WASHINGTON – For Washington Community High School’s football team, the goal at the beginning of the 2010 remains as it has since head coach Darrell Crouch took the program over in 2005: Win an IHSA championship. Under Crouch, the Panthers have made the playoffs three seasons running.
The Panthers went undefeated in the regular season, entering the 2009 playoffs at 9-0, advancing to beat Rich East and Sterling in the opening two rounds of the IHSA playoffs before being handed a third-round 42-7 upset by Joliet Catholic Academy. Going into his sixth season at Washington, Crouch has a 34-12 record and wants to see the Class of 2011 join the previous three senior classes in getting to State Finals in November.
In the last few seasons, the Panthers had been playing Springfield schools to round out a non-conference section in the schedule. But with the contract between Washington and Springfield completed at the end of last season, the Panthers will play a pair of Peoria schools to begin this season before diving into their Mid-Illini Conference schedule.
Washington visits Peoria High Aug. 27, and Richwoods Sept. 3. In fact, Washington plays three road games before their first home game in a brand new facility. The third away game is at East Peoria Sept. 10. Dunlap is the first guest at Washington’s new football complex on Sept. 17, for a 7:30p.m. contest.
And Crouch asks a very serious question, with what might be a seemingly obvious answer: “What (goal) do you think has been on Metamora’s blackboard since week two of the ’09 season?” The answer, of course, is beat Washington. But with the manpower Crouch has coming this season, the battle for supremacy in the M-I will remain a tough one.
Position-By-Position: Going through the positions, Crouch has upperclassmen on the squad who have been taught his system of play for all four of their high school years, now, and will graduate in the spring. Senior Isaac Fisher will take the controls under center when the season opens against the Lions. He became the Panthers’ starter after Drew Schlink was hurt, leaving Fisher to lead the team the remainder of the season. “He’s a running threat, he can run the option, (and) he can throw the ball,” Crouch said. Junior Zach Little will serve as Fisher’s backup, playing tight end, and defensive end.
As for the receiving corps Fisher will be throwing to, Crouch called them “a good group,” adding the thought that, “I think our skills are, at least, as good as if not better than they were last year.”
Fisher will be looking for senior Ryan Grebner, junior Dakota Bullard, Deshon Sinclair, and Cameron Johnson for completion help. Johnson is returning to the game after sitting out of football for a year, Crouch said.
Fisher will also have a selection of tight ends to throw to, keeping defenders busy, including Little, Brad Kuchenbecker, and Justin Klemm. Crouch said these three players can be “rotated between defense and offense” when need be, and if the Panthers opt to use four wideouts, he will pull the tight ends off the field.
Washington could audition some sophomore receivers for varsity games, too. Specifically, Crouch could rotate Jason McCoy and Brice Wright into game action, too.
Cameron Johnson will serve the Panthers’ punter/kicker. “It’s pretty tough to try to replace (2010 Washington grad) Toni Ramadani,” Crouch said. “But when you talk about making sure we can make extra points and field goals from 30 yards on in, Cameron Johnson looked capable. He is doing real well.”
At linebacker, Connor Underwood can play in any of the slots in the defensive backfield, Crouch said. Underwood will likely be joined by junior Charlie Ludolph, senior Eric Jaszarowski, Matt Friend, Sinclair, and Klemm.
As for playing the Pekin Dragons, Crouch said, “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s tough to tell what Pekin will be like from last year to this year. I think that our conference is going to be tougher this year.” Washington visits the Dragons Sept. 24 at 7:30p.m.
But Crouch admits two position categories concern him because they need shoring up: Offensive line, and defensive line, specifically at the end position.
Crouch said they are “the two most unproven areas” Washington has. On the offensive line, only Friend and Doug Schrock are the only seniors on the line. Juniors Kiel Dosset and Mike Ernst are on the offensive line this season, with Dosset serving as center. Jacob Cox is in competition for a tackle slot.