Perkins denied, for now

MARION — Tony Perkins' date with destiny has been delayed.

Daryn Sebelius ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more as Washington (Iowa) downed Marion, 35-25, in a Class 3A non-district football game Friday night at Thomas Park Field.

Perkins, the Indians' head coach, was bidding to match Les Hipple atop the school's all-time win chart. Perkins is 104-44 in 15 seasons at Marion, 159-90 overall.

His next chance comes next week, at Cascade.

Sebelius, who quarterbacked Washington to the Class 3A championship game last year, completed 14 of 24 passes for 209 yards as the Demons (1-1) shook off an opening-week, 35-0 loss to Pella.

'The difference was, tonight, when we got into the red zone, we scored,' said Demons Coach Garrison Carter.

Washington scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half for a 14-0 lead, then Marion (1-1) got within 14-13 with a pair of TDs early in the third quarter.

The Demons scored the next three touchdowns, though, to stem the tide.

After the Indians got within a point on Kory Walsh's 5-yard touchdown run (they missed the PAT after a delay-of-game penalty), Washington marched 61 yards in nine plays to regain momentum.

A 43-yard pass from Sebelius to Jacob Hennigan on second-and-17 set it up, with Bryce Rickey scoring on a 13-yard run.

Sebelius added a 1-yard TD run and a 39-yard scoring pass to Hennigan as the Demons extended the margin to 35-13.

Marion scored a pair of late TDs in the final three minutes.

The Indians' first-half offensive effort netted one first down (on its first set of downs of the game) and three turnovers, all on lost fumbles.

The first turnover came with the game still scoreless, right after a long punt return by Gage Kray gave the Indians the ball inside the Washington 30.

The second came at the Marion 10, but the Indians survived it.

Washington had first and goal, but marched backward. A false start, a loss of 2, a holding penalty, a sack and another loss forced the Demons to punt it from the 46.

But the Indians coughed it up again at the Marion 23, and this time, Washington capitalized.

A 2-yard sneak from Sebelius — out of the shotgun — put the Demons on the board with 2:11 left in the half.

'I thought our defense, in the first half, was outstanding,' Perkins said. 'It was our offense that got us into trouble. We were down 14-0 because of those fumbles.'

Washington wasn't satisfied with the 7-0 lead, using its timeouts on Marion's next series. It paid off.

A personal foul on the following punt aided the Demons, who started on the Marion 36. Four plays later, Sebelius hooked up with Jack Giardino on a post pattern for a 25-yard touchdown.

The Demons outgained the Indians, 350 yards to 184. Kray, who split time at quarterback with Hayden Meister for the Indians, threw for 127 yards and two TDs.

Washington opens 3A District 5 action next week at Clear Creek Amana.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com