Football Recap: Washington Starts Season with Victory on the Road

Washington had to travel to play their first game of the season, but the final result was worth the trip. They pulled ahead with a 35-34 photo finish over the Healdsburg Greyhounds on Friday.

Roy Mertz had a dynamite game, throwing for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 14 passes, while also rushing for 45 yards and one TD.

Special teams also played a big role in the game for Washington, adding 11 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Anthony Hon, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.

Healdsburg's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Frank Rea, who rushed for 71 yards and two scores on only seven carries, and also threw for 251 yards and a pair of TDs. Rea also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making six total tackles and defending one pass. Another player making a difference was Max Morris, who picked up 127 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Washington will welcome Skyline at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. As for Healdsburg, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Lower Lake at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.