Demons win in a flash

FAIRFIELD ? Lightning strikes in the fourth quarter prematurely ended Washington?s annual rivalry matchup with the Trojans, but two rushing touchdowns from Ryan Reighard and a stingy Demons? defense sacked Cameron Baumann six times en route to a 23-0 shutout on the road.

On paper, it wasn?t a pretty game offensively, as Reighard finished 11 of 19 for 121 yards and two interceptions. Jack Giardino led the Demons with 57 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. Reighard added 39 of his own. Jaivon Willis, who came into the contest with three straight 100-yard receiving games, did not record a reception.

?Our biggest thing offensively is there were a lot of missed assignments,? Washington head coach Garrison Carter said. ?It?s about doing your individual job and that needs to be rectified. That?s the big focus this week is making sure we are sound in the things we are doing.?

Washington elected to receive after winning the opening coin toss, but the teams traded a couple three-and-outs in the early going, possibly due to an earlier start time with inclement weather in the forecast.

Earlier rain and wet field conditions caused Reighard to fall down on consecutive snaps, forcing a 4th and 23. A good punt pinning the Trojans inside their own 20 set the Demons up for the first big play of the game.

Baumann dropped back and threw to his right toward Alex Crile, but Jack Redlinger got there first to intercept the pass and return the ball to the Trojans? two yard line, setting up Reighard?s first score of the night and giving the Demons an early 6-0 lead.

?I?d put our defensive staff up against anyone in the state of Iowa,? Carter said. ?They spend a ton of time preparing each week and put together a great game plan each week, and the credit goes to the kids for executing it.?

An onside kick went into the arms of Fairfield, setting the Trojans up with good field position. But, Washington was able to stabilize defensively and force a punt, despite a holding penalty giving Fairfield a first down.

Reighard and the offense lined up on fourth down, but the sophomore quarterback took the snap and punted the ball inside the Fairfield 20. The ensuing Fairfield drive looked like a three-and-out, but a high snap on the punt play went over Baumann?s head and the Trojans? junior could do nothing but fall on it at the 10 yard line and turn the ball over to Washington with prime field position.

Three plays later, the Demons lined up for a field goal that was blocked by Fairfield?s Fejon Redd. The Trojans picked up the ball to stifle Washington?s scoring chance, but couldn?t run it all the way back for their own score.

After the halftime break, Washington forced a three-and-out defensively and drove the length of the field. On fourth and four at the Trojans? 15, Reighard got Fairfield to jump offside and gave his offense the first down. Giardino punched it into the end zone and the two-point conversion was good to make it 14-0 Demons.

Mistakes abound for both teams afterward as Fairfield failed to convert on a fake punt to turn the ball over on downs. Reighard took the next possession and threw deep to his left, but Jordan Reid made a twirling interception on the underthrown pass to end the threat.

The defense held fast, forcing another Fairfield punt. Washington drove into the red zone, but Reighard?s pass to the goal line was deflected into the arms of a diving Reid to end the possession and set Fairfield up with the ball from their own two-yard line.

At that point, the Demon defense put matters into its own hands.

Baumann took the snap in his own end zone, handed the ball to Redd and the senior running back for Fairfield was immediately hit by Ethan Hansen and dropped in the end zone for a safety to make it 16-0.

Reid would foil another scoring opportunity for Washington in the fourth quarter. A long pass from Reighard was deflected high into the air, but the savvy senior jumped up and volleyball spiked it into the ground to end the possession.

Washington sacked Baumann on fourth down to get the ball back. Reighard would convert the final full possession of the game into a two-yard touchdown run to make it 23-0.

With the win, Washington moves to 3-1 on the year and 2-0 in the Southeast Conference. The loss drops Fairfield to 1-3 and 0-2 in the SEC. Washington will return home to face off with Solon on Friday, while the Trojans will travel to Keokuk for a matchup with the Chiefs.