Demons strike, lightning strikes, Demons win

WASHINGTON -- Washington High School quarterback Luke Turner snagged a high snap, rolled left and launched a bomb that Zac Stout hauled in for a 36-yard touchdown, then lightning boomed and the game was called with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

It was Stout's second scoring reception of the evening. Ethan Hunt caught a TD pass. Wyatt Stout ran for two scores and Turner had two TD rushes for the No. 7 (Class 3A) Demons.

The only thing that could stop the Washington high school football team's offense Friday was Mother Nature.

The threat of thunderstorms was always lingering, but it did not affect the Homecoming game against Keokuk except to move the start time up and then end it it with a couple minutes left in the third quarter with the Demons ahead 49-6.

'They are a good ball club that is well coached,” Keokuk head coach Josh Roberts said. 'That Turner at quarterback was fun to watch, but hard to coach for. He makes a lot of plays that you can't defend. We put one of our best athletes back there to practice for him, but it's hard to simulate what he did.”

The Washington offense got a gift when Dillon Sanders intercepted Keokuk's third play of the game. Sanders had six tackles on the night and Lucas Kroll 5.5. The Demon defense was led by Bryan Martin and Zayne Laws, who each had two solo tackles for loss. Trashaun Willis also had an interception that he returned 25 yards.

'Laws likes to get in the backfield on most every play,” Washington coach James Harris said.

The Washington offense seems to take advantage of whatever the defense is willing to give. Turner was 14 of 21 for 175 yards passing and ran 12 times for 56 yards.

'Every coach I talk to asks me where they can get a quarterback like I have,” Harris said. 'Luke makes us look really smart but Coach (Don) Miksch does a good job of coaching him up. Coach (Lane) Ranck does a great job with our receivers. Coach (Shannon) Rugg does a nice job with our backs. Coach (Nic) Williams does great with the offensive line. As much as we have really talented skill position guys, it's 11 guys as one. It's all 65 guys doing their best for us to prepare every week.”

Wyatt Stout had 13 rushes for 54 yards. 'It was a lot of fun being out there because I just enjoy everybody on my team,” Wyatt said. 'When I'm gone for the end zone, I'm not gonna let anybody stop me. The linemen opened up a hole, I shot it and that's what needs to be done.”

Offensive guard Jaden Crawford said, 'We are out here to win and the whole team works really hard to do that. We have a a lot of good coaches and good coaching makes a difference. I think our defensive line is one of the best there is and we have to go against them in practice, so that makes us a lot better.”

'I had my eye on the ball the entire time,” Zac Stout said about the last play of the game. 'I told myself I had to catch it because it was a perfect ball from Luke. It just fell right into my hand.”

Stout finished with six receptions for 116 yards. Spencer Sotelo caught four passes while Brady Knutson had two receptions and Reece Mayer one.

The Demons will face their stiffest test of the season when No. 4 Solon comes to town Friday.