Powerful Sulphur Running Game Proves Too Much For Talent-Laden Warriors In Class 3A Quarterfinal Action
The magic of Sulphur’s 2024 football team continued on last Friday night at Agee Field, as the Bulldogs took control of the game early and ground out a 53-21 win over a talent-laden Idabel team.
Sulphur now advances on to the state semifinals this Friday in a 7:00 p.m. kick at Moore High School opposite Checotah, fresh off a nail-biting 35-32 win over Bristow in the other quarterfinal game.
“What a magical night atAgee Field last Friday night for our football team and community,” said head Sulphur coach, Corey Cole. “Our kids played really well against a very talented Idabel team.”
The Warriors have athletes all over the field including two Division 1 players, but the Dogs kicked into higher gear when Idabel cut the Sulphur lead to 12 in the first quarter, then ground it out for another impressive win.
“We got off to a very fast start and then we gave up some big plays on kickoff returns and a couple of passes and they clawed their way back into it, but our guys kept grinding through the adversity and put together a very well earned trip to the state semifinals,” said Cole.
Idabel’s Matrail Lopez, an OSU commit with speed and agility, gave the Dogs their biggest problem with two kick-off returns of over 100 yards and a couple of long pass receptions, but the Dogs persevered throughout the night with a strong ground game to outdistance their foes.
Sulphur held the Warriors’other Division 1 player, running back Ravian Larry, mostly in check throughout the night, limiting him to only 32 total yards.
“I was proud of our football team and extremely proud of our seniors,” said Cole. “These guys have been through a lot in their careers, some really tough times and some very great times and now they are leading this Bulldog team to the state semifinals for the 9th time in school history. It was pretty fulfilling watching your seniors walk off the field victorious on the last game they will ever play at Sulphur and make their way into the semifinal round.”
While Sulphur has been using a newly crafted aerial game throughout most the season, the Dogs took to the ground last Friday and pounded out 482 yards to seal their 11th victory of the season.
“We looked like the old school Sulphur Bulldogs on offense as we rushed for 482 yards on 51 attempts and 7 TD’s, but that was what the defense was giving us and our O-line and backs did a fantastic job,” Cole said of his team’s overall effort.
The Dogs have played outstanding defense all season with five shut-outs to their credit, but the Warriors posed the biggest threat to the team since week one when Washington beat the Dogs in a double overtime thriller.
“Defensively we faced the best offense we had seen since Washington in week one, and other than a couple of 4th down completions and a 3rd down completion, I thought we played really well defensively,” said Cole. “We had 6 sacks and made the quarterback throw under stress all night, but give him credit, he made some big time throws at times.”
The Dogs were strong, however, against Idabel’s running attack, completely taking away that aspect of their offense, said Cole.
Cole took the opportunity this week to thank the coaches who helped make it all happen. “The assistant coaches did an amazing job of getting these guys ready and had a really good game-plan against Idabel,” he said.
Sulphur junior running back Maddax Mobly continued his stellar play this season with 188 rushing yards and five touchdowns against the Warriors. Mobly also added a team high 10 tackles from his free safety position.
Cole also praised the play of Austin Garrett and Cash Matlack, who combined for another 222 yards in rushing.
Defensively, Cole said cornerback Bridge Barrett performed at a very high level, grabbing his sixth interception of the year.
Cole also praised defensive end Baer Webb. “He might have played one of his best games of the year as he was all over the place Friday with a sack and a TFL,” the coach said.
Other players in the mix defensively last Friday includedAustin Garrett and Justus Gilliam, who Cole said “continued their dominant play on defense.” Gilliam had two sacks and Matlack added a sack as did Colten Cole and Cooper Cole.
Overall, Cole said Sulphur performed at a very high level in the win over Idabel. “Wins in late November are tough to get and our kids did it pretty convincingly last Friday,” he said. “It was an emotional night for seniors as it was the last time to walk out of the Jim Dixon Athletic Facility and play on CalvinAgee Field in front of the best fans in Oklahoma - our kids earned and have worked hard to get to this point....lets hope it continues,” he said.
Sulphur opened the game with Barrett returning the kick to the 48, and right out of the gate came Briar Davenport with a 12-yard pass reception from quarterback Luke Linville to get the Dogs moving. Mobly ended the drive moments later on a nifty, 19-yard scoring run to give Sulphur an early lead with only three minutes into the game. The PAT run failed, but the Dogs had momentum and a six-point lead.
Sulphur’s defense held Idabel on their first possession, forcing them to punt, and then set up at midfield where Garrett and Matlack went to work on the ground. Garrett reeled off runs of five and six yards, then Matlack broke through the line and raced 20 yards for the Dogs second TD.
A conversion pass was successful to Mobly, but a penalty on the play nullified the two-pointer, then the Dogs tried to kick the PAT, but it was blocked.
Sulphur was still in command, though, with a 12-0 lead well into the first quarter.
Colten Cole then booted the ball into the endzone, making Idabel start at their own 20, but more importantly, keeping it away from their dangerous returner, Lopez.
Sulphur’s defense then went to work and held Idabel to a net of three yards in three plays, forcing them to punt for a second time in two starts.
The Dogs then took over at midfield where Matlack got the offense going on an 8-yard first down run. Mobly then broke through for a four-yard run for a first down, then capped off the drive with a 38-yard scamper into the end-zone for the Dog’s third TD of the first quarter. Cole’s PAT kick gave Sulphur a 19-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Idabel’s Lopez displayed for local fans his return skills, as he zipped through several arm tackles, finally being brought down at the Bulldogs 43.
The Warriors then completed a 36-yard pass deep into Sulphur territory, then Larry plunged in from the seven to give the Warriors their first score. The PAT kick was good, giving Idabel momentum and down by only 12, 19-7.
The Dogs, however, continued their strong running game after taking over near midfield. Davenport hauled in a 7-yard pass to get things going, then Mobly sealed the deal on a 37-yard scoring run to give the Dogs a three-score lead. Garrett increased the lead to 27-7 on a two-point conversion pass with just seven seconds left in the first quarter.
Idabel jumped back into the game when Lopez burned the Dogs on another long kick-off return, going about 50 yards to the Sulphur 30. The Warriors scored six plays later on a four-yard run with 10:30 left in the second quarter. The PAT kick was good, and suddenly Idabel had new life, trailing only 27-14.
Both teams then traded punts before the Dogs took over at their own 35, but a rare pass interception stopped the drive at the Idabel 26.
The Warriors couldn’t move though, and punted to their own 45, giving the Dogs good field position. Garrett had two good runs for a first down, then Davenport ran for 30 yards before the Dogs finally stalled out and had to call on Cole for an 18-yard field goal that gave them a 30-14 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Dogs played outstanding defense with Garrett and Matlack combining for quarterback sacks of 12 yards total and forcing the Warriors to punt on their first possession.
Sulphur took over again near midfield and moved into the red-zone before stalling out and calling on Cole for his second field goal of the evening, a 26-yarder, to give the host team a 33-14 lead.
The Dogs overcame and 15yard penalty on Idabel’s next possession, forcing the Warriors into a fourth down where they failed to convert, giving the Dogs the ball at their own 37.
This was Sulphur’s time to shine and they did just that. Garrett, Mobly, Matlack, and Colten Cole all combined with strong rushing and passing to move the Dogs to the three where Mobly plunged in for the score. Garrett’s 25-yard run and Cole’s 9-yard pass defined the drive that gave Sulphur a lot of breathing room. Cole’s PAT gave the Dogs a 39-14 lead with 1:42 left in the third quarter.
Sulphur increased the lead to 46-14 on their next series after forcing an Idabel punt to the Sulphur 30 yard-line.
Despite a Sulphur holding penalty, runs by Matlack of 18 yards, 24 from Mobly, and 15 from Garrett moved the Dogs to the 10 where Mobly scampered in from there. Cole’s PAT kick gave Sulphur a 46-14 lead which pretty much sealed Sulphur’s win.
Barrett nailed the door shut moments later on Idabel’s next series, intercepting a pass at the Warrior 38. The Dog’s JoJo Gray then raced 37 yards for score that pretty much ended any doubt about the winner. Angel Rios, then booted the PAT to give the Dogs a 53-14 lead with 4:20 left in the fourth.
PHOTO BY SABRINA DUCK
PHOTO BY SABRINA DUCK
PHOTO BY SABRINA DUCK
