Tough Schedule Awaits State Runner-up Team
The calendar says early June, but the Sulphur Bulldogs are off and running as they prepare for the 2026 football season.
This week, head Sulphur coach, Corey Cole, gave his preliminary assessment of the Spring football practices and their team camp held at Durant High School in late May.
“Spring football was very competitive and a great learning tool for the 2026 Bulldogs,” Cole said this week just a few months away from his first game.
The Dogs went through eight practice sessions in May, then loaded up for their annual team camp at Durant to complete their Spring Ball format.
Cole welcomed a lot of new faces this spring, all receiving valuable reps along with what he said was a “great core of returning players.” He said a total of 68 players participated in spring workouts as they spent time working on fundamentals and the core essentials for success throughout their Spring sessions.
“From spring practice number one through spring practice number eight, I felt that we were getting more and more consistent with what we were trying to accomplish,” he said. “We really worked hard on establishing the line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively. We had great competition in our 7-on-7 passing game periods where we were able to get very valuable looks for our passing game and secondary.”
Spring is a special time for the team, he said. “Spring Ball is something we love because its really the first time our 2026 guys get to practice and interact with each other in our football program, it’s nice getting those opportunities now and not having to wait until August. Really proud of our effort and attitude during spring football - lots of things we need to improve on but we got better everyday.”
The team camp was held May 29 as Sulphur, Durant, and Idabel joined for what Cole said was a great day of practice.
“I was really, really pleased with our physicality both offensively and defensively,” he said. “I thought our offensive linemen had a great camp as our running game was really good for the camp.
“Having four guys back on the offensive line and two more guys that played a lot up front is going to be big for us. Our running backs played outstanding and our H-backs had a great day as well. Our passing game was good at times and is the one area that we will continually work on throughout the summer, we have the pieces in the passing game, we just need a little time to continue to develop.
“Defensively, we were really good against the run and had lots of guys in new positions that got better throughout the camp. We have a chance to be extremely fast and physical on defense in 2026.
“We got tons of reps, stayed healthy, and played physical football - that checked every box we wanted for team camp.”
With Spring Ball behind them, the Dogs will now go into their summer grind routine in June on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. They will meet on those nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the weightroom, working on football activities and speed and agility training.
“The summer grind has been a huge element in the success of Sulphur football,” said Cole.
Cole is beginning his fourth year as head Sulphur coach after serving one year as interim head coach in 2022 following the death of longtime Sulphur icon, Jim Dixon, who died not long after the Dog’s first game that season.
The Dogs will face a brutal non-district schedule to open the 2026 season, hosting powerhouses Washington and Davis on Sept. 4, and Sept. 11 respectively, then trekking across the Red River to face Gunter, Texas, on Sept. 18, a team with multiple state champion trophies.
Following that gauntlet, the team will settle into Class 3A-2 district play against traditional foes Madill on Sept. 25 (away), Seminole on Oct. 2 (homecoming), Idabel on Oct. 9 (away), Lone Grove on Oct. 15 (home), Kingston on Oct. 23 (away), Star Spencer on Oct. 30 (senior night), and Pauls Valley on Nov. 6 (away), rounding out the regular season schedule.
