620 Yards Of Offense, Big Plays On Defense Sink LG, 53-21
Sulphur amassed 620 yards in total offense and scored eight touchdowns in another dominating Class 3A-2 win last Friday night.
Bolting out to a 40-14 halftime lead, the Dogs scored early and often in a big night at Agee Field, crushing the Lone Grove Longhorns, 53-21.
The win kept the Dogs undefeated for the season as they moved to 6-0, 3-0, but face some very talented teams in the remaining four district games.
Despite giving up three scores to the Longhorns, the Dog’s defense performed well, forcing three turnovers for the night and pretty much putting the game away by halftime.
“We tackled much better and our front seven did a great job against the run defensively,” said head Sulphur coach, Corey Cole. “We forced three turnovers and limited them to under 50 yards rushing for the game. Our 3rd and 4th down defense efficiency was much better as well.”
Cole said he felt like his team played with more energy and enthusiasm. “Other than two long pass plays, we played really well on the defensive side of the ball,” he said. “Of those two pass plays, one was when we had the quarterback in our grasp for a sack, and he just flung it up for grabs and we had a couple of guys mis-time the jump ball and they made the play,” he said.
Cole said on the other touchdown, the Dogs got a little too aggressive at corner and the safety was late over the top. “But those things happen and we got them fixed and played really well the rest of the game against the pass.”
The Dog’s Carter Cole and Drake Wood each picked off Longhorn passes and Maddax Mobly recovered a fumble in a three-takeaway performance for the team. Cooper Cole and Dylan Gleason added sacks on the talented Longhorn quarterback, Tracy Quinn, to lead the team defensively.
Gleason had 10 tackles on the night, three for loss and played his best game as a Bulldog, according to Cole. Also getting production was Connor Sullivan with four tackles and a good effort stopping double teams.
Other players Cole singled out for their defensive effort were Jaden McClure, Kash Pickett, and Madden Duck, who all played fast and physical at linebacker, recording 9, 8, and 7 tackles respectively.
The coach also praised Drake Wood, Mobly and Carter Cole for big defensive efforts. Wood recorded an interception and a caused fumble, Mobly continued his steady defensive play with seven tackles to go along with the fumble recovery, and Carter Cole had six tackles to go with his interception.
Cole also said Bridge Barrett played well from his cornerback position, but after some early season success, he has not had much passing on his side of the field, the coach said.
All total, the Dogs forced eight punts, nine three-and-outs and three turnovers. “These are the three stats we take a lot of pride in defensively,” he said.
After an injury last week, Jason Gleason returned to action, Cole said, and caused havoc all night. Also continuing their stellar play and taking pride in good technique were Colten Cole, Cooper Cole and Grady Hardoin, according to the coach Offensively, the Dogs were led by a three-touchdown, 350-yard passing performance from quarterback Kale Brakefield, and the receiving of Mobly and Barrett, who both went over 100 yards for the night.
Barrett caught 2 TD passes, with Mobly and Drake Wood each getting in on the TD receiving action. Colten Cole also had several big catches for the Bulldogs and continues to be a match-up problem for opposing defenses, said the coach.
In addition to his receiving, Mobly added 3 TD runs and Madden Duck scored his first TD of the year on a nice 31-yarder, and Jojo Gray added over 90 yards rushing as well.
Cole said his offensive line continues playing at a high level, praising the play of Caleb Walker, AJ Gordon, Caysen Meador, Brody Wallace, and George Martinez. “They continue to get the job done upfront and are the key to the offense’s success,” he said.
Sulphur’s special teams were mostly efficient with Colten Cole averaging 45 yards in three punts and a season-long 62-yarder. Coverage teams were also good last Friday, said Cole, with Garin Watson, Kash Pickett, Dylan Gleason, Jaden Mcclure, Jackson Haggard, Traber Sartors, Madden Duck, Rush Pitman, Jaxon Freehill, and Grady Hardoin, all playing very well on the coverage units.
Cole said extra point kicking, turnovers, and penalties are issues where the team has to improve upon in the coming weeks.
“Our kids prepared very well last week and played really hard last Friday, but we talk all the time about the little things will beat us if we don’t emphasize those things and it is something that we must get corrected,” said Cole. “Sitting 6-0 and more importantly 3-0 in the district is right where we want to be, but getting better everyday, playing and practicing with passion, and having attention to detail will be the key moving forward for this Bulldog team.”
Game Recap
Barely 30 seconds had ticked off the clock when the Dog’s
PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE Bulldog receiver Maddax Mobly crosses the goal line on one of Sulphur’s eight touchdowns against the Lone Grove Longhorns last Friday. Mobly joined Bridge Barrett in going over the 100-yard mark in receiving for the game.
PHOTOS BY BLAKE SEALE Sulphur receivers Bridge Barrett, left, andTraber Sartors, right, make leaping catches in the Dog’s 53-21 win over Lone Grove last Friday.
THE STATISTICS
Sulphur 53, Lone Grove 21
Scoring Summary Sulphur (6-0)--Drake Wood 41-Yard TD Pass (kick failed ) 1st Q, 11:48 Sulphur (12-0)--Maddax Mobly 12-Yard TD Run (run failed) 1st Q, 8:24 Lone Grove (12-7)--Quinn 3-Yard TD (kick good) 1st Q, 6:19 Sulphur (19-7)-Barrett 23-Yard TD Pass (Rios kick) 1st Q, 5:27 Sulphur (26-7)--Mobly 34-Yard TD Pass (Rios kick) 1st Q, 3:49 Sulphur (33-7)--Barrett 67-Yard TD Pass (Rios kick) 1st Q, 2:05 Lone Grove (33-14)--Shorter 77-Yard TD Pass (kick good) 2nd Q, 6:51 Sulphur (40-14)--Mobly 10-Yard TD Run (Rios kick) 2nd Q, 3:53 Sulphur (47-14)--Mobly 4-Yard TD Run (Rios kick) 3rd Q, 11:08 Lone Grove (47-21)--Quinn 1-Yard TD (kick good) 3rd Q, 0:06 Sulphur (53-21)--Madden Duck 31-Yard TD Run (kick failed ) 4th Q, 5:39
Score By Quarters
Sulphur ............. 33 7 7 6--53 Lone Grove ....... 7 7 7 0--21
Game Statistics
Sul. LG First Downs......... 20 9 Rushing Yds. ...... 252 33 Passing Yds. ....... 368 237 Total Net Yds. ..... 620 270 Passes ................ 15-22 12-26 Interceptions by .. 2 2 Turnovers............ 2 3 3rd Down Con. .... 4-7 3-12
Sulphur Individual Statistics
Passing: Kale Brakefield 15-22, 368 Yds., 4 TDs.
Receiving: Maddax Mobly 5-111, 1 TD; Colten Cole 5-74, Bridge Barrett 3-124, 2 TDs; Carter Cole 1-18; Drake Wood,1-41, 1 TD.
Rushing: Grady Hardoin, 3-17; JoJo Gray, 11-98, Kale Brakefield 6-59; Maddax Mobly 5-30, 3 TDs; Madden Duck, 1-31, 1 TD; Jackson Haggard, 2-17.
Sulphur Team Statistics
Rushing Yards 252, Passing Yards 3683; Total 48 plays - 620 yards. Turnovers: 2 Sacks Given Up: 1 Punts: 3 Ex. Pt: Colten Cole, 0-1; Angel Rios, 5-6.
Sulphur Tackles
Maddax Mobly 7, Carter Cole 63, Jaden McClure 9, Cooper Cole 4, Madden Duck 7, Bridge Barrett 3, Dylan Gleason 10, Kash Pickett 9, Connor Sullivan 4, Kash Pickett 9, Connor Sullivan 4, George Martinez 1, Grady Hardoin 1, Drake Wood 4, Kale Brakefield 3, Colten Cole 2, Jackson Haggard 2, Mavric Lawrence, Rush Pittman 2, Jaxon Freehill 1, Traber Sartors 4, Jason Gleason 7.
Drake Wood scored on a 41-yard strike from Brakefield, capping a three-play drive just after the opening kickoff. Big play of the drive was a 16-yard Brakefield to Mobly pass to set up the TD. The PAT kick failed.
Sulphur held the Longhorns on their ensuing possession, forcing a punt, but the Dogs gave the ball back on an interception. Lone Grove’s sudden success didn’t last long, however, as Drake Wood returned the favor, picking off a pass at the LG 12.
Mobly then took a hand-off from Brakefield and went in untouched 12 yards for the team’s second score, giving Sulphur a 12-0 lead with 8:24 left in the first quarter. The PAT run failed.
The Longhorns got back into the game on their next possession, going 72 yards in eight plays with Quinn going in from the three with 6:19 left in the first quarter. Big play in the drive was a 54yard pass to the three.
The Dog’s Mobly put Sulphur back into scoring position on a 41-yard pass from Brakefield, then Barrett snagged a 23-yard scoring pass to give Sulphur some breathing room with 5:27 left in the first. Angel Rios’ PAT kick was good and the Dogs lead, 19-7. A 28-yard pass got the Longhorns just past midfield on their ensuing possession, but Mobly recovered a fumble one play later after a strong hit from Wood.
Mobly then went 34 yards on a pass from Brakefield and the Dogs took command of the game with 3:49 left in the first. The PAT kick from Rios was good, giving Sulphur a 26-7 lead.
Lone Grove couldn’t move the ball on their next series, and punted to the Sulphur 33.
On Sulphur’s first play of the series, Barrett hauled in a Brakefi eld pass and went 67 yards for the score. Rios’ PAT kick was good, and the home team led, 33-7, with 2:05 still remaining in the first quarter.
The hour-long first quarter finally came to an end six plays later when the Longhorns were forced to punt, but the Dogs had to relinquished the ball right back after a couple of incomplete passes.
The two teams then traded punts with Long Grove gaining possession at their own 23. On the first play of the drive, the Longhorns’ Quinn burned the Dogs on a 77-yard scoring strike to Able Shorter with 6:51 left in the second period. The PAT was good, and the Horns had whittled down Sulphur’s lead to 33-14.
It didn’t hold up for long, however, as Barrett, Colten Cole, and Cater Cole took turns catching 30-plus yard passes, and Mobly negotiated the final 10 yards for the TD on a run. Rios’ PAT kick gave Sulphur a 40-14 lead at the end of the first half.
In the opening series of the second half, Carter Cole stepped in front of a Quinn pass, and ran 30 yards to the LG four, setting up a 4-yard Mobly TD run with 11:08 left in the third. The PAT kick from Rios was good, and Sulphur had now put this game away, leading 47-14.
The Longhorns narrowed the lead on their next series after a 15-play drive was capped on a one-yard plunge. The PAT kick was good as time was nearing an end to the third quarter, but the Dogs still had a comfortable, 47-21 lead––.
The final score was etched onto the scoreboard two series later as the Dog’s Madden Duck raced up the middle for 31 yards and his first score of the season as Sulphur closed this one out with a 53-21 win. The PAT kick failed.
