Aug 23, 2025 3 min read

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Someday, McGuffey might have the size, strength and skill that Washington possesses.

But it was clear Friday night in the high school football opener for both teams that now is not the time.

Washington, using that speed, power and skill it is famous for, came away with a 28-7 victory over McGuffey at Wash High Stadium.

The Highlanders did not win a game all of last season and begin this season 0-1. With a 1-0 start, the Prexies have now split their last dozen games including last year.

The first half ended with Washington holding a tenuous 9-7 lead over the Highlanders.

The scoring started in the first quarter when Tyler Crawford made a 25-yard field goal for the Prexies. The kick ended a nine-play 48-yard drive.

“The first half was really ugly,” said Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic. “We did some good things. We just need to clean some things up. Eventually, we caught them with our speed and counter plays.”

McGuffey won the coin toss and decided to receive. The Highlanders had the ball for eight plays until Wash High’s defense stiffened and forced a punt.

Wash High opened a 9-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The big play came on a 41-yard pass to Caleb Patton that reached the McGuffey 30. Five plays later, Jahvon Woods went over from one yard out.

Washington quarterback Tristan Reed found a wide-open receiver but Washington was called for holding. That seemed to rattle the Prexies and fire up the Highlanders.

“Our kids played really hard,” said McGuffey head coach Nate Parry. “We had too many false-start penalties. That really killed a lot of the drives we had going.”

On Reed’s next attempt, McGuffey’s defense sacked Reed and he fumbled the football. McGuffey recovered and returned it to the one-yard line. Three plays later, Caleb Simons scored from the one with 15 seconds left in the half.

Then things got a little weird. On the extra-point attempt. Stout was perfect but Washington was penalized on the play and before Sam Stout made the kick. Both teams huddled on the sideline and then came out for the ensuing kickoff. But the officials forced McGuffey to rekick the extra point. Stout was perfect and McGuffey trailed by two at halftime.

“I never seen that before,” said Bosnic. “The explanation (the referee) gave was it was a deadball (penalty) before the kick.”

Washington opened up the second half with a 30-yard run that put the Prexies near the goal line.

Blaine Naraskivitch polished off the final few yards to put Washington up 15-7 with 8:37 left in the third quarter.

Patton gave Washington some cushion when he hauled in a 52-yard completion. Ameer Nelson took an end-around carry to the end zone on the next play to put Wash High up 22-7. Reed capped the scoring with a 21-yard run around left end.