The two teams penciled in as likely contenders for a state Class 3A football championship have arrived at their destinations.
Sulphur, behind a powerful passing and running attack that amassed nearly 600 yards of total offense, overwhelmed Checotah in last week’s semis and undefeated Lincoln Christian (13-0) posted an easy win over perennial power Heritage Hall to punch their ticket to the finals.
The two will now meet in gigantic clash on the UCO campus in Edmond in a Thursday evening kick.
Sulphur (12-1) was unstoppable in their 68-21 win over Checotah (8-5) last Friday in Moore, building up a 34-0 lead before the Wildcats’ explosive speedster, Elijah Thomas, an OU commit, scored on pass receptions of 95, 62, and 75 yards as they tried to narrow the gap.
But, with upfront offensive line blocking and pinpoint passing of quarterback Luke Linville, the Dogs scored almost at will and enjoyed one of their best offensive games this season.
“I was just super proud of our guys performance last Friday in Moore,” said head Sulphur coach Corey Cole. “ I thought we were extremely focused on our business and played lights out football on a big stage.”
Linville had one of his best performances of the season, throwing for over 300 yards with six touchdown passes, while receivers Maddax Mobly, Bridge Barrett and Briar Davenport enjoyed stellar evenings catching the ball.
“We continued to play the brand of football that has gotten us this far - we were extremely physical and played super fast and confident,” Cole said.
According to Cole, Linville threw the ball with great command and had the offense playing at a fast pace.
Mobly, one of Linville’s three or four primary receivers, continued to dominate with four touchdowns, two passing and two receiving and a total of 200 all-purpose yards. Barrett and Davenport also contributed in the receiving department with about 100 yards in receptions and multiple TDs.
The Dogs also rushed the ball well, chewing up about 279 yards in the ground game and Cole cited his upfront blockers with helping in that area.
“We ran the ball really well against a loaded box,” said Cole. “Caden Cole, Justus Gilliam, Brody Wallace, Nash Williamson, Giddeon Petersen, Colten Cole and Conner Sullivan all blocked extremely well and controlled the line of scrimmage and gave Luke all the time he needed in the passing game,” he said. Cash Matlack, Austin Garrett, Mobly, and Jojo Gray all ran the ball effectively and physically.”
Despite giving up several long passing plays to one of the best receivers in the state, Cole lauded his defense.
“Defensively, we attacked from the word go and made tons of big time plays,” said Cole. “I thought our D-line played really well, Baer Webb and Cooper Cole had several big plays and sacks, and I thought Caden Cole, Gilliam,and Petersen all caused a lot of problems for Checotah’s offensive line.”
Another player Cole cited was Garrett. “He was all over the place again last Friday, he has been playing unbelievable football here lately.
“We gave up three big pass plays but the kid that made the plays (Thomas) is a special, special talent and we had two slight breakdowns and he made us pay for them, but with that being said, Briar Davenport, Maddux Boyd, Eli Vinson, Bridge Barrett, Carter Cole, Drake Wood, Maddax Mobly, and Cash Matlack all played very well in the back end. Barrett got two more interceptions to take his total up top eight for the year.
After an opening series of three and out, the Dogs put the petal to the metal beginning with a punt to the Checotah nine, then got the ball back at the Wildcats’ 30 and scored in seven plays to take an early 6-0 lead. Big plays in the drive were short passes to Barrett, Matlack, and finally Mobly, who scored from two yards. The PAT run failed, but there would be plenty more scores in the remaining time.
The Dogs upped the lead to 13-0 on their ensuing series after holding Checotah to only three yards, thanks to strong defensive plays from Garrett and Boyd. Taking over at their own 18, the Dog’s Davenport hauled in a 30yard scoring strike from Linville and Colten Cole booted the PAT with 4:00 left in the first quarter.
With no where to run or pass, the Wildcats were forced to punt, the Dogs taking over deep in their own end of the field. Mobly got the call on two successive plays, going nine and 27 yards, then JoJo Gray found a seam and raced 30 yards for the score as the Dogs took a 20-0 lead with 2:46 left in the first.
That lead increased to 27-0 after Mobly hauled in 30-yard scoring strike from Linville on their next series. Mobly also caught a 23-yard pass on first down of that series.
A 15-yard penalty stalled the Dog’s next drive, but they returned a punt to the Wildcat 38 on the ensuing series, and Linville went to work and found Garrett on a 18-yard scoring strike as Sulphur took a commanding 34-0 lead with 4:18 left in the second.
The Wildcats narrowed the gap to 34-7 as the speedster Thomas ran 95 yards on a pass reception, but Sulphur returned the favor two plays into their ensuing drive, with Garrett slashing for 28 yards and Mobly hauling in a 27-yard TD strike, giving the Dogs a 41-7 lead.
The lead widened as Sulphur forced the Wildcats to punt on their next series, then went to work through the air as Barrett hauled in a 12-yard TD pass, giving the Dogs a 48-7 halftime lead.
Thomas showed why he is one of the most dangerous receivers in the state when he outraced the Dog’s secondary on a 62-yard pass play just after the start of the second half, to narrow Sulphur’s lead to 48-14.
Three plays into their ensuing series, the Dogs were having nothing to do with a Checotah comeback as Jett Runyan made a leaping catch in the end-zone to widen the Dog’s lead to 55-14.
Thomas then went on another long distance pass and run play to score the Wildcat’s final TD of game with 6:25 still left in the third as score narrowed to 55-21.
After returning the ball to the 35, Linville found Davenport open and connected on a 53yard strike to give the Dogs a 62-21 lead.
Sulphur put the game away on the next series as Kaden Seitz recovered a Wildcat fumble at the 17, then Mobly lit the scoreboard up for a final time on a 17-yard strike from Linville.
“This was just a total team effort from a team that has been determined since day one to play for a state championship,” said Cole. “Again, I was very proud and excited for this team and all that they have accomplished but their #1 goal is this Thursday and there is still work to do!”
Game-time this Thursday in Edmond is 7:00 p.m.
