Dogs Blank Lone Grove, Set Sights On Kingston Showdown

Sulphur Erupts For Six First-Half TDs In 48-0 Win Over Longhorns

Sulphur may not have been as sharp as in recent weeks, but the Bulldogs continued to roll Friday night, posting another shutout while setting the stage for a district championship showdown this week at Kingston.

The Bulldogs erupted for six first-half touchdowns and cruised past the Lone Grove Longhorns, 48-0, at Agee Field to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in district play. The victory marked Sulphur’s fourth consecutive district win and another dominant defensive performance.

The Bulldogs will now travel to face the undefeated Kingston Redskins (7-0, 4-0) Friday night in a matchup that will likely determine the district championship. Both teams enter the contest unbeaten in district play, with plenty at stake as the regular season moves toward the playoffs.

Despite the lopsided score, Sulphur head coach Corey Cole said his team did not perform to the standard it has established over the past several weeks.

“We played hard, we were physical, we did a lot of things good, but overall it was somewhat of a sloppy performance compared to the way we had been playing,” Cole said. “That’s why we play these games, just to find areas where we can improve on and get better.”

Rainy conditions atAgee Field hampered the Bulldogs’ passing attack, but Sulphur found plenty of success on the ground, finishing with more than 400 yards rushing and more than 500 yards of total offense.

Cole credited the offensive line for its performance against a Lone Grove defense that frequently loaded the box to slow the Bulldogs’ running game.

“I thought our offensive line played really well against a loaded box,” Cole said. “Those guys continue to get better each and every week.”

Sulphur also spread the ball among several playmakers. Jojo Gray led the way with nearly 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson Haggard added 100 yards and a touchdown. Carter Cole finished with approximately 70 yards, a touchdown and a touchdown that was called back.

The Bulldogs’ defense delivered another shutout, limiting Lone Grove to just over 100 yards of total offense while forcing four turnovers.

Michael Morris led Sulphur in tackles with 10. Jesse Peters, Madden Duck and Acer Dixon each recorded a sack, while Carter Cole, Harrison Tayler and Maverick Lowrance each intercepted a pass. Traber Sartors recovered a fumble.

Although Cole was pleased with the defensive effort, he said the Bulldogs allowed too many early passing opportunities and will need to improve their coverage and pressure against Kingston.

The special teams unit also had a few uncharacteristic miscues, including allowing a 50-yard kickoff return and missed a field goal. However, Cole praised Lucas Mitchell’s punting and the Bulldogs’ ability to protect the football in the wet conditions.

With no fumbles or bad center snaps, Sulphur avoided costly mistakes in an area that can become problematic on a rainy night.

“I’m proud of our kids like I always am,” Cole said. “We played hard, we gave great effort and just made a few more mistakes Friday night than we have been making.”

Those details could become especially important this Friday when the Bulldogs face a Kingston team that Cole expects to provide a physical challenge on both sides of the ball.

The Redskins have built their success around a strong running game featuring multiple backs, complemented by a quarterback who can make plays through the air. Kingston also uses a variety of formations and motions designed to create confusion for opposing defenses.

Cole said Sulphur must be disciplined, get aligned correctly and match Kingston’s physical style of play.

“Coach Hill and his staff have done a great job at Kingston,” Cole said. “Their kids are always really prepared, they’re very disciplined, and they play physical. They play fast. I love their style of football.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs will need to continue running the ball effectively while becoming more efficient in the passing game, particularly if Kingston commits extra defenders to stopping the ground attack.

Cole said both programs understand the importance of Friday’s matchup, not only for the district title but also for the playoff implications that come with finishing at the top of the standings.

“It’s gonna be a big-time battle for the district championship,” Cole said. “It’s gonna come down to who can make the least amount of mistakes and who can take care of the football.”

The Bulldogs enter the week knowing they have areas to clean up, but Cole said he expects his players to respond with the same determination and work ethic they have displayed throughout the season.

“We are excited for the opportunity,” Cole said. “These are moments that we work extremely hard for, so we have to be disciplined in our approach all week and be mentally and physically tough all week long, especially Friday night.”

Game Recap

Lone Grove fumbled the opening kickoff, but managed to recover the ball at their own 7-yard-line.

Despite their poor field position, the Longhorns went straight to their passing game, completing 28 yards in passes in six attempts. But on the seventh pass try, the Dog’s Mavric Lowrance stepped in front of a Longhorn receiver, picked off the pass and ran 13 yards to LG’s 24.

The Dog’s JoJo Gray was first out of the gate and bolted 21 yards to the Longhorn 3-yard-line for a first down. Gray ground out two more on second down, then quarterback Traber Sartors dashed into the end-zone to give the Dogs their first score of the night. It came at the 8:00-minute mark of the first quarter, with Angel Rios adding the PAT kick.

The Longhorns took possession of the kickoff at their own 35, but found the going tough against Sulphur’s defense. A no gain on first down run, an incomplete pass on second down, and only one yard on third down forced them to punt.

Sulphur took over at their own 35, and quickly went to the air. Sartors connected to Carter Cole on a pass play deep inside Longhorn territory, but it was nullified by a holding penalty. Gray then got back the yardage lost on the penalty with an 11-yard run on the next play, then raced up the middle behind good blocking for a 59-yard scoring dash to give the Dogs a two-touchdown lead. Rios added the PAT kick with 5:30 left in the first quarter.

Starting at their own 24, Lone Grove went right back to the air, and connected on three passes for 38 yards to the Sulphur 33. But four consecutive incomplete passes gave Sulphur possession of the ball on downs, 67 yards away from a third touchdown.

Bulldog receiver Drake Wood was first up with a 12-yard pass from Sartors, then Gray added six, and Carter Cole and Jackson Haggard three yards each. But another Bulldog holding penalty moved the team back 10 yards to their own 47. Sartors picked up three yards on the next play, then handed off to Haggard who raced through a big hole in the middle of the line for a 50-yard TD run. Rios’ PAT kick gave the Dogs a comfortable, 21-0 lead just a few ticks away from the end of the first quarter.

The Longhorns returned the kickoff to their own 33. But on first down, the Dog’s Michael Morris andAcer Dixon combined for a big stop on a Longhorn runner for no gain, then Jesse Peters got a quarterback sack for a 10-yard loss.

They punted two plays later to their own 48.

The Dogs couldn’t connect on two pass plays as rain began falling, then went to their ground game where Gray picked up 20 yards in two carries. Carter Cole then rattled off a 13-yard pickup, then Gray raced 14 yards to the 1-yard line, then plunged over on the next play for the team’s fourth TD. Rios added the PAT kick giving the Dogs a 28-0 lead midway through the second period.

The Longhorns began possession on their own 26 following the kickoff, and quickly rattled off three first downs, all on passes. They eventually got down to Sulphur’s 36, but that was it. Carter Cole intercepted a pass to give the Dogs possession at their own 41.

Sartors went for nine yards on a second down after an incomplete pass, then Carter Cole blasted up field on a 51-yard TD run to give Sulphur their fifth TD of the evening. Rios’ PAT kick was good and the Dogs were in total command, 35-0.

Neither team was able to move on their next series, but the Dogs recovered a LG fumble after a sold hit from Sartors as halftime neared. The Dogs moved to the 25 where they stalled. A Rios’ field goal from that point failed, but Sulphur had this one pretty much nailed down.

The Dogs took the second half kickoff, moved to the LG 35, then Cole raced around end for a score. But, for the second time in the game, his run was nullified by a holding penalty and LG took over on downs.

They moved to Sulphur’s 35 on a fake punt, but the Dogs held at their own 37, taking over on downs.

Sulphur turned the ball over on their next series on an interception, but the Longhorns were stopped for minus six yards in three plays and punted.

The Dogs took over at their own 37 and would score in only five plays as Madden Duck raced in from the 21-yard line for their sixth TD. Haggard and Cole also had big yardage on the drive, going for 23 and nine yards respectively. Rios added the PAT kick.

The Dogs added a late TD in the fourth quarter to seal the deal as new quarterback Ayler Dixon plunged in from the two. Big runs in that drive were 22 and 14 yards from Lucas Mitchell and Nate Wood respectively.

Sulphur will travel to Kingston this Friday in a game that will likely determine the Class 3A-2 district title.

Game-time is 7:00 p.m.