Washington first team out of 3A playoffs last season

WASHINGTON - Change is always hard.

Washington was left out of the football postseason last year under a new system that determined who made the Iowa High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The IHSAA began using a Ratings Percentage Index in 2018 to determine its at-large playoff qualifiers. Ideally, the top 16 teams qualify and the Demons were No. 16 in the RPI but a different 6-3 team (Carroll) qualified because it was a district champion. Carroll was No. 18 in the RPI and lost in the opening round 51-7.

The Demons will play the same schedule of teams as last year but the home sites will be flipped.

Last year started with a record of 0-2, losing at home 40-14 to Marion (which finished 4-5 after its quarterback was injured) and falling on the road 30-20 to Oskaloosa. Oskaloosa finished the regular season 8-1 and No. 7 in the RPI but lost to Harlan in the first round of the playoffs.

The Demons won their next three games last season.

A home win over Iowa City Liberty, 35-19, was followed by the game of the year for the Demons, which was, fittingly, the Homecoming game.

A 54-yard pass play from Luke Turner to Cade Hennigan allowed the Demons to tie West Liberty with a last-second field goal by Logan Escher, then bask in the victory of a 34-27 overtime triumph.

The Comets will try to avenge that when they host Washington Sept. 20.

The Demons won at Keokuk, 28-6, the following week. This year, on Sept. 27 Keokuk will be the Demons' Homecoming game.

Washington lost for the final time last season when Solon scored a 37-14 win. That game will be in Washington this season.

A 32-7 home win over Ft. Madison was highlighted by a Trashaun Willis interception. Trailing 15-7 in the third quarter, Fort Madison had third-and-goal, but Willis made the score 22-7, going 94 yards for a touchdown with the pick.

Next came a 24-22 home win over Fairfield in a battle that had six lead changes, another Willis interception, three Turner rushing TDs and an 81-yard Ethan Hunt catch for a score.

The final game was at Mt. Pleasant between two 5-3 teams. The Panthers led Class 3A District 6 in passing last season while Washington was fourth, but Turner went 21 for 36 for 348 yards and two TDS in the 28-23 win, which saw Hunt score on a 77-yard pass reception. The end result was a 28-23 Washington win.

Solon won the district with a 5-0 record, 9-0 overall but lost its playoff game 48-13 to Western Dubuque.

Washington was second at 4-1, followed by Mt. Pleasant at 3-2, Fairfield at 2-3 (4-5 overall), Ft. Madison 1-4 (3-6) and Keokuk 0-5 (1-8).

The full Washington schedule is listed below with district games marked with an asterisk.

August 30 at Marion

September 6 vs. Oskaloosa

September 13 at Iowa City Liberty

September 20 at West Liberty

September 27 vs. Keokuk*

October 4 vs. Solon*

October 11 at Ft. Madison*

October 18 at Fairfield*

October 25 vs. Mt. Pleasant*