Old Foes, New Coaches Await Sulphur In Second Half Of 2025 Schedule
Last week, the Times-Democrat previewed the first half of the 2025 Sulphur football schedule, and this week the final half of the schedule will be in the spotlight.
If the second half of the schedule ends up being as tough as what the first half appears, it will be one for the record books as far as the Dogs are concerned, because they open against two reining state champions (Washington and Davis) and a top 5 Class 3A team (Perkins-Tryon).
While there are no 2024 state champs on the second half of the Dog’s slate, there will be plenty for head coach Corey Cole and his staff to prepare for as they enter the month of October, including two teams with new head coaches and one team with a coach nearing the 400-win mark.
Of course, the coach nearing the 400-career win mark is the legendary Seminole head mentor, Mike Snyder, who will bring a talent-laden team to Sulphur on October 24.
Two other teams, the always tough Bristow Pirates and the Victory Christian Conquerors, will square off against the Dogs with new head coaches during the final half of the season, so it will be anything but dull for Cole and his staff as they await teams later in the year.
After a brutal season opening slate against the two reining state champions, the Dogs will meet Cache, Perkins-Tyron and McLoud in that order to get to the half-way point in the season The Bulldogs will kick off the second half of their schedule on Friday, Oct. 10 at home against the Lone Grove Longhorns, then they will prepare for Bristow, Seminole, Victory Christian, and Mannford to finish out the regular season slate.
Cole said last week the Dog’s opening season schedule is probably the toughest in the state, but there are several teams in the back half with potent, talent laden squads to challenge Sulphur for district supremacy.
Last season, the Dogs won all seven district games to capture the 3A-2 district championship, then plowed through the playoffs where they met Lincoln Christian in the state finals, losing 28-27, in Edmond, on a two-point conversion try that came up inches short.
The Bulldogs ended the season at 12-2, with their only losses coming at the hands of eventual state champions Washington and Lincoln Christian.
There is no doubt the Dogs will be battle tested by the second half of the schedule when they get into the meat of the Class 3A-2 slate.
Following is a short preview of the final five games of the year:
Game 6 (home) October 10 Dogs vs Lone Grove
Sulphur will welcome Lone Grove to town October 10 for the 2025 homecoming game.
Cole said Lone Grove is a team that has a ton of guys returning off last year’s team. “They were the youngest team in the district last year and will have a lot of talented players returning,” he said. “The Longhorns will have a talented group of athletes for the 2025 season that always play tough and hard nosed. Look for the Longhorns to make a big jump in the district this year.”
Game 7 (Away) October 16 (Thursday) Dogs vs. Bristow
Sulphur will travel to Bristow for a huge week 7 game. Bristow is coming off a strong 2024 season where they lost in the last seconds to Checotah in the state quarterfinals or the Purple Pirates would have been Sulphur’s opponent in the state semi finals. “Bristow will bring back a very talented roster for 2025 but will enter with a new head coach, so there will be some changes to Bristow but one thing is for sure they will have a very physical football team,” said Cole. “ Bristow will be athletic and extremely fast. It will be a huge challenge to go on the road and get a win against a tradition-rich program like Bristow.”
Game 8 (Home) October 24 Dogs vs. Seminole
Speaking of tradition rich programs, Sulphur will host Seminole and legendary Coach Mike Snyder in week 8.
“Coach Snyder is 8 wins away from 400 wins and he will have a talented team returning in 2025 to try and help him get to this unbelievable career mark,” said Cole. Seminole was a playoff team a year ago and will bring back a majority of their roster that has a great blend of speed and athleticism.
“Their have been many a district championships decided late in the year with a Sulphur vs. Seminole football game in this past rivalry that has reignited,” said Cole. “Sulphur went on the road and defeated Seminole handily last season but the Chieftains will be more talented than they were a year ago when they travel to Sulphur week 8.”
Game 9 (Away) October 31 Dogs vs. Victory Christian
Sulphur will go on the road week 9 for their first-ever trip to Victory Christian for a football game. Victory will be under the direction of a new football coach this year so the Conquerors will have a different look to their 2025 team. Sulphur played one of their most dominating games against Victory last year on senior night. Sulphur will have to be ready to answer the challenge on their longest trip of the year.
Game 10 (Home) November 7 (Senior Night) Dogs vs. Mannford The Bulldogs will host Mannford on Senior Night in the regular season finale in week 10. Last year, the Dogs went on the road and beat Mannford in week 10 in a monsoon to solidify a district title. Mannford brings back a talented quarterback and supporting cast from 2024 and look to make some noise in a very tough district in 2025.
ABOVE:The Dog’s Caysen Meador (69) and an unidentifi ed player, lower right, knock the ball loose from a Cache runner in a game last fall. PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE
LEFT: Sulphur wide receiver Bridge Barrett stretches out for a pass reception in the win over McLoud last year. PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE
Upcoming Football Dates
•August 8, 5:30 p.m. - Parent Meeting/Fundrasier/Checkout Equipment
•August 11 - first official practice
•August 15 - Sulphur Football Media Night, 6:30 p.m.
•August 16 - HS/JH Red-White scrimmage, 6:30 p.m.
(tentatively) •August 22 - Scrimmage vs. Lindsay (home) 7:00 p.m.
•August 28 - Scrimmage at Tecumseh, HS/JH (TBA)
•August 29 - Booster Club Community Pep Rally at Calvin Agee Field
