Just when it appeared the Dogs couldn’t possibly play any better on the defensive side of the ball with four shutouts to their credit already this season, they dug a litter deeper and pitched their fifth. In one of their most dominating defensive performances ever, the Dogs completely inundated the Kingfisher Yellowjackets, 66-0, in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs last Friday and will now advance to the quarterfinals against Idabel this Friday at Agee Field. The Dogs (10-1) scored three defensive touchdowns in the game, including two in the first six minutes, and ran rampant over the Yellowjackets (6-5) with stellar play all over the field. “What a night our defense had last week versus Kingfisher,” said head Sulphur coach Corey Cole. “It was one of the most dominating performances our defense has had and it came against a really good offensive team in Kingfisher.” All total, Sulphur’s defense forced four turnovers, three interceptions and a fumble. Two Dogs, Maddax Mobly and Drake Wood, each ran back an interception for a touchdown, and Cash Matlack picked up a fumble and ran it back for a score. Sulphur limited Kingfisher to a total of 63 yards for the game, forcing seven punts, with three sacks, and nine three and outs. “These are unbelievable numbers for a playoff game,” said Cole. “Our defense is playing at a very high level right now and it is a lot of fun watching them each and every Friday night.” Cole said the Dog secondary “had maybe their best night of the year against a really good passing attack, only allowing 58 yards passing.” He cited Maddux Boyd, Bridge Barrett and Briar Davenport as being very disciplined in the back end and termed the defensive front as “disruptive and physical,” praising the play of Justus Gilliam, Baer Webb, Caden Cole, Giddeon Petersen, and Colten Cole. “This unit has gotten better every week and continues to strive towards perfection everyday,” he said. Sulphur was performing so well on defense, it was hard for their offense to put up big numbers but Cole said, “that is a good problem to have.” With a dry field and mild temps, the Dogs were efficient in the passing game, unlike the previous Friday at Mannford where a driving rain hampered their aerial attack. Sulphur signal caller, Luke Linville, was 11-22 for 186 yards and two TDs, while receiver Colten Cole had his best nigh receiving from his U-back position, said Cole. The coach also cited the play of receiver Briar Davenport, and running backs, Austin Garrett, Cash Matlack, Maddax Mobly and JoJo Gray, who Cole said had big nights running the football. Cole also praised his offensive line who he said did a great job of giving Linville plenty of time to throw the ball. The group of Nash Williamson, Giddeon Petersen, Brody Wallace, Caden Cole and Colten Cole “continue to gel together every week,” he said. Special teams play was also stellar, said Cole, citing his kickoff coverage unit as being “disciplined the whole year and did another fantastic job Friday night. “Just really loved the way our kids were focused and their preparation was so disciplined during the week, their work ethic and attention to detail has been outstanding. “I really thought Austin Garrett played one of his best games of his career and he has been doing it here for a long time... he was all over the field defensively and had one of the best TD runs I have ever seen at Agee field.” During that run, Garrett broke five tackles on a 73-yard score. The Dogs opened the game with the ball at their own 30 and scored just a few plays later as Colten Cole caught a screen pass from Linville and ran 29 yards for the score. Mobly’s two-point run gave Sulphur a quick 8-0 lead. Kingfisher ran just one play, losing a yard, before trying to pass, but it was intercepted by Mobly who ran it back 25 yards for a TD, giving the Dogs their second score in a span of about four minutes. Sulphur’s Colten Cole booted the kick into the end-zone, forcing theYellowjackets to start from their own 20 where they picked up a first down, then connected on a 33-yard pass play into Sulphur territory at the 34-yard-line. A nine-yard run put them deeper, but on the next play, the Matlack picked up a fumble and raced 75 yards for a score to give Sulphur a three-touchdown lead with 6:40 still left in the first period. On their ensuing series, the Yellowjackets connected on a 7-yard pass, but Garrett put a stop to the drive on a quarterback sack the next play, forcing them to punt. The Dogs took over at their own 46, and were moving, but 25 yards in penalties set them back to their own 27. On a second and long, Garrett, in one of the best runs of the season, broke five tackles and raced 73 yards for a score as Sulphur took complete control of the game. During that drive, a 70-yard TD pass from Linville to Davenport, was called back due to a Sulphur penalty. Davenport also raced 61 yards with another TD pass, later in the second quarter, but it too was nullified by penalty. The Dog’s Colten Cole ended up kicking a 27-yard field goal just minutes later to end the drive to give the Dogs a 31-0 lead. The Yellowjackets could not move on their ensuing possession, going for it on fourth down but Garrett made an impressive tackle for negative three yards that gave Sulphur possession at the Kingfisher 40. Matlack then sealed the deal on Sulphur’s first play of that series, going 40 yards for the score with 7:29 left in the second. Cole’s PAT kick gave Sulphur a 38-0 lead. The Dogs scored just minutes later with 3:51 in the half as Mobly plunged in from the two yard-line. Big play in that drive was a Colten Cole 10-yard pass. He added the PAT kick to give the Dogs a 45-0 halftime lead. On Sulphur’s first series to start the second half, Davenport, on a second and 7, hauled in a 28-yard scoring strike from Linville, and this time it wasn’t called back. With 10:18 remaining in the third quarter, the Dogs were now on cruise control with a 52-0 lead after Cole’s PAT kick. They upped the score to 59-0 just moments later after JoJo Gray capped a 57-yard drive with an eight-yard run. Reserve kicker Angel Rios booted the PAT. Kingfisher tried and failed on another fourth down pass attempt, but the Dog’s Drake Wood picked it off and ran 38 yards for the TD to end the scoring for the night. Rios added the PAT to give Sulphur a win in playoff round one. Sulphur will host Idabel next Friday night in the quarterfinals in a 7:00 p.m. start.
