Washington wasted little time in the second half to create space in a 40-0 shutout victory at Conger Field last Thursday night.

Purcell used a pair of interceptions to keep the game close at 7-0 at intermission but Washington cranked up its offense in the second half scoring 33 points with an air raid attack in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Major Cantrell tossed touchdown passes to Cooper Alexander, Nate Roberts and Max Wilson in the period to blow the game wide open.

Alexander, an Iowa State commit, hauled in a 30 yard aerial off the arm of Cantrell. Roberts’ play covered 48 yards while Wilson scooted in from 36 yards out.

Junior running back Hudson Howard opened the scoring with a 30 yard scamper in the second quarter and put the stamp on the game with touchdown runs of five and 40 in the fourth quarter.

“It was our defense that kept us in the game early,” head coach Brad Beller said.

That smothering defense was led by Case Taylor and Kane Lampkin, both with 11 tackles. Taylor had one for a loss.

“Case had a great game at inside linebacker,” Beller said. “I felt like he was our vocal leader getting all the checks and coverages set. That’s important especially playing a team that is a flex bone. The linebackers have to be in complete control and he did a great job of that.”

Beller also heaped praise on junior defensive end Kane Lampkin.

“A lot of teams run away from Naithen (Spaulding) at the other defensive end position. Purcell ran away from Naithen but Kane was very disciplined and very physical. We’ve been waiting on him to have a break out game and he had one. He played the way we knew he could play.”

Spaulding finished the night with 10 tackles.

“Naithen also had a great game and sophomore Lane Taylor had a good game. We knew Purcell had some really good offensive guards and Lane kind of struggled on the first possession. But he continued to get stronger and stronger as the game went on. We are going to have a great defensive line with him coming back for two more years.”

Beller also praised the play of defensive backs Cole Beller and Tanner Olson.

Beller registered nine tackles against the Dragons and Olson picked off a pair of Kash Guthmueller passes.

“One was in the end zone and the other was in the second half that broke the game wide open,” Beller said. “Cole had a lot of tackles from his roll down safety position. He had to come down on the run and still not get beaten by the pass.”

Beller credited Purcell’s defense for keeping the game close in the first half.

“We had a slow start to the game but give a lot of credit to Purcell moving around and giving us different looks,” the coach said. “Those were Major’s first two interceptions of the year. That score right before the half gave us momentum and we came out and took the game over through the air.

“Major did a good job of adjusting and finding the open receivers. Max Wilson and Cage Morris were big contributors,” Beller said. “Cooper Alexander led the team with seven receptions. Overall, he had a solid game blocking and running routes.

Up next for the No. 1 ranked Warriors is homecoming with Comanche. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with the coronation ceremony to be held at halftime.

“Comanche is very multiple on offense running everything from the I-formation to the spread and empty,” Beller said. “Their quarterback is a good athlete that moves around well. They are inexperienced in the offensive line but are continuing to get better every week.”

When the Indians are on defense they will base out of a 4-2 sometimes going to a 4-4 look, Beller said.

“They try to steer run plays to the outside and use their speed to make plays,” Beller said. “The key for us is to take care of the ball better than last week and recognize their formations and get lined up.”

Warrior notes:

Washington Head Coach Brad Beller nominated Case Taylor as the Defensive Player of the Week. He had 11 tackles including one for a loss against Purcell.

Beller nominated Kane Lampkin as the Defensive Lineman of the Week for his 10 tackle performance last Thursday night.

Easton Berglan got the nod as the Offensive Lineman of the Week. He graded out at 81 percent against the Dragons.

Nominated as the Offensive Player of the Week was Major Cantrell. He was 17-26 passing for 278 yards and three touchdowns.