Demon freshmen snap five-game losing streak with win over Mt. Pleasant

Christian Mejia?s 44-yard touchdown run and Jack Giardino?s two-point conversion run in the closing minutes of Friday?s freshman football game at Case Field lifted Washington to a 27-26 win over rival Mt. Pleasant.

Following Mejia?s touchdown, the Demons decided to go for the two-point conversion and the win.

?I actually called timeout and said we were going for a two-point conversion because we?d already talked about that,? Washington coach Jay Zieglowsky said. ?I asked the boys what play they wanted to run. Jack suggested one, and it worked.?

Mt. Pleasant got one last chance, and drove deep into Demon territory. But the Panthers missed a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

?That surprised me because they had not kicked an extra point all night,? Zieglowsky said. ?They had gone for two on every touchdown. I expected them to run one last play, but they came out in field goal formation.?

The kick sailed to the right, and the Demons (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak.

?It was an exciting game,? Zieglowsky said. ?It wasn?t good for my blood pressure, but it was an exciting game.?

Washington scored first in the game. The Demons took the opening kickoff and drove for a touchdown, which came on a 33-yard run by Giardino.

?The boys were fired up to play Mt. Pleasant on rivalry week,? Zieglowsky said. ?I pulled them aside after that and said, ?Do not let up. This is not going to be easy.??

It wasn?t. Mt. Pleasant led 14-7 at halftime, and Washington trailed 26-19 before Mejia scored on a 44-yard run late in the game.

Mejia finished with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, and Bryce Rickey added 99 yards and a score on 20 attempts. Giardino finished with 46 yards rushing and a touchdown on nine carries.

Giardino also recovered a fumble, while Austin Scheef and Michael Ellingson intercepted passes. Rickey made a team-high 12 tackles, and Jose Tapia added 11. Oscar German and Jacob Mask contributed four tackles apiece.

The Washington freshman football team plays at Fort Madison at 5 p.m. this Friday.