Experience shows for Washington in rout

CEDAR RAPIDS - At this time last season, Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Paul James was looking for answers from a young team that had just dropped a 14-10 decision to crosstown Cedar Rapids Kennedy and was winless in three starts.

A year later, James' squad is a year older and the experience shows.

Senior quarterback Reid Snitker completed his first six passes for 89 yards and a score, and added a rushing TD as Class 4A No. 4 Washington routed Kennedy, 41-7, in a non-district game last night at Kingston Stadium.

'They're used to the system. They understand what we're trying to do,” James said. 'The big thing is what they've done in the weight room and conditioning.”

Snitker got Washington (2-0) on the board with a 6-yard slant for a touchdown to receiver Maurice Arrington with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter.

'They were taking away the run,” James said. 'So our bootlegs were there. ... Fortunately, we connected.”

Kennedy muffed the ensuing pooch kickoff and Washington recovered at the Cougar 37. Snitker hit receiver Landen Akers down the right sideline for 33 yards to the 4-yard-line before scoring on a keeper up the middle to extend the Warriors' lead to 13-0.

'That was definitely big,” Snitker said. 'To punch it in twice in a row and get some good stops on defense. That defeated them a little bit.”

Junior tailback Tavian Patrick opened the third quarter with a 29-yard touchdown run to cap a 12-play, 72-yard drive to put Washington up, 20-0.

Kennedy's will appeared broken when Washington senior Landen Akers fielded a punt against the left sideline at his own 23, broke a few tackles, eluded several other tacklers and raced down the sideline for a 77-yard touchdown and a 27-0 Washington lead.

'It was return left,” Akers said. 'I may have broke a few tackles, I got some blocks at the end. Just came out and scored.”

Washington rushed for 284 yards, led by Johnny Dobbs with 78 yards and a score on 10 carries. Fullback Caleb Smothers ran for 50 yards, including a 30-yard rumble for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Quarterback Sammy Lizarraga was 9-of-26 passing for 111 yards for Kennedy (0-2).

Washington hosts eighth-ranked Iowa City West next week and Kennedy travels to No. 10 North Scott.

l Comments: douglas.miles@sourcemedia.net