Youth leading Demons? air raid

Most of the time in football, coaches would tell you that experience tends to win out.

It?s the ?been there, done that,? mentality that can help you win games. However, for the Washington football team, it?s come down to the youth to help carry the Demons through the air.

While the rushing attack dominated in last week?s victory over Marion (See: 324 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns), the Demons (1-1) have turned to a young top receiver, who seems to tower over just about anyone he goes against.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 177 pounds, sophomore Jaivonn Willis is among the tallest listed players on the team, and that has helped his sophomore quarterback, Ryan Reighard, get comfortable in his new position.

?He?s just so athletic,? Reighard said. ?He gets off the ball well and he?s so long and lanky, and I can throw the ball anywhere around him and he?ll be there. I trust him.?

Willis, who spent much of his freshman season as a quarterback, was promoted to the varsity squad later in the year before suffering an injury which sidelined him for the end of the football season and much of the basketball season.

In his time on the varsity squad, he caught six passes, four of which went for touchdowns.

?(The time on varsity) helped me a lot,? Willis said. ?It has prepared me for this year and makes me want to work harder and to go hard this year.?

This season, Willis has made a big impact in the passing game, posting nine receptions for 244 yards and a touchdown in the first two games. In both games, Willis has gone over 100 yards receiving.

With early success, the sophomore receiver isn?t letting the prior injury hold him back.

?I don?t really think about it (anymore),? Willis said. ?When it happened I just wanted to work even harder and to build more strength for myself.?

He noted that the things he wants to see himself improve on are his speed and vocal leadership, but with the abilities Willis is displaying, his head coach thinks he?s already very tough to beat.

?He?s just a physical mismatch,? Demon head coach Garrison Carter said. ?For as young as he is, he?s extremely aggressive and physical off the line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively. He?s really explosive in the pass game with the ability to go up and get the ball in the air, which has been a huge benefit to Ryan.?

Willis? lone touchdown of the season came late in the game against Pella, when sophomore backup Matt Roder came into the game and connected with Willis for a 68-yard score, leaving Reighard still looking for his first career varsity touchdown pass. The sophomore quarterback is confident that this could be the week he breaks that seal.

?I?m ready to have that first touchdown pass,? Reighard said. ?It?s ready to be there, and it?s just a matter of putting that timing together. I think we are ready for it this week.?

With Reighard new to the position this season, having Willis as a strong receiver along with a talented offensive line, the Demons are doing everything they can to help ease him into the situation.

?Our offensive line has been so fantastic,? Carter said. ?Breaking in a sophomore quarterback that has never played the position before, you need a lot of those things. The offensive line has been fantastic and having some big targets to throw to has been great. It takes 11 guys to throw the football successfully.?

As the Demons enter district play against an 0-2 Clear Creek-Amana team, the Demons have the first victory out of the way, which should take some of the pressure off of the team.

?You don?t want to go 0-9,? Carter said. ?Getting that win means we aren?t doing that, and we expect to do a lot more. We expect to compete in the district and to do some big things in the playoffs. We just have to start winning games.?

The Demons will take on Clear Creek-Amana at 7:30 p.m. at Case Field on Friday.