Washington Rallies To Win Another 2A Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a highly anticipated Class 2A state championship rematch, it was #1 Washington knocking off #2 Millwood 41-24. After giving up a few big plays in the first half, Washington found themselves trailing 18-7 at halftime. The Warriors then outscored the Falcons 34-6 in the third and fourth quarters to run away with another Class 2A crown. For the second straight year, Washington beat Millwood to finish off a perfect 15-0 season. This Warrior senior class just finished off careers where they went 56-3 in high school, made it to four consecutive state championship games and won the last two. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors opened the scoring in the first minute of the game as senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='215208' first='Major' last='Cantrell'] found junior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='353411' first='Nate' last='Roberts'] and after he broke a couple tackles, he scored an 85-yard touchdown. The rest of the first quarter was a stalemate as both teams traded punches but neither could score. The Falcons then exploded in the second quarter and they took advantage of Washington mistakes and had several big plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1109329' first='Anthony' last='Keys'] scored early in the second quarter on a one-yard run and then the big plays happened. A few minutes later, junior star [player_tooltip player_id='347111' first='Jaden' last='Nickens'] came down with an interception and returned it 82 yards for a score to put the Falcons up. Later on in the second quarter, sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='434614' first='CJ' last='Turnbull'] threw it up to junior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='360157' first='Xzavier' last='Thompson'] and he went 67 yards for a score. Millwood led 18-7 and had all the momentum in the world. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams exchanged three and outs to start the second half and then the first Millwood mistake happened. The Falcons fumbled the ball and Washington senior [player_tooltip player_id='1109227' first='Kade' last='Norman'] recovered the fumble. With a short field, the Warriors would score as Cantrell found Singletary on a 23-yard touchdown. Norman would then come up big on the next Millwood possession. He came up with an interception and returned it 60 yards for the go-ahead score. Washington would never trail after that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors led 21-18 going into the final frame and they started that quarter with seven consecutive run plays to cap off a drive that took nearly five and a half minutes off the clock. Cantrell would score from six yards out and he finished the night with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. The Falcons never went away and they responded to the Washington score as Turnbull responded to the QB touchdown run with one of his own and they only trailed 28-24 with a little under seven minutes remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington immediately answered when Singletary took the ensuing kickoff 72 yards for a score. That and a Millwood turnover on their next possession would put the game away. Norman added a rushing touchdown with with a little under a minute to play as the senior went out with a big night on offense and defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When these two teams met last year for the state championship, there was talk on the field immediately following the game that we could see these two teams meet again this season. And with how many players both sides will bring back in 2024, it's not crazy to think we'll see the trilogy of this match-up happen at this time next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->