Dogs Get Ready For One Of The Toughest 5-Game Stretches In The State

Sulphur Opens With Two Defending State Champs, Top 5 Class 3A Team

With memories still fresh from a close-as-they-come loss to Lincoln Christian in the state title game last year, Sulphur will begin the 2025 season with a brutal five-game stretch.

The Dogs begin running the gauntlet with three-time state title winner Washington, a team Sulphur lost to in a double overtime thriller in game one last season. Sulphur started the series with Washington in 2020 and have fallen to the Warriors in all five contests.

In game two, they will meet up with last year’s state champion Davis Wolves in what could be a game for the ages, although the Wolves were no match to Sulphur in a 42-0 loss last season, and have won only once in the series since 2015. Davis, however is much improved and confident with a state title win last season.

A long trip to face an improved Cache team in week 3 is next on the slate before they take on a Class 3A, top 5 power, Perkins- Tryon. The Dogs will end the first half of the season at McLoud.

“We will play one of the toughest first five-game schedules in the whole state,” said head Sulphur coach, Corey Cole. “We will open the year playing Washington and Davis, both defending state champions and both preseason #1 in their respective classes. The Bulldogs will also play Perkins-Tryon in their district opener in week 4. Perkins is a top 5 team in Class 3A and will travel to Sulphur knowing the winner of that district opener has a leg up on the coveted District Championship” After the Washington loss in game one of last season, the Dogs reeled off 12 consecutive wins to reach the state championship game, losing to Lincoln Christian, 28-27, after a two-point conversion try came up just inches short.

Although they lost a large group of starting seniors to graduation last season, the Dogs will return the nucleus of what appears to be another quality team and could be poised to make another run at the championship.

The Dogs will face the same schedule as last year, which was brand new at that time with Perkins- Tryon, McLoud, Bristow, Victory Christian and Mannford coming into District 3A-2. Only Seminole and Lone Grove were familiar foes for the Dogs.

Next week, we will dive into the back half of the schedule, look into the preseason scrimmage slate and other important events in the run-up to the season opener on Sept. 5.

The Dogs will open practice on Monday, Aug. 11.

Below is a look at Sulphur’s first five games.

Game 1 Dogs vs. Washington, Sept. 5 (home)

Washington will come to town carrying a state’s best winning streak (44 games) and winners of three straight, Class 2A state championships “We lost heart-breaker in game 1 last season in double overtime,” said head Bulldog coach, Corey Cole. “At the time, I thought the loss would be devastating to overcome by our kids but they used it as motivation and we got a lot better after that game and started a huge run to the finals.”

Cole said Washington will be very talented as usual and are well coached and always well prepared. Offensively their quarterback, Creed Barrett, is back and he is a super talented player with several Division 1 offers already under his belt, said Cole. “He will have several weapons back but none bigger than Case Alexander who also has several Division 1 offers as well. They will be extremely fast and explosive on offense with a really good offensive line.”

Defensively, Washington is talented but their physicality,toughness, and relentless chase of the ball is what separates them from other teams, he said. “They have one of the best defenses year-in and year-out. We had our chances last year and just didn’t capitalize on a few great opportunities late in the game.”

Game 2 Dogs vs. Davis, Sept. 12 (away)

Game 2 is the annual Murray County War and the 2025 version ought to be a great one. Davis is coming off a great season one in which they won the Class 2A, Division 2 state title.

“Davis is always physical, fast, tough, and does things the right way,” said Cole. “They will be led by Dax Owens who is a great athlete and competitor. They have become a lot more balanced with their rushing attack with his ability to also throw the ball well. They will be very good up front both offensively and defensively.”

Cole said Davis will have great speed at all their skill positions.

“Defensively, they chase the ball as well as anyone and play really good tough football,” he said. “Davis will contend and be the favorite to win the 2A Division 2 title again this season. This game has the potential to be a great one. Gonna be a great challenge at Davis this year. Davis has a great coaching staff who knows how to win big games and their teams are always prepared and ready to battle.”

Game 3 Dogs vs. Cache, Sept. 19 (away)

The Bulldogs will travel to Cache in week 3.

“Last season, we played a really good game week 3 when Cache came to town,” he said. “Cache had several players out that night due to injury and they were trying to get them healthy for district play. They have a ton of guys coming back from last year’s team and will be much improved in 2025.”

Cole said the last time Sulphur went to Cache was in 2018. “We played one of their worst games that we have played in the last 20 years,” he said. “Cache plays a tough 4A schedule year-in and year-out, so we will have to play a clean football in Lawton week 3.”

Game 4 Dogs vs.- Perkins-Tryon, Sept. 26 (home) Perkins has become a perennial power in Class 3A football over the last several years, according to Cole, finishing 2nd in 3A-2 district last year.

“We were able to come away with a huge district win at Perkins last year that helped us win the district championship and set us up for a big playoff run,” he said. “Perkins had one of the best defenses we faced last year, but we were able to cash in on some big plays and turnovers to pull away late. Their scheme defensively is tough to prepare for in one week and gives everyone trouble trying to get ready for what they do. They are always attacking and forcing offenses to do stuff they don’t want to. Offensively, they are very multiple and have great skill players all over the place. This will be a huge game in determining the possible district champion.”

Game 5 Dogs vs. McLoud, Oct. 3 (Away)

In the second district game, the Bulldogs will go on the road to McLoud, a place we haven’t played at in a long time.

“McLoud will bring back several starters off of last years team,” said Cole. “They have speed and size. McLoud will be under the direction of a first-year head coach so they will look totally different than they did a year ago.”