Washington 'competed well’ against Muscatine

WASHINGTON — Shoring up positions, figuring out rotations, staying healthy were goals for new Washington Demon head football coach Nic Ehret Friday when the Muscatine Muskies visited Case Field.

Muscatine was 3-5 last season and lost its final game 28-0 to Bettendorf, a team the Demons beat in the first game last year 19-10. Muscatine is a 5A school this season, Washington 3A.

“We competed well, and that’s a big thing I want to look for,” Ehret said. “Scheme-wise, we knew there would be some things we needed work on.”

That is the purpose of scrimmages.

Ethan Patterson got his first full taste of the quarterback position after Trashaun Willis’ graduation.

“There were a few miscues, but it was definitely a step up from last year,” said Patterson, who has played a number of positions but should be the quarterback slot for this season. “That is what I’m really looking forward to.”

The offense worked on getting the base plays down.

Will the Demon offense be more run heavy without Willis’ strong arm throwing the ball?

“I guess just have to wait and see,” said Patterson, who was a pitcher on the baseball team his freshman year. “We have so many different plays, and they are for all kinds of defenses, so we will go with what’s working. It’s fun to have all those options.”

Ehret said he was satisfied “on both sides of the ball but we are still banged up.”

Ehret mentioned Patterson, John Prochaska, Javaughn Stuart, Ethan Zieglowsky as making good plays. “The guys that have played, played how we thought they would,” he said.

Ehret cited Jim Strabala, DeShaun Westphal-Edwards and Brayden Hartman for their defense.

“We have to make sure we are ready because we are far from perfect,” Ehret said.

The Demons travel to Burlington’s Bracewell Stadium for the season opener. The Grayhounds were 1-5 including a 69-0 loss to the Demons. Washington was 8-1.

"Bracewell is beautiful,“ Ehret said. ”My dad is from there, and I grew up hearing stories about ‘I threw my first touchdown at Bracewell.’ It’s a natural bowl, and it’s very impressive what they’ve done to it. If we can’t be at Case Field, then that’s a great place to open the season.“