Demons win late night thriller over Chiefs

KEOKUK — Washington Demon football made its journey to a playoff birth much more likely on Friday night, pulling out a tightly contested 28-27 victory over Keokuk.

The Class 3A District 5 bout was a thriller through and through.

Both teams wasted no time scoring on their first drives of the night.

For Washington, both running back Tayven Stuart and quarterback Ethan Patterson found the end zone on short carries of three and two yards.

Keokuk’s Brenton Hoard matched the Demons two scores with a pair of touchdowns passes through the air.

The two teams went back and forth through much of the first half as neither could break the 14-14 tie.

Late in the half, Keokuk would be the first to create separation as the Chiefs picked off an Ethan Patterson pass and capped off great field position with six points on a Hoard touchdown run.

Keokuk headed into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.

Through the third quarter, neither team found a way to score. Keokuk had a chance to make it a two possession game on a field goal, following a muffed Washington punt that put the Chiefs into Washington territory.

The Demon’s Nick Dittrich got a hand on the field goal attempt to keep Washington within seven.

Heading into the fourth, Washington still found itself down 21-14.

In the fourth, Washington was able to capitalize on a Keokuk muffed punt, which gave them a short trip to six from just 35 yards out.

DeShaun Westphal-Edwards crossed the goal line from just five yards out to tie the game at 21-21.

Washington got another big break on the ensuing kickoff as the Demons recovered the squib kick that was mishandled by Keokuk.

Stuart then gave Washington the lead on a 15-yard rush.

Keokuk was able to march down the field on the final drive of the night, with Hoard putting the Chiefs within one on a rush in on fourth down.

Instead of trying to force overtime, Keokuk trying to win it with a two-point conversion, but the Washington defense stood strong, knocking the pass away for the win.

With the win, Washington moves to 3-4 on the year and 1-2 in the district. The Demons will take on Fairfield (4-3, 2-1) next week.