Washington Homecoming History

As the 2012 Washington Demons prepare for their Homecoming game with Marion, The Washington Evening Journal is taking a look back at 50 years of Homecoming history. What follows is a look at the last 50 years of Washington Homecoming games in five-year intervals, with a summarized version of The Journal?s account of the game.

2007

Keokuk 36, Washington 6

Washington?s defense did exactly what it wanted to do ? force Keokuk?s pass-happy offense, which was led by current Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg, to run the football.

Unfortunately, that strategy backfired, as the Chiefs ran for 201 yards as they handed the Demons their worst Homecoming loss since 1984.

Washington didn?t score until early in the fourth quarter, when senior quarterback Alex Klopfenstein found senior Ethan Schmitt for a 52-yard pass play that set up Klopfenstein?s 4-yard touchdown run. Jason Ganoe?s Demons totaled just 155 yards of offense and gained just seven first downs in the game.

The Chiefs, who went on to win the Class 3A state title that season, totaled 396 yards of offense. Vandenberg finished 25-for-41 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

2002

Centerville 33, Washington 6

Centerville piled up 362 yards of offense and forced four Washington turnovers, giving the Big Reds their first win over the Demons since district play began in 1992.

?We did not play well. We just got a good old-fashioned backyard whooping,? said Washington head coach Chuck Henry.

Quarterback Justin Davis scored on a 1-yard keeper just before halftime for Washington?s lone touchdown.

1997

Washington 42, Fort Madison 6

After being crowned Homecoming king earlier in the day, Joshua Lowe picked off two passes and caught a long touchdown pass to lead Washington to a 42-6 victory over Fort Madison that night.

Matt Doughty ran for a pair of touchdowns, and quarterback Bret Greiner had a touchdown run in addition to his pass to Lowe. Nathan Meyer and Jared TeBockhorst added long touchdown runs late in the game.

With the victory, Lloyd Sisco?s Demons won their sixth straight game and nailed down their third playoff appearance in a row. Washington went on to reach the state semifinals and the UNI-Dome for the first time before falling to top-ranked Decorah.

1992

Washington 26, Davis County 0

The headline of the game story that ran in the Oct. 12, 1992 edition of The Washington Evening Journal read, ?Washington runs past Davis County, 26-0.? That?s exactly what happened, as the Demons rushed for 346 yards and attempted no passes in the Homecoming victory.

Jason Walter ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and David McAllister also topped the century mark, rushing for 101 yards and a score. Quarterback Ryan Koller ran for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Chuck Henry?s defense was equally dominant. Sparked by the return of all-state linebacker Kris Griffith, who missed the first five games of the season due to an aneurism in his right hand that required surgery, the Demons held Davis County to 100 yards of total offense, only 28 of which came on the ground. Griffith, Damien Garrels and Jerry Guengerich made 11 tackles apiece to lead the Washington defense.

1987

Washington 34, Keokuk 0

Washington put an end to a six-game Homecoming losing streak by dispatching the hapless Chiefs 34-0. The Demons were overjoyed to finally end the Homecoming hex.

?You better believe it feels good,? said Washington cornerback Kevin Horak, who had one of the Demons? two interceptions in the win. ?We?ve been waiting a long time for this.?

Chuck Henry?s Demons churned out 326 rushing yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in the blowout victory. Joe Chebuhar led the attack with 103 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Mike Vayan also reached the century mark with 100 yards on 13 tries. Quarterback Rick Giardino skillfully engineered Washington?s wishbone offense and contributed 55 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. And Troy Kleese, who had seen limited action as a fullback prior to the Keokuk game, added 50 yards and two scores on seven tries.

1982

Mt. Pleasant 16, Washington 6

Rain and the Panthers dampened Washington?s Homecoming spirits as Mt. Pleasant defeated the Demons 16-6. On a field that was more suited for mud wrestling than football, Mt. Pleasant ended seven years of frustration against the Demons.

It was obvious that the monsoon-type rain affected the way the two teams played ? only nine passes were attempted in the game. David Howell?s 41-yard touchdown run in the second quarter turned out to be the Washington?s only score in the game. With the loss, Chuck Henry?s Demons fell to 0-6 on the season, and they went on to finish the year winless.

1977

Burlington-Notre Dame 7, Washington 0

After heavy rains postponed the Homecoming game to Saturday night, the Demons coughed up the ball seven times to help Burlington-Notre Dame take a 7-0 upset win in a drab game.

Dale Harter?s Demons fumbled the ball to the Nikes on their first two possessions. Washington gave away the pigskin twice more on fumbles and three times on interceptions before the disappointing affair was over.

With all the turnovers choking off Demon chances, Notre Dame was able to make its first-period touchdown stand up. That score came, appropriately enough, after the Nikes got the ball on a fumble.

The lone bright spot was Washington?s defense. Denny Pacha and Gary Ledger intercepted passes, and Stacy Bandy made 20 tackles.

1972

Washington 22, Fairfield 14

Washington took a 20-0 halftime lead and then held off the Trojans for a 22-14 win.

Trailing 20-14, Fairfield drove to the Washington 30-yard line late in the game, but a fourth down pass was a foot shy of a first down.

All three of Washington?s touchdowns came on passes from Larry Hysell to Dennis Witthoft.

1967

Fort Madison 7, Washington 6

A blocked extra-point kick provided the margin of victory for Fort Madison.

Roger Harrington?s Demons, after a somewhat uninspired first half, came alive in the second half to mount their touchdown drive, only to have Fort Madison?s Mike Flach break through and block Dave Gregory?s point-after try, which would have tied the contest.

Sophomore quarterback Bill Schooley, making his first varsity start in place of his injured brother, Ron, led the Demons on that scoring drive, and Pat Hennigan capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

1962

Washington 13, Fairfield 6

Washington entered its Homecoming tilt a tremendous underdog, but the Demons won their first game of the season with a 13-6 victory over highly rated Fairfield.

Washington was a team counted out by many and pointed to as the squad most likely to go through the season not only without any victories, but also scoreless. So it was a sweet win for coach Harold Stevens and the Demons, who had suffered through three straight defeats to start the 1962 season without scoring a single point.

Washington?s first score came with five minutes left in the second quarter as junior quarterback Bob McClure rolled out to pass on third-and-10 from the Trojan 23-yard line. McClure was rushed, but he spotted his fullback, Jerry Stalder, open in the end zone. He threw a perfect strike for the Demons? first touchdown of the season. After a Fairfield fumble, McClure scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to put Washington ahead 13-0 just before halftime.