Washington-Liberty football game was a barnburner

IOWA CITY - When Washington and Iowa City Liberty met last Friday, it turned out to be one of the better games of the high school football season so far.

Well, at least in Class 3A, it might have been one of the better games.

Class 8-man had an exciting three-overtime thriller between No. 4 New London and WACO in Wayland at the Warriors' Homecoming. New London won 56-50.

Washington triumphed 38-31 in a back-and-forth game between two ranked teams.

Going into the game, Liberty had been ranked ninth for the second consecutive week and Washington was ranked for the first time this season, tied for 10th with Davenport Assumption.

Washington moved up to eighth with the win while Liberty fell out of the rankings while still receiving votes.

The Demons led 8-0 at the end of the first quarter and had a 16-8 lead at halftime. Things were looking good but a lost fumble on the kick return allowed the Lightning to tie it at 16-16.

Washington took the lead at 23-16 and 30-23, but Liberty scored and converted the point after touchdown for their only lead at 31-30 with 7 minutes, 34 seconds left in the game. The Demons responded quickly. Washington took the lead back at the 5:43 mark of the fourth quarter and a defensive stand with 2:20 left clinched the win.

Washington coach James Harris was asked if in a game with that many scores, was there a deciding play or series,

'There were many turning points,” Harris said. 'Scoring early was huge, the second half kickoff turnover to start the half was tough.”

Harris is also the team's defensive coordinator.

'Late stops by our defense were big,” he said. 'I'm really proud of how our players reacted to being down with 7 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and simply believed in each other, executed and finished the game on top.”

Harris said the difference in the game was the Demon offense and the discipline of the whole team.

'Offensive efficiency and not beating ourselves was the difference,” Harris said. 'We only had three penalties (two false starts were suspect), and platooning our front seven guys allowed us to be the freshest team in the fourth quarter.”

Harris also singled out a certain group.

'The O-line is a huge part of offensive success,” Harris said. 'Ryan Friese, Jadon, Crawford, Lucas Ellis, Kael Adam and Roy Carter all do a great job.”

Harris did not approach the game any differently than any other game.

'No, we had our typical practice routine,” Harris said.

A wave of humid weather did not change any of the Demons' preparation.

'It was hot, but we didn't cut anything out,” Harris said. 'I thought our players had a really good week of practice.”

Because of the state's new Ratings Percentage Index, a non-district game carries weight as opposed to the past when out-of-district games did not matter in who made the playoffs.

'I think it was important because it was the task at hand,” Harris said of the Liberty game. 'We really try and stay committed to the controllable which is how we prepare day to day for our opponent each Friday.”

If there was an added reason for the Demons to claim a victory, it was about playing on an opponent's home field.

'It's always important to win tough games versus quality opponents on the road,” Harris said.

Playing a ranked team or a winless team requires the same approach.

'We pride ourselves on our accountability and work ethic,” Harris said. 'We really can't afford to overlook anyone.”

Harris and his coaching staff have a set way of doing things and practice makes perfect.

'We just have a bunch of great young men who have bought into our program and we show up ever day and commit to the grind,” Harris said.