Sulphur 28, Washington 19
Dogs End Warrior’s 45-Game Winning Streak In Big Play, Fourth Quarter Rally
Big Plays Down The Stretch Made The Difference
Sulphur has won two state titles, two silver balls and lots of games in between, but Friday night’s triumph over the Washington Warriors, snapping their 45-game winning streak and beating them for the first time in five years, will rank as one of their most impressive wins ever.
The game was hyped as one of the biggest in the state, and it lived up to its billing, two top teams waging war on each play, momentum shifting by the second.
In the end, the Bulldogs made several big plays in the last 11 minutes and 48 seconds to take control and hand the Warriors their first loss in over three seasons, 28-19.
“What a great night in Sulphur at Calvin Agee Field last Friday,” said head Bulldog coach, Corey Cole. “A huge thank you to our fans! It was our biggest crowd I can remember in a long time. Our crowd was incredible and loud the whole night. We are so fortunate to have such a loyal and appreciative fan base here in Sulphur, it was incredibly loud at times.”
The game shifted back and forth, but momentum turned in Sulphur’s favor early in the fourth quarter after they recovered a fumble at the Warrior 28 yard-line, and trailing 13-7.
JoJo Gray then scored from there, going in untouched to give the home team Bulldogs a precarious, 14-13 lead.
It was the ensuing kick-off that became one of the defining moments in the game. Dog kicker Colten Cole hit a short, high, deep onside type kickoff that was mishandled by Washington, and recovered by the Dog’s Grady Hardoin.
Bulldog senior quarterback Kale Brakefield, a former Warrior player, then went to work and teamed up with Maddax Mobly on a 12-yard scoring strike to give the Dogs an 8-point cushion, 21-13.
Washington narrowed the margin after a long drive and score, but it was on the two-point conversion that provided yet another big play as Mobly knocked down a Washington pass attempt in the end-zone to keep the Dogs in the lead, 21-19.
PHOTOS BY BLAKE SEALE ABOVE:The Dog’s DrakeWood leaps high to catch a pass from quarterback Kale Brakefield as Sulphur upended the Washington Warriors last Friday, 28-19 BELOW: Sulphur receiver Bridge Barrett snags this 38yard strike from Blakefield to start the Dogs on their first scoring drive of the evening.
The next series would become a pivotal time in the game, the Dogs coming up with several more key plays to keep their drive alive and have a shot at snapping the state’s longest winning streak.
The first big play came when Drake Wood made a leaping, 30yard catch of a Brakefield pass, followed by a13-yard run from Mobly and a seven-yard pass reception to the nine by Carter Cole.
The deal was now almost done. Mobly then took the handoff and soared over a huge pile of players from the four on a game-winning touchdown with just 1:58 left on the clock. Colten Cole’s fourth-straight PAT kick was good, giving the Dogs a 28-19 lead.
Mobly then sealed the deal when he intercepted a Warrior pass on their next drive and Sulphur ran out the clock from there for the win.
“Friday night was a game between two great teams who left everything on the field,” said Coach Cole. “The game had several shifts of momentum for both sides and each team kept answering every challenge. In the end, we took advantage of some opportunities and made the big plays when we needed them the most. Washington is a great program, Coach Beller and his staff always have their teams prepared and have them play the right game the right way and it is really fun to compete against a program who competes at the highest level.”
Both teams scored first-half TDs and the score was tied 7-7 going into the halftime locker room.
The Dogs got their first big play when Colten Cole slipped through traffic down the middle and Brakefield found him on a 24-yard scoring strike late in the first quarter.
Sulphur’s Bridge Barrett, who performed at a high level from his cornerback position, came up with a leaping interception in the next series to stop a Warrior drive, picking off his cousin, Warrior quarterback Creed Barrett.
Washington tied the game at seven each with 5:17 left in the second to round out the first half scoring.
“Our kids just never gave in, they kept playing and competing and playing together for four quarters,” said Cole. “I’m really proud of their fight, determination, discipline, and staying together as a team during adversity Friday night.
“Offensively, I thought the offensive line had a really good night considering all the new guys we had up front. We were able to rush for close to 150 yards, did not give up a sack, and got stronger as the game went on.
“Kale Brakefield threw the ball well in his first start, throwing for close to 200 yards and 2 TD’s and ran effectively when we needed it. Jojo Gray and Maddax Mobly provided a great 1-2 punch running the football.
“Mobly and Colten Cole were big in the receiving department and both scored TD’s. Bridge Barrett and Drake Wood both had big plays in the passing game as well. I thought we were efficient and got stronger as the game went on. We had three turnovers and that is something that we will address this week in practice because we cannot have those week in and week out and continue to be successful.”
Cole said he was proud of Sulphur’s effort defensively to hold down a reining, three-time state champion team.
“Defensively, I was really proud of our guys for hanging in there and playing tough during some big moments Friday night,” he said. “We kept the Washington passing game from having the big, big plays and that is something we stressed all week (what hurt us last year in that classic game).
“Bridge Barrett, Carter Cole, Maddax Mobly, Drake Wood, and Traber Sartors played really, really well against that high powered passing game. Bridge Barrett might have played his best defensive game of his career considering what he was tasked with doing all night, he had a big interception and several pass break ups.
“Mobly had 17 tackles, the game-sealing interception, and the break-up on the 2-point play when Washington was trying to tie the game late in the 4th quarter.
“Carter Cole had 14 tackles in his first start and got better and more comfortable as the game went on. Drake and Traber both played very well in their respective roles. Michael Morris and Jaden McClure both played really well at linebacker and made several big plays for the Bulldogs.
“I thought the D-line did a good job against a really good offensive line, George Martinez, Cooper Cole, Connor Sullivan, Colten Cole, Grady Hardoin and Brody Wallace were very solid and newcomer Dylan Gleason had one of the biggest plays of the night, causing a fumble in the 4th quarter where the Bulldogs recovered and scored on the very next play to take the lead.
“I was really proud of our defense and how they competed throughout the game against one of the better offenses in the state.”
Sulphur’s special teams also got a compliment from the coach.
“On special teams, we were really good,” said coach Cole. “Colten Cole made all four extra points which were huge in this game. He averaged 42 yards on his three punts and was highly effective kicking off. Grady Hardoin had a huge, momentum-shifting fumble recovery of a high kickoff in the 4th quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to take a 9-point lead late in the ball game.
“This was a great, great win for our team, our program, and community,” said Cole. “It’s great to start 1-0, but our goal going into the game was to just be us and get better, and we got better, but we also found lots of areas where we need to get better and improve quickly if we want to achieve our goals. Playing great programs like Washington early in the season only makes you better and gives you lots of areas to improve.”
