By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor They say the football program at St. Francis is a family. The real-life, legitimate bond between its entire roster, as well as the coaches is evident any time you’re around coach Jim Bonds’ program. For Elijah Washington, he feels the ultimate love at the school and on the field. Washington […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
They say the football program at St. Francis is a family.
The real-life, legitimate bond between its entire roster, as well as the coaches is evident any time you’re around coach Jim Bonds’ program.
For Elijah Washington, he feels the ultimate love at the school and on the field.
Washington is the younger brother of Zach Washington, who played for Bonds and was reportedly a solid fullback that opened holes with the best of them.
His father Kyle is a coach at the school and has been on the sidelines pretty much every time that Elijah has ever suited up and competed.
He’s also got his biggest fans in the crowd every Friday night.
That starts with his mother, Nichole, sister Taylor, and includes Elijah’s aunts and uncles and grandparents
His brother Zach is also usually on the sidelines or in the end zone taking video of a little brother he said is even better than he was.
Elijah and Kyle Washington
Washington’s family is very impressive in many ways, including their genuine and unconditional love for one another, and they’re also a bright and accomplished family.
Nichole Washington works at Caltech and was even part of a LIGO’s team that earned a Nobel Prize for their detecting of gravitational waves.
Yeah, so reading a defense or another team’s tendencies don’t seem so impressive after what his mother can do, does it?
His father Kyle has worked at Huntington Hospital for 22 years and has spent the last eight seasons on the Golden Knights’ sidelines at both the JV and varsity games.
Elijah Washington started as a water boy dating back nearly eight years ago, and now he’s one of the most respected and accomplished leaders in recent memory at St. Francis.
Washington is probably 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, and yet he can dominate at both running back, but also in his linebacking duties on the other side of the ball.
He and his teammates have the biggest game of their young lives this Friday when they host Cathedral, and with the Angelus League championship and revenge on the line.
Last year, St. Francis entered their ninth game at 8-0 and went to Cathedral, but the Golden Knights played by far their worst game of the season, and still only lost by one score to the Phantoms.
Washington has an area-best 16 rushing TD’s and also has a 63-yard receiving touchdown.
With Washington as a regular part of the lineup over the past season-plus, St. Francis has won 18 of 20 games.
Despite usually only playing one half of football, because SF has blown out 8 of their 9 opponents, and knowing he splits some time in the backfield with sophomore Kevin Armstead, Washington still has over 750 yards rushing.
He’s also tallied nearly 40 tackles, including three for loss.
You might wonder why a kid with this much talent isn’t getting the ball 25 times a game and why he isn’t frustrated that his carries aren’t a much higher priority.
The first answer is: Jim Bonds doesn’t care about stats, and he wants his Golden Knights to be as balanced offensively as possible.
The reason Washington isn’t upset that he doesn’t always get 20-plus touches is because he doesn’t give the slightest concern to anything other than St. Francis having a higher number on the scoreboard.
“I really don’t care how often I carry the ball as long as we win games,” Elijah Washington said. “This isn’t about me, this is about us. Of course I’d love to get the ball more, but I trust my teammates to make plays and our coaches to put us in position to be successful.”
It’s also not the first time he’s been relegated to sharing the wealth.
Last year, Washington and senior running back Jace Harrick split time and made up arguably the area’s best 1-2 punch.
If you asked either Harrick or Washington, then and now, and we have, they continually praise each other effusively and in some ways, that’s almost the way they wanted it.
There was no resentment or backstabbing, these were just two honorable kids who fit Bonds’ adopted philosophy of “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.”
Depending on who you hear it from, that’s been used by Presidents Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan, as well as former UCLA basketball icon John Wooden.
Washington is described as quick, strong, smart, athletic and a student of the game.
His ability to outrun defenders chasing from behind, as well as his footwork and ability to make cuts on a dime makes him an elite running back.
Washington had a career night three weeks ago when they took on Angelus League rival, La Salle.
The Golden Knights earned a 49-16 victory on the road when Washington had career highs with 205 yards rushing and 5 TD’s.
One of the five was a 29-yard scamper, where he worked his magic with his feet and about three yards out, the SF captain lunged forward and landed on his stomach in the end zone for the score.
His last was probably the least noteworthy in terms of difficulty, but what his teammates did in unison was something that showed crystal clear just how beloved this 17 year old kid really is.
We’re in the west end zone and as soon as he got to his feet after scoring, at least six of his teammates either audibly or visually made it known to our camera that this was Washington’s fifth TD of the night.
In a world and sport that so many care only about their own numbers or fame, Washington has earned the love and respect from teammates to be more happy for Washington than even he was for himself.
When asking teammates and coaches what they think of No. 25, literally the two most words or phrases were “hard-working” and “humble.”
That humility, that hard work and those extra hours at the gym earned Washington the title of ‘Golden Knight,’ a highly sought after title that means captain, and it put Washington is rarified air.
He proudly walks hand in hand each day and each Friday night with his other two fellow Golden Knight seniors Greg Dulcich and Matt Barriga, who are equally as impressive as Washington.
All three aren’t just honored to represent St. Francis and Jim Bonds’ program, they are just as pumped to be doing it together as a trio.
Washington also loves knowing he can run up to his dad on the sidelines if he ever needs an opinion, and knows that message he gets won’t always be sugarcoated.
For Kyle Washington, it has been a joy to watch his two boys grow up on a football field in front of his own eyes, and for a school he so reveres.
“I’ve really enjoyed watching both Zachery and Elijah play throughout their careers. Zachery was the ultimate fullback and sacrificed his body numerous times to open up huge holes for his running backs,” Kyle Washington said. “Watching Elijah get some experience last year running behind Jace and now seeing all the hard work pay off his senior year has really been a blessing to be a part of as well as witness. Both boys always had the drive and passion to succeed, and were always willing to put in the work necessary to try and get better every day.”
Elijah recalls watching every high school game in Zach’s career and looking up to his brother.
“I was usually the ball boy on the sideline and just seeing the players out there on the field made me want to be just like them. Being a student-athlete at St. Francis can be challenging with school work and sports at the same time, but the standards are set so high that it pushes you to succeed on and off the field,” Elijah said. “Having my dad there coaching and my brother on the sidelines rooting me on means a lot to me. They’ve been there rooting me on and teaching me since I was a kid, so it encourages me to do my best and play with a mentality that I’m the best on the field.”
He said he’s the ultimate mama’s boy and that Nichole (his mom) has always been there in every facet of his life, and has never gotten the due credit she deserves for being what he considers the best mom possible.
Washington started at Marshall High School and transferred to St. Francis, and it was the best and most life-altering decision Elijah has made in a number of ways.
The competition level, the higher standards on the field, and the rigors of the academics at St. Francis all would take a little time to get used to.
Despite being a very bright, hard working and dedicated young man, Washington’s grades aren’t indicative of his intellect, and while his GPA continues to rise, it’s never been about his work ethic or knowledge, it was an adjustment period to spending the time needed to succeed in the classroom at St. Francis.
His ascension in his classes speaks a lot about a young man who is willing to face challenges on and off the field, and if you give him a little time, he is going to rise to the occasion as a student, an athlete, but more importantly, as a young man.
Washington has gotten some interest in Division 2 and 3 schools, and he’s even been told if he was 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he could pretty much pick a Division 1 program to play for.
Elijah, though, is realistic that he’s under 6-feet tall and under 200 pounds.
More importantly, however, Elijah, his coaches and anyone who has been around him or seen him play knows this young man is a game-changer in so many ways.
Any college program that gives him the chance is getting a guy that can do anything and everything well.
He’s so versatile that after scoring a touchdown or making a tackle and a defensive stop, after each Golden Knights’ score, you’ll see No. 25 even doing the long snapping, which is yet another thing his brother Zach taught him to do.
But the best part is… some school next year will get a guy who will continue to grow, continue to learn new things and he has the character, the intellect and family behind him to become successful at whatever Elijah chooses to do.
Or as Elijah puts it, “they’d get a guy who never quits and someone who shows leadership. I am a very competitive person and I’m willing to put in the work to get the results.”
Quotable:
SF coach Jim Bonds: “One of the great things about Elijah is that he’s the younger brother of Zack (Washington) and they grow up bleeding brown and gold. What really impresses me is how hard he works. He evolved into a local leader when we needed that. I’d also want to thank his parents for doing such a great job raising both boys and trusting me to be his football coach.”
Father-Coach Kyle Washington: “I truly believe that what makes all of us here at SF family is the respect we have for one another. It starts with the respect the coaches have for each other at all levels and that rubs off on the players. As coaches, we put in the work needed to prepare the players as best we can at each level, and in turn, the players buy in to what we want to accomplish as a program, and that’s to trust and respect each other. We are a tight-knit group here and we prepare and play for one another.”
Elijah’s Brother, Zach Washington: “It was only one thing when I could come here and play with my team, but to see him (Elijah) come out and score five touchdowns makes Friday night’s so fun. St. Francis was the best four years of my life. I went to school with 150 people in my class and yet 60 of them were playing football with me. Through the years, my dad coached me through Pop Warner. He was my head coach and now he’s on the sidelines during varsity games, and I can come back after a good or bad play and get advice. I am most proud of him that he is better than I was. It’s hard for an older brother to say that, but that guy has the skills.”
SF captain Matt Barriga: “Elijah is one of greatest teammates you could ask for. You know you could always count on him to get the job done. It is also so fun to watch him play because once he gets going he doesn’t stop. Not only is he a great athlete and leader, but he is also a great friend and I am glad to call him a good friend and friend.”
SF captain Greg Dulcich: “Elijah is one of my best buddies on the team. He works so hard and has so much passion for the game. He’s always out there getting after it, and never taking plays off.”
SF senior Blake Howard: “He’s an all-around great guy. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s always working hard and doing the right things. You never have to worry about him screwing up. He brings so much energy to this team.”
SF senior Isaac Cordova: “He’s a real team player. Whenever we lift in the weight room, he’ll come around and tell everyone they’re doing a great job. His tenacity on the field (is what I respect most). He makes games more exciting.”
SF senior Andrew Monarrez: “Elijah is a true leader for our program because of his communication and action. He is a humble athlete who remains patient in the recruiting process and focuses on the team. Washington continues to work hard every week to contribute to the team as much as possible
Former SF running back Jace Harrick: “It is very common for running backs to hate giving up their touches to the other guy. But with our team we were lucky because everyone had an understanding that to win you needed to bury your ego and do what was best for the team. Elijah is a great athlete and a better teammate. I know he didn’t like sharing the ball like most guys, but he never complained and made the most out of all his carries. He brought his best to practice and games and that made me go harder and be better. The kid is a baller and deserves to have the year he’s been having. I hope colleges wake up and pick this dude up.”
Former SF quarterback Michael Bonds: “He is a very hard working player in every aspect, whether that is on the field, in film, or in the weight room. He is also a great person, that is a very respected person, and gets the job done in the classroom as well.”
Getting To Know Elijah Washington:
Favorite Team: Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Athlete: Emmit Smith
Favorite Movie: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Favorite Musical Artist: Tupac
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised I Like: System of a Down
Famous Person (alive or dead) I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Ray Lewis
Angelus League Standings:
St. Francis (9-0 overall, 4-0 in league)
Cathedral (8-1, 4-0)
Harvard-Westlake (7-2, 2-2)
La Salle (3-6, 1-3)
St. Paul (3-6, 1-3)
Salesian (1-8, 0-4)
2017 St. Francis Schedule-Results:
August 31: St. Francis 48, Mira Costa 21
September 8: St. Francis 42, Pasadena 0
September 15: St. Francis 49, La Serna 20
September 22: St. Francis 49, Saugus 20
September 29: St. Francis 39, Buena Park 14
October 6: St. Paul 24, St. Francis 7
October 13: St. Francis 49, La Salle 16
October 20: St. Francis 69, Salesian 0
October 26: St. Francis 77, Harvard-Westlake 27
November 3: Cathedral at St. Francis at 7
