Why there's a 'different kind of energy' when Washington football is on defense
DUNLAP — Defense ruled the night.
In a matchup of the Mid-Illini Conference’s two best defensive teams, Washington capitalized on almost everything in a 28-7 win over Dunlap on Friday.
“(The defense) was amazing,” said Washington senior Garrett Cox, whose team has given up 57 total points this season. “We came in here and wanted to hold them scoreless and that didn’t happen … We weren’t perfect, and I think we can be better.
“I absolutely loved (the defense) tonight. Nobody let up.”
The Panthers (6-1, 5-0) face winless Canton next week and Morton (7-0, 5-0) to close the regular season. Dunlap (6-1, 4-1) next faces unbeaten Morton and closes with Metamora (4-2, 3-2).
How Washington took control
Both teams had drives stall out in the first quarter before Cox helped put the Panthers on the board. The 6-foot, 210-pounder followed Dunlap quarterback Mack Sutter’s eyes, then intercepted a pass deep in Dunlap territory and returned it for a 15-yard touchdown at the 8:54 mark of the second quarter.
Cox says credit for the pick-6 goes to the Washington sideline, from which one of his coaches yelled, "screen react" to him.
“I read the screen,” Cox said. “I just saw the running back go out. I saw the quarterback, and I just saw the ball. He was acting like he threw it to me, almost, it felt like.”
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But what did you see on that play?
“Nothing but green grass,” Cox said with a smile.
Noah Bell-Lorentzen also got in on the scoring just 57 seconds into the second half. Sutter was flushed out of the pocket and threw the ball up to avoid the sack.
Bell-Lorentzen was in the right spot at the right time.
“That kind of shocked me,” the 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior said. “I just turned around, and I didn’t know what happened, saw the ball and took it to the house.
“It was a pretty exciting moment.”
Doing it with defense
Dunlap managed 139 yards (86 passing, 53 rushing), scoring once on an 11-yard TD catch by Gabe Munoz. Jase Harlan and Cox each had sacks with Kainon McQuaery recovering a fumble.
In conference play alone, the Panthers have allowed 22 total points.
“Our defense has been stout all year,” Bell-Lorentzen said. “We just played tough all year. Our d-line tough, linebackers tough, (defensive backs) tough.
“You just feel it. It’s a different kind of energy when we’re all out there.”
McQueary was responsible for the other two TDs. The senior running back scored on runs of 1 and 11 yards out, carrying it 23 times for 97 yards. He and Cox were in on nearly every play with Washington’s "gang tackle" mentality.
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“He’s a kid that’s going to give you everything he’s got at 100 miles per hour the whole time,” Washington coach Darrell Crouch said of McQueary.
Dunlap, ranked No. 7 in the latest Class 6A poll, had more than 14 points scored on them for the first time all season. The Eagles came in with two shutouts but were plagued by penalties and missed opportunities.
Plus, Washington’s defense was on another level.
“I think our defense," Crouch said, "is one of the best around."
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington defense dominates in state-ranked meeting with Dunlap
