Only Inches Separate Dogs From Possible State Championship
There’s an old adage that football is a game of inches, and that was never more evident than in last Thursday night’s Class 3A state title game in Edmond.
Sulphur needed just a couple of inches more separation on a two-point conversion run to take one-point lead over Lincoln Christian with just over a minute remaining in the game, but were stopped short by an inch or two, and lost a 28-27 thriller.
It may have been one of the best high school playoff games in years with players on both teams making brilliant runs, catches and brutal contact. In the end, the LC Bulldogs had an ounce or two more left in their tank than did Sulphur and took home the gold ball, their second in a row.
For Sulphur, it was their fourth trip to the state finals, with two golds and now two silver balls.
This week, head Sulphur coach Corey Cole, only in his first year as head coach, reflected on the game and season that could define future versions of the Bulldogs.
“I was just super proud of the 2024 Sulphur Bulldog football team,” he said. “This group did everything that was asked of them and more. Their toughness, grit, commitment, dedication, and pride in this program was on full display every single time they hit the field. The leadership from our 12 seniors and the brotherhood they created with this group was incredible to watch evolve since last spring.”
Cole said last Thursday night’s Bulldog effort to come back after falling behind by 15 points early in the third quarter made him proud to be Bulldog.
“Last Thursday night was just another example of the never quit attitude that they have, they kept believing in their teammates and the game plan until the bitter end.
“Lincoln just made one more play than us by literally 2-3 inches. It was a classic heavyweight match-up of two unbelievably talented football teams that left everything on the field last Thursday. Hats off to Coach Ricke and the Lincoln Christian Bulldogs, they have a great program and found a way to win in the end.”
LC scored at the end of first half to take a 21-13 lead, then upped the lead to 28-13 just a few minutes into the second half.
But Sulphur came storming back, mainly on the ground, with Maddax Mobly and Cash Matlack lighting up the LC secondary on big runs. Mobly ended the game with a 4-TD, 140-yard rushing effort and Matlack provided a big spark late in the second on a 46-yard, first down run to put the Dogs in scoring position.
“We ran the ball extremely well against a very talented defense that had stopped the run all year,” said Cole. “ I thought our offensive line played one of their best games upfront run blocking. Mobly and Matlack ran the ball extremely physical and had great vision.”
Sulphur limited LC’s potent run game to under 30 yards in the second half but it was LC’s two-touchdown swing in the middle of the game that put the Dogs into a hole.
“Defensively I thought we played extremely physical and stopped their potent run game,” said Cole. “Our defense played really amazing in the 2nd half, limiting LC to under 30 yards for the half but the 14-point swing at the end of the first half and start of second half was tough to overcome, but our kids found a way and gave us a chance.”
LC got on the board first on a four-yard scoring effort from their talented running back, Braeden Baker, and took a 7-0 lead with 4:36 left in the first, capping an 80-yard drive.
Dogs
The Dogs stormed back on their own 80-yard drive as receivers Briar Davenport and Bridge Barrett extended the drive with big receptions. Barrett’s 38-yard, behind the back sideline grab, moved the Dogs to the four where Mobly ran in for the TD. Cole’s PAT kick gave Sulphur a 7-7 tie with 0:57 left in the first quarter.
After a penalty on the ensuing kick, LC set up at their own 22, then used a mixture of running and timely passing to complete the drive, capped on a 17-yard TD strike. The kick was good, giving the foes a 14-7 lead.
Both teams then traded punts, the Dogs finally getting the ball at their own 39 and down by seven points.
On first down, Matlack caught a seam on the left side, and raced 46 yards to put the Dogs into scoring position inside the 20, then picked up seven more. Mobly negotiated the final 17 yards on runs two, nine and finally six yards for the score.
The PAT kick was blocked and that would have major implications down the line when the Dogs went for the two-point conversion at the end of the game.
Leading by a 14-13 margin, LC drove 60 yards for a score in only six plays to close out the first half and took a 21-13 lead into the locker room. LC’s Jack Milligan closed out the drive on a 26-yard scoring strike.
Sulphur opted to take the second-half kickoff and were in good position with the way their offense was moving to possibly even-up the game. But, an LC defender, Kylan Schultheis picked off a Sulphur pass and returned it 35 yards for the score and now the situation became more dire as the Dogs were now down, 28-13.
Time was on Sulphur’s side, however, with 10:49 left in the third quarter, but they needed a spark if they were to get back into this game.
That spark came, not on offense, but on defense, when linebacker Austin Garrett intercepted an LC pass and returned it to the 18, giving Sulphur new life.
Mobly then picked up 10 on a third and seven to give Sulphur a first down at the six, then scored on the next play as the Dogs narrowed the gap. Mobly gave Sulphur even more momentum with a two-point conversion run and the Dogs were now only down seven, 28-21.
More great defensive plays were on the horizon for Sulphur as Bridge Barrett picked off an LC pass on their next possession and returned it about 30 yards to the LC 39, giving the Dogs new life.
LC, however, forced Sulphur into 4th and long and they eventually took possession of the ball near midfield and leading by seven as the game was winding down in the fourth quarter. The situation looked gloomy for Sulphur.
But on LC’s first play, Mobly stripped the ball from an LC runner, then recovered the fumble near midfield, giving the Dogs new life.
Running some from the wildcat position in the backfield, Mobly then rushed the ball seven times to put the Dogs at the two and a chance to win the game.
With 1:13 left, he plunged into the end-zone and Sulphur now had a chance to win with a two-point conversion.
With thousands of Sulphur and LC fans screaming, Mobly then took hand-off and dove off the left side of the line, but was stopped inches short, giving LC a 28-27 state championship win.
“I really felt like we were one of the best teams in the state in class 3A but last Thursday we ended up 1 point short on the scoreboard of being the best,” said Cole. “I’m disappointed for our seniors that it ended like it did, but so proud of Baer Webb, Luke Linville, Maddux Boyd, Eli Vinson,Austin Garrett, Jett Runyan, Kaden Seitz, Cash Matlack, Nash Williamson, Caden Cole, Giddeon Petersen, and Justus Gilliam.
“I love these guys so much and I am so thankful that they bought into our vision and culture and helped share it and grow it amongst our team this season. These guys will be missed tremendously, but they will always have a special place in Sulphur football history. The goal in this program on the field is to win that gold ball and that won’t change but these guys are winners and there is no doubt in my mind that all 12 of these guys will be successful in the most important game - the game of life. They all have the characteristics and traits to be great men, great fathers, and great husbands and be great leaders outside this great game we love. And at the end of the day, this is what we want from everyone of our guys that goes through this program more than anything else.”
Cole said next year’s team also has a chance to be special.
“We have a chance to be really good again next year and right now we have a really bad taste in our mouths,” he said. “I’ve got a feeling this next group is gonna work extremely hard and do everything possible to get us back to UCO next December.
“Thank you to the community, school, administration, faculty, parents, and everyone that made this season so special, our kids are blessed to have such a great support system and to be able to wear the Bulldog Red and White. This is a special place and we are grateful.”
THE STATISTICS
Sulphur 27, Lincoln Christian 28
Scoring Summary Lincoln Christian (7-0)--4-Yard TD (kick good) 1st Q, 4:36 Sulphur (7-6)--Maddax Mobly 4-Yard TD run (Colten Cole kick) 1st Q, 0:57 Lincoln Christian (14-7)--17-Yard TD Pass (kick good) 2nd Q, 7:33 Sulphur (14-13)--Mobly 6-Yard TD Run (kick blocked) 2nd Q, 2:05 Lincoln Christian (21-13)--26-Yard TD pass (kick good) 2nd Q, 0:59 Lincoln Christian (28-13)--35-Yard Interception Return (kick good) 3rd Q, 10:49 Sulphur (28-21)--Mobly 6-Yard TD Run (Mobly run) 3rd Q, 7:35 Sulphur (28-27)--Mobly 6-Yard TD Run (Mobly run failed) 4th Q, 1:13
Score By Quarters
Sulphur.............. 7 6 8 6--27 Lincoln Ch. ........ 7 14 7 0--28
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sulphur’s Maddax Mobly was named Player of the Week for his outstanding effort in the Dog’s 28-27 loss to Lincoln Christian in the state 3A championship game last Thursday.
Moby, a 180-pound junior running back, wide receiver and linebacker, scored four TDs in the game, rushed for 140 yards and had a two-point conversion.
The Player of the Week is sponsored by Crossway First Baptist Church and the Sulphur Times-Democrat.
