighard made it 28-6 at halftime.

After Mt. Pleasant went three-and-out to start the second half, the Demons capitalized on a fourth-down play, when Reighard found Willis for the second time in the game, this time from 40-yards out.

?Every week, we want to get our best players involved, and there?s no question Jaivonn is one of those players,? Carter said. ?Ryan is able to throw it up to him and he?s a gifted receiver.?

The Demons were forced to punt on the ensuing possession, pinning the Panthers down at the 1-yard line. Mt. Pleasant senior quarterback Joe Hess then found DShundric Foster for a 99-yard score to start closing the Demon lead, making it 35-12.

After the Panthers turned it over on downs, Reighard hit Willis for their third touchdown connection in the game, but Mt. Pleasant wasn?t ready to give in quite yet.

Hess found Jack Davis for a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-18, and after a blocked Washington punt, Canby rushed in a score from 1 yard out to close the gap to 42-24.

The Mt. Pleasant onside kick attempt failed, however, and Washington was able to run the clock out on the Panthers.

The victory may have come at a cost for the Demons, who had a couple of starters, including Giardino and junior right guard Gabe Greiner, leave the game due to injury. If they are unable to go for next week, Carter said the mentality will be the same.

?We are a next-man mentality team,? Carter said. ?Every kid we have out here put in the same hard work, and same time in the practice field. They are capable of doing it, they just have to step up and do it.?

Washington?s district-championship game against Assumption will start at 7:30 on Thursday night.