Postseason hangs in the balance

WASHINGTON — The 2022 high school football playoffs are coming up fast, and while some teams know their fate already, Washington and Fairfield are squarely on the bubble, and that makes Friday’s game at Case Field one of the biggest of the season in the Union coverage area.

Fairfield comes into the game with a 4-3 overall record. The Trojans are 2-1 in district play, and if they can win out, Fairfield will clinch a playoff spot. Washington is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the district, but could still get in to the postseason with two wins and a little help.

If there is one team Fairfield has struggled with over the last decade, it’s the Demons. The last time Fairfield beat Washington in football was 2009. The two teams didn’t play in 2010 or 2011, and Washington has won 10 in a row since.

The two teams played in a classic last season. Washington held on to beat Fairfield 17-14.

Ethan Patterson did it all for the Demons the last time these two teams met. The Demon quarterback rushed for 106 yards, threw for 56 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 54 yards.

The Demon defense did a good job of slowing down Fairfield’s passing game last season. Tate Allen was held to eight completions for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Max Weaton only caught two passes for 28 yards.

So far this year, the Demons have relied heavily on the running game. Running back Tayven Stuart has rushed for 497 yards and eight touchdowns, and Patterson has scampered for 64 yards and one score himself. Jude Brown leads the receivers with 166 yards and one touchdowns.

Fairfield, on the other hand, has gotten most of its work done through the air. Allen has thrown for 1,236 yards and 18 touchdowns, and is also the team’s leading rusher, with 530 yards and six scores. Weaton has caught 36 passes for 518 yards and 11 scores.

The two defenses have struggled to get takeaways through the air, as both teams have just two interceptions on the season. Bode Hoskins has picked off two passes for Fairfield, and both Patterson and Aidan Ulin have one for the Demons.

Washington has scooped up six fumbles this year. Casen Evans leads the way with two fumble recoveries, and Julian Carter has the team’s lone defensive touchdown.

If Fairfield knocks off Washington for the first time in 13 years, the Trojans will very likely be one win away from a playoff spot. Barring a monster upset of Solon this weekend, Grinnell should come into Fairfield with one district loss next week, meaning the winner of that game would finish second in the district.

Washington has hopes of a three-way tie for second if they beat Fairfield and Grinnell loses both its last two games. Both the Demons and Trojans would have to rely on the RPI ratings if neither of those things happens.