Washington soars through the air in semifinal win

CEDAR FALLS - Cedar Rapids Washington hasn't had to rely on its pass game to win this season.

The Warriors are capable, but with a rushing attack that averaged 285 yards per game it wasn't often needed. The time arrived to throw the ball and the Warriors, especially quarterback Reid Snitker, responded.

Snitker threw for a season-high 162 yards and two touchdowns, guiding top-ranked Washington to a 28-17 win over No. 2 Bettendorf last night in an Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 4A semifinal at the UNI-Dome.

'I wanted to do whatever it takes to win,” said Snitker, whose previous high was 132 yards week 7 against Ottumwa. 'I just want to win a state championship. That is the goal.”

The opening approach backfired when Bettendorf's Dalton McLaughlin jumped a short route on the far side of the field, intercepting the pass and returning it 41 yards for a 7-0 lead on the game's fourth play.

Snitker credited his teammates for being supportive after the mistake, maintaining his composure. Washington Coach Paul James remained confident in his senior signal caller.

'He's a winner,” James said. 'He's going to do whatever it takes.

'This is his second full season as a varsity quarterback, he understands that sometimes you just have to regroup and come back another play.”

With Washington down 10-0, Snitker and his talented receivers went to work. Snitker hit a streaking Isaiah Nimmers on a 34-yard touchdown pass for Washington's first score. He connected with Landen Akers for a 41-yard pass that set up Johnny Dobbs' first TD run for a 14-10 edge, sparking a 21-point second quarter.

The Warriors (13-0) identified a mismatch, looking to exploit Bettendorf's smaller defensive backs. They were able to capitalize deep, including four passes going for 19 yards or more.

'That was the game plan from the start,” Nimmers said. 'We haven't done it that much this year. Coming into this game, we wanted to do that.”

Washington added some wrinkles, throwing out of a two-tight end set that had mainly been a running formation. Snitker completed 7 of 10 passes, surpassing 100 passing yards for just the fourth time this year. Akers had 86 yards on two receptions, while Nimmers caught three balls for 48 yards.

'Our passing game is interchangeable,” James said. 'We just added things that we haven't done with it, because we thought we could beat their corners.

'Reid delivered the ball. The kids ran and caught the ball.”

The biggest play came with the Warriors grasping a four-point lead to start the fourth. On 2nd-and-21 from the Bulldogs' 45 after a sack, Snitker connected with Akers for a 45-yard TD pass on a post pattern.

'Landon's a speedster,” Snitker said. 'I know all I have to do with him is throw it down the field and he'll go get it.”

Snitker was pressured at times, taking three sacks including two in the first three possessions. He had faith in the protection.

'They regrouped,” James said of the offensive line. 'They did a great job when they had to.”

Washington proved it is a dual-threat on a big stage, returning to the 4A title game for the first time since a runner-up finish in 2003. Snitker was glad to produce his best passing performance now.

'It was nice to have a good passing game,” Snitker said. 'Our next opponent, Waukee or Dowling, they'll have to be ready for that, too, and not just stopping the run.”

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