In Rematch Of Last Year’s Epic Thriller, Sulphur Opens 2026 Campaign Here Friday Against Washington
The stage is set for another heavyweight battle at Agee Field.
Sulphur will open its 2026 football season Friday night when the Bulldogs welcome the Washington Warriors to town in what is already being billed as one of Oklahoma’s top high school football games of week one.
And, for Sulphur fans, the matchup carries plenty of history. Last September, the Bulldogs swept past Washington, snapping the Warriors’ remarkable 45-game winning streak and launching Sulphur on an unforgettable run. The Bulldogs went on to finish 13-1 and advance to the Class 3A state championship game before falling to perennial state power Lincoln Christian.
Now, the two highly ranked programs meet again — this time with a new season, new expectations and plenty of motivation on both sides.
Sulphur head coach Corey Cole said Friday’s opener provides a tremendous opportunity for his Bulldogs.
“Huge game this Friday at Sulphur versus Washington Warriors,” Cole said. “Washington comes in as the number one or number two ranked team in Class 2A-1 and Sulphur is coming in ranked as the number one or number two ranked team in Class 3A, so lots of people have this as a game of the week.”
Cole expects the atmosphere at Agee Field to match the importance of the game.
“If it’s anything like the last two or three games, it could be special,” he said. “It’s gonna be a great atmosphere and great game for high school football.”
The Bulldogs enter the season with confidence after a productive preseason, including last Friday’s abbreviated scrimmage at Harrah.
Cole said the varsity Bulldogs won their portion of the scrimmage, 13-0, during a 20-minute running-clock session. Sulphur had only about 14 offensive plays and 13 defensive plays, but Cole was pleased with what his team accomplished.
“It was a really short scrimmage, not a lot of reps, but what we had was very quality and really proud of our kids,” Cole said. “I thought we played hard and got a lot accomplished in a small amount of time.”
The Bulldogs’ junior varsity also turned in an impressive performance, scoring several touchdowns while keeping Harrah out of the end zone.
“That group continues to get better each and every day,” Cole said. Cole said the varsity Bulldogs benefited from the game-like environment at Harrah, with coaches working from the sidelines and players getting a taste of the atmosphere they will face Friday night.
“I was proud of the way our kids played, and how they competed,” he said. “I thought we were physical and thought we played really fast.”
Sulphur’s running game showed progress, led by several strong runs from Jojo Gray. Cole also praised the work of the offensive line, including Kaleb Walker, George Martinez, Caysen Meador, Wriley Ashley and AJ Gordon.
Sulphur players, pictured in action against Harrah, go through their final preseason scrimmage before the start of the 2026 season this Friday. Pictured are, top left, Rush Pittman scoring on a pass play; top right, running back JoJo Gray sprinting into the open for a big gain; and, below right, quarterback Traber Sartors firing off a pass. The Bulldogs will open the season at home against perennial power Washington, ranked second in Class 2A-1. The Warriors are fresh off a 34-0 pounding of Perkins-Tryon in a week zero game last Friday. PHOTOS BY BLAKE SEALE
Season Opener
“Our offensive line blocked extremely well,” Cole said. “Our H-backs had a better night, and allin- all, I just thought our run game got a little bit better last Friday.”
Quarterback Traber Sartors continued to impress in the passing game, including a touchdown strike to Rush Pitman.
“Traber threw the ball well again and I was really excited about what’s to come for him as he gets better each and every week,” Cole said. “He made a really nice throw to Rush Pitman for a touchdown and had several good completions during his time in the scrimmage.”
But the Bulldogs know Friday night’s opponent will provide a considerably greater challenge.
Washington opened its season with a convincing 34-0 victory over Perkins-Tryon, a team ranked highly in Class 3A, further emphasizing the challenge awaiting Sulphur.
“Coach Brad Beller and his staff do a great job year after year after year, putting out a really good product,” Cole said of the Warrior’s head mentor. “His teams are always very disciplined, play at a high level, and play the game the right way.”
Cole sees plenty of similarities between the two programs.
“Both teams have been very successful for the last few years,” he said. “Both teams pride themselves on being physical, playing fast, and aggressive defense. Both teams want to run the football to set up the pass.”
Washington features one of the state’s most highly regarded players in KaseAlexander, a Penn State commit who can impact the game on both sides of the ball.
“He is a very aggressive, high-motor guy that can change the game in the drop of a hat,” Cole said.
The Warriors also return quarterback Creed Barrett, who has already made his mark against the Bulldogs.
“Creed Barrett is their quarterback. He had a huge game against us two years ago and had a big game last year,” Cole said. “He is a very talented young man who always finds a way to make things happen and makes plays with his arm and his feet.”
For Sulphur, Cole said the formula for success is straightforward.
“We have to take care of the football, we gotta keep mistakes to a minimal, and we can’t give up the big plays to Washington’s high-octane offense,” he said.
The Bulldogs will also be attempting to put the excitement and expectations surrounding the game into perspective.
“This is a huge opportunity for us,” Cole said. “We just need to go out and focus on getting better, which is our goal right now, and to get better each and every day.”
One year after Sulphur shocked Washington and ended the Warriors’ 45-game winning streak, the Bulldogs will have another opportunity to make a statement when the teams meet Friday night at Agee Field.
“Hopefully Friday night, we will keep mistakes at a minimal, play hard, and play together,” Cole said.
Game-time at Agee Field is 7:00 p.m.
