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WASHINGTON — Two early-season losses taught Washington a few important lessons.
“We had all the pieces at first,” Washington senior Noah Bell said following Friday’s 31-10 win over state-ranked Mid-Illini Conference visitor Dunlap. “We were still just trying to get things figured. Our first few games, we definitely showed our bright spots, but we also showed where we were weak in.
“We made sure to toughen those spots up, and here we are now.”
Washington has put those two defeats to Maple Park Kaneland and Kankakee behind them.
The Panthers (5-2, 5-0) became playoff eligible with the Dunlap victory, while now riding a five-game winning streak. Two more conference victories would make Washington the first back-to-back undefeated M-I champions since Metamora had five undefeated league campaigns from 2004-2008.
Dunlap’s Jackson Oldham (6) slams into Washington’s Noah Bell in the first half of their Week 7 high school football game Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at Babcook Field in Washington. The Panthers defeated the Eagles 31-10.
And its the defense playing a huge role in jumpstarting the current run.
“They came to play,” Washington coach Todd Stevens said of his team who is allowing 6.4 points a game in M-I play. “Little worried about some of the matchups. (Dunlap’s) got some tools.
“We want to play (teams) that are going to test. That will put us in better positions to defend teams like this in the future. When we get in the heart of the Mid-Illini, we’re going to need it, and we did.”
Potentially, the biggest mismatch for Washington coming into the contest was defending Dunlap junior tight end Mack Sutter. But the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Division-I recruit was held without a catch. Panthers defensive back A.J. Jones shadowed the four-star prospect, who had a team-high 26 catches and six touchdowns through…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ihsa-football-scores-2-tough-060333374.html
Author : Journal Star
Publish date : 2024-10-12 06:03:33
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