Washington claims district title

CEDAR RAPIDS — The celebration was subdued and matter of fact.

Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Paul James congratulated the Warriors to a district championship and they responded with a brief clap. They know there are more bricks and mortar to piece together, building a state title contender.

'It's a big step but just one of them,' Washington Junior Isaiah Nimmers said. 'We want to get to that state championship. This is a good accomplishment along the way.'

The top-ranked Warriors clinched the Class 4 District 6 crown with a 28-7 win over Iowa City High last night at Kingston Stadium. Washington won its 14th straight regular-season game.

High expectations have surrounded the Warriors since the start of this year. Work remains for them to be the No. 1 team at the end of the year, instead of holding that spot Week 8.

'We've got things to continue working on,' James said. 'We've got a few different pieces to the puzzles. We have to keep plugging them together. We'll see.'

Now the Warriors (8-0, 4-0) have a district title to go along with last year's Mississippi Valley Conference divisional championship as the Iowa High School Athletic Association eliminated conference play after 2013.

'It reflects on how hard we worked,' Connor Vincent said. 'The seniors all four years and everybody, it was all the work this summer in the weight room and the track.

Washington literally didn't trail from the opening kickoff. Nimmers sparked the Warriors, taking it 92 yards for a touchdown, making it 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game. He started near the left hash, slanted to the right and bolted up the middle of the field for the score.

The mission is to prove a quick point with big-play abilities, and put the opposition on its heels early.

'It sets the tone for the whole game,' Nimmers said. 'If they had any thought of staying with us, starting off strong like that brings down their confidence.'

The game plan to slow the game tempo and control the ball worked for City High, even though it didn't produce a score. The Little Hawks held a 33-13 edge in offensive plays in the opening half.

Washington's needed just seven plays to go 88 yards, taking a 14-0 lead on Tavian Patrick's 16-yard run. Patrick took the handoff bounced outside, read a block and raced to the corner. Snitker helped set the play up with a 39-yard scramble to the 16.

Patrick made a nice cut on an outside run for a 7-yard touchdown in the third, putting Washington up, 21-0. He also helped the Warriors control the ball in the last half of the fourth, finishing with 95 yards on eight carries.

Patrick and Johnny Dobbs is a tough running back combo for defenses. Dobbs added 55 rushing yards, including a 32-yard run that set up a 1-yard TD pass from Snitker to O'Rien Vance for the final score.

James alternates them each series, keeping them fresh since they both play defense.

'They both have different running styles as everybody can see now,' James said. 'For them to rotate like that, giving them a power back and a bursting back … I think the backs are growing.'

City High (2-6, 2-2) was efficient on offense but failed to close any of their first-half drives with points. The Little Hawks advanced deep into Warrior territory, reaching the Washington 39, 6 and 17 on three straight possessions.

The last two resulted in a field goal attempts. The first was blocked and the Little Hawks missed a 33-yard kick wide left as the first half expired.

James said the Washington defense played better in the second half. The Warriors have relied on a bend, but don't break mentality at times.

'We've had a lot of experiences like that this year,' Vincent said. 'We move to our goal line personnel and everyone knows what to do. Maybe it just takes them getting down to the 10 for everybody to mentally put it together that we have to stop them.'

The game plan to slow the game tempo and control the ball worked for City High, even though it didn't produce a score. The Little Hawks held a 33-13 edge in offensive plays in the opening half.

'The first half we were moving the ball up and down the field,' City High Coach Dan Sabers said. 'We couldn't find ways to get it in the end zone.

'Their defense has been excellent all year. We're closing the gap.'

The Little Hawks got on the board in the fourth quarter when Nate Wieland connected with Will Noack for a 21-yard TD pass, closing within 21-7. Wieland led the Little Hawks with 86 yards passing and 109 rushing.

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