In one of the best defensive performances in school history, Sulphur smothered Lone Grove last Friday in a game that was over by halftime.
The Dogs (5-1, 3-0) used a lock-down defense combined with touchdown drives on eight consecutive possessions to completely overwhelm the Longhorns, 56-0.
Sulphur held Lone Grove (0-3,0-6) to only 31 yards of total offense and just two first downs in the dominating performance. It was just after the midway point in the third quarter before the Longhorns were able to first move the chains.
“I thought we came out and played a really clean game,” said head Sulphur coach Corey Cole. “ We started fast and never slowed down; we were physical and absolutely dominant on defense only allowing 31 yards for the game.”
The Dogs were led by a host of players on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game. Cole cited Cash Matlack’s 105-yard rushing effort, Justus Gilliam’s five tackles and one sack and Colten Cole’s six touch-back kickoffs and six-for-six in extra-point kicks as a few of players who performed well.
He also complimented the efforts of his offensive and defensive lines. “I thought our offensive and defensive lines played outstanding in the trenches, and we ran for over 400 yards for the first time this season,” said Cole. “The backs ran hard and did a great job of taking care of the ball. “We were really good on 3rd downs offensively and defensively on the night- something we really stress to our kids.”
In one of the more telling stats of the evening, Sulphur’s defense forced two Longhorn turnovers and six punts.
“I was proud of the way our kids continue to work daily and their attention to detail has been extraordinary,” the coach said.
The Dogs were fast out of the gate, scoring in only six plays on their opening drive as Maddax Mobly, Briar Davenport, and Cash Matlack took turns moving the chains. Mobly capped off the 60-yard drive on a 16-yard run. Quarterback Luke Linnville connected on passes of 10 and 13 yards to Davenport and Matlack ran for 20 yards in the drive.
In maybe their best offense of the night, the Longhorns connected on a 5-yard pass and 4-yard run in their opening drive, but were forced to punt after a penalty and no gain on a third and four.
It was then off to the races for Sulphur as the Dogs scored in only
PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE
THE STATISTICS
Sulphur 56, Lone Grove 0 Sulphur (49-0)--Matlack 65-Yard Run (Kick Failed) 2nd Q, 0:45 Sulphur (56-0) Grady Hardoin 14 Yard Run (Cole Kick) 3rd Q, 6:12 Scoring Summary
Score By Quarters
Sulphur........... 36 13 7 0--56 Lone Grove..... 0 0 0 0--0
Game Statistics Sulphur (7-0)--Maddax Mobly 16 Yard Run (Colten Cole Kick),1st Q, 10:13 Sulphur (15-0)--Mobly 20-Yard Run (Colten Cole Pass To Briar Davenport) 1st Q, 6:35 Sulphur (22-0)--Jett Runyan 31-Yard Pass from Luke Linville (Cole Kick)1st Q, 4:12 Sulphur (29-0)--Cash Matlack 16 Yard Run (Cole Kick) 1st Q, 1:38 Sulphur (36-0)--Drake Wood 20 Yard Pass From Linville (Cole Kick) 1st Q, 0:37 Sulphur (43-0)--Austin Garrett 4-Yard Run (Cole Kick) 2nd Q, 4:17 Sul. LG First Downs 23 2 Rushing Yds. 37-430 19- 20 Passing 11-15 5-8 Passing Yds. 159 25 Total Net Yds. 52-589 27- 31 Turnovers 0 2 Punts 0 6 3rd Down Con. 4-4 0-9 six plays after taking over at their own 34 on a punt.
Austin Garrett rushed for 11 yards in the Dog’s first two plays, then Mobly reeled in a 21-yard pass from Linville, followed by an 8-yard run from Matlack, a 4-yarder from Garrett and capped off with a 20-yard run from Mobly.
The Dogs elected to go for two on the conversion and it was good on a pass play to Davenport.
After forcing a second LG punt on their ensuing possession, the Dogs took over at their own 45 and took it to the house in just five plays with Jett Runyan hauling in a 31-yard strike from Linville for Sulphur’s third consecutive TD. Cole’s PAT was good, giving the Dogs a 22-0 lead at the 4:12 mark in the first quarter.
From there, it was all downhill sledding for Sulphur.
After forcing a third consecutive punt, the Dogs moved down to the LG 16 where Matlack scored with 1:29 left in the first quarter. Cole’s PAT kick was good, giving the Dogs a 29-0 lead.
The Dogs then recovered a fumble as the Longhorns coughed up the ball at their own 19 on the second play from scrimmage . The Dog’s Baer Webb came up with the loose ball.
Linville then hit Drake Wood on a 20-yard pass play as the Dogs scored their fifth TD in the first quarter. Cole’s PAT was good and Sulphur enjoyed a 36-0 lead.
The Longhorns tried to get some offense going after taking over at their own 22, but could not budge an entrenched Sulphur defense despite two 15-yard Dog penalties in the short drive. Lone Grove then punted to the Sulphur 10, and from there, the Dogs mounted a 13-play scoring drive. It was capped off with a four-yard plunge from Garrett.
Big plays in the drive came from Carter Cole on a13-yard run, 19 yards in two runs by Webb,and two 20-yard runs from Davenport.
Cole’s PAT gave the Dogs a 43-0 lead at the 4:07 mark of the second quarter.
Sulphur went up 49-0 just moments later as Matlack raced 65 yards for the score after the Dogs took over at their own 39 on a LG punt. The PAT kick from Angel Rios was just wide as the half was about to come to a close.
The Dogs were able to use a number of underclassmen in the final half to secure the victory.
After Wood intercepted a Longhorn pass at the 36 early in the third quarter, Grady Hardoin went to work with two 11-yard runs and a 14-yarder for the score. Cole’s PAT gave Sulphur their final TD of the night and a 56-point lead. On the ensuing drive, the Longhorns made their first, first down of the game.
Sulphur will host Bristow this Thursday evening at 7:00.
Sulphur Players Of The Game
Offense: Cash Matlack, 4 Carries, 105 Yards, 2 Tds.
Defense: Justus Gilliam, 5 tackles, 2 Tfl, 1 sack.
Special Teams: Colten Cole, 6-6 in extra points, 6 touch-back kickoffs.
Big Dawg: Caden Cole. Hit Of Week: Austin Garrett Scout Team: George Martinez