Football has returned and it starts with a bang, as Sulphur opens the 2024 season at No. 1 (2A) Washington on Friday night.
The Dogs will look to end the Warriors’ 31-game winning streak and beat the two-time defending state champions in the class below.
Sulphur is coming off an 8-4 season where they made the Class 3A state quarterfinals, but return 19 starters and expectations are once again. very high.
Things will start with a big game, as Sulphur travels to Washington, looking to get the program’s first win over the Warriors.
“They’ve been the standard of 2A and 3A football for the last few years,” Sulphur head coach Corey Cole said. “They have a 31-game win streak and have only lost 2 of their last 44 games or something. They lost in the finals three years ago to Marlow and it was a game they were driving to win late, so they are very close to having won three in a row.”
Cole praised Washington head coach Brad Beller and his program for the consistency and standard that the Warriors maintain.
“They just do things the right way,” Cole said. “Their kids play really hard. You have to tip your hat to Coach Beller and his staff. The community support is also outstanding. They just keep reloading and that’s what quality programs do. They had a really good senior class last year, but this year they are just as explosive on offense and just as fast and quick to the ball on defense, which is a testament to the program. They do a tremendous job and going up there, you know you are going to be in a battle.”
Washington is led by star tight end Nate Roberts, who is one of the top tight ends in the country and is committed to Ohio State.
“They do a lot of things with him and it’s understandable, because he is as good of a tight end sas you will see,” Cole said. “We have to align right and find a way to slow him down because he is a very difficult matchup” Roberts had 36 catches for 816 yards and eight scores in 2023. He had two touchdowns in Washington’s season-opening win over CCS last week.
Cole says getting lined up right is a big focus for the Dogs this week in preparing for the entire offense.
“It’s a whole lot easier to make a play when you are in the right spot,” he said. “They do a ton of shifting and moving guys around, so that’s really important for us this week. We had some plays last week where we were not lined up correctly and it cost us, so we have to be sharp in that area this week.”
However, the biggest challenge for Sulphur is going to be Hudson Howard, a senior running back that’s small in stature (5-foot-8, 185 lbs.) but has been a workhorse for the Warriors throughout his career.
“We have to stop him,” Cole said. “That is the key. He has had some huge games against us and we cannot let him get going. He doesn’t get as much recognition but he is a heck of a player.”
Howard had 1,668 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior last year. Last week against CCS, Howard had eight carries for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
Cole says the Dogs have to be sound in all areas to slow down the Washington attack.
“We can’t just get glued on one thing,” he said. “We have to just go play football and do what we do. We have to be gap sound, chase the ball and undoubtedly this week, we have to be great tacklers. We can’t give these guys second chances. They can both break a lot of tackles.”
The Dogs are welcoming in a new offense under coordinator Channing Hickman, so everyone is anxious to see what it looks like in action.
“We have to be solid on that side of the ball,” Cole said. “I’m pleased with where we all. We have to give our quarterback time. We have to have no turnovers and run the football well. We are going to try to get the ball to our guys and get our guys in space.”
“If they are going to let us throw our quick stuff, we feel that’s an extension of our running game and will take that. If they take that away, we have to attack outside and be able to run the ball. They are going to give us some different looks, but we are excited about it. Washington has done a good job of stopping us the last few years and taking away what we do well. We have got to be patient but at the same time we have to attack and control tempo.”
Cole said the kids are excited and ready to go, as they feel a big season is ahead.
“Our kids are excited and looking for this challenge,” Cole said. “It’s a top five game in the state this week. There will be a lot of people there and it’s two good football teams. There is going to be some adversity, but we have to be mature and be able to overcome it. We have a veteran group and we hope our seniors can make a huge difference. That is one area where we have an advantage.”
“Until you kick it off, you never know if you are truly ready. There are a lot of things that can happen between now and then, They played last week so there is a little advantage there but our kids are mentally and physically ready to go. I believe we are.”
Kickoff in Washington on Friday is at 7 p.m.
