BELLE GLADE – The COVID-19 pandemic has put many teams on an even playing field.
Most likely, the best conditioned team throughout the year will reach their FHSAA classification’s summit, and Glades Central is looking to be one of those programs at the state mountaintop.
It would be a great feeling for senior-to-be running back Desmond Washington, who will be coming off a season that did not end the way he would have like.
For starters, his Raiders (1-9 final record) ended last year on a multiple-game losing streak, with two of those losses coming by less than a touchdown. The most difficult one to fathom was their come-from-ahead loss to Park Vista, which turned into a crushing 21-20 defeat.
Washington (6-foot, 202 pounds) rushed for 140 yards against the Cobras, but was held out of the end zone in the Week 9 road tilt. It still stings him to this day.
“They hit us with the unexpected,” Washington said. “I don’t know of many team mistakes we made. But this year, ain’t nobody beating us.”
The Muck’s No. 1 and Palm Beach County’s No. 3-ranked running back really likes Glades Central’s chances of winning its first state title since 2006, which happens to be new head coach Rashad Jackson’s high school senior year.
“Me and him (Rashad Jackson) made a bond from the first meeting,” Washington said. “I bought into everything he told me, and I believe he will take us to the promise land this season.”
Washington has used multiple avenues to get through the pandemic, which forced the FHSAA to cancel spring football throughout the entire state. He’s thoroughly confident in his workout approach being a catalyst for great success later this year.
“I have been using the Muck to my advantage,” Washington said of the pandemic situation. “I have been working out in the cane fields and doing some workouts on the dike. My team has been handling it well.”
What also has the potential to go relatively well is Washington’s college recruiting process, which is picking up as of today (June 12). He currently has offers from Southern Miss (first offer), Keiser (second offer), and Graceland (third offer).
The Keiser and Graceland offers came today for Washington, who is expecting more within the next few months.
“It’s not really going how I pictured it would be,” said Washington, who had 1,026 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 10 games played last year. “But I’m grateful for those that have paid attention to me. I just gotta go harder and do better than I did last year.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Forde
