Washington senior Kelton Schultz catches the ball at its highest point for one of his two touchdowns Friday during the Warriors’ 38-22 semifinal win over Beggs. Washington plays in the State championship Saturday at 1 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma against Metro Christian.
Washington senior Jaxon Sanchez makes a Beggs defender miss Friday night during the Warriors’ 38-22 win over the Demons. Washington advanced to the State championship game where they will face Metro Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Emitt Wilk leaves two Beggs defenders in his wake during Washington’s 38-22 win over the Demons Friday night. Washington advanced to the championship game for the fourth time in school history. The Warriors play Metro Christian at 1 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Saturday when Washington’s Warriors tee it up at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, it will be the fourth straight year they have closed out their football season against Metro Christian of Tulsa.
Kick off is slated for 1 p.m.
The last three years Metro Christian has defeated Washington knocking them out of the state playoffs.
“We’ll give ‘em the last three if we could take this one,” Washington Head Coach Brad Beller said with a chuckle this week.
Saturday afternoon’s finale will mark the fourth time Washington has played in the State Finals. The first time in Stillwater in 1996 Washington brought home the Gold Ball, knocking off Turpin.
They took silver in 2017 losing to Millwood.
They were also in the finals in 2005 when they were State Runners-up to Tonkawa.
This year a very hard working bunch of Warriors hope to complete the mission and be crowned State Champions.
“This group has earned every inch of what they have done,” Beller said of his troupe. “This bunch has worked hard and there is a bunch of them that have been here forever and have wanted to be a Washington Warrior all their life.
“They’ve worked hard and have a chance to add to the legacy and tradition of this program,” Beller said. “Our coaching staff has worked hard, too. It’s been a crazy year.
“We have to seize the moment, enjoy the position we’ve been given and play like we’ve played all year,” Beller continued.
The key to the game, Beller said, is to limit big plays when Metro Christian has the football, control the front line and be efficient in the passing game.
“They run any defense you can think of,” Beller said of the scouting report on the Patriots. “They try to get penetration and disrupt your backfield.”
The Patriots are wide open on offense operating out of a spread formation with an empty backfield.
“They spread you from sideline to sideline running everything from short screen passes to vertical routes,” the coach said.
Metro Christian is the defending State Champion and is 11-2 on the season losing only to Paris, TX and 3A State Champion Holland Hall.
In the semifinals at Reed Field last Friday, Washington had a chance to go up either 21-0 or 17-0 but the Demons picked off a Warrior pass in the end zone and took it to the house 100 yards the other way.
Washington was off to a fantastic start leading 14-zip after quarterback Emitt Wilk hit Kelton Schultz on a 26 yard scoring pass to open the first quarter scoring. Wilk backed that up with a four yard dash to the end zone.
A bad snap on a Demon punt set the Warriors up with the chance to put a dagger in the visitor’s, heart but the pick six turned momentum the other way.
“It was a dumb coaching move that allowed them to pull within 14-6,” Beller said. “But our kids responded and that was big.”
Wilk found Schultz again in the second quarter this time for a 38 yard touchdown pass.
Kade DuBois added his footprint to the victory toeing a 28 yard field goal in the third period before Wilk scored from a yard out in the fourth. Chase Allison closed out the scoring with a four yard fourth period run.
Beller said the stellar play of his offensive line proved to be the difference in the game.
“I was very pleased with the way they controlled the front seven of Beggs,” Beller said. “Actually it was even more because their free safety that is going to play at Texas A&M was in the box as much as their linebackers.
“Our line did an excellent job of cutting off the penetration and getting some movement. When our line plays that well and we are efficient in the passing game it makes things happen. It all goes back to the line.”
Those heroes in the trenches include Seth Tague, Luke Steele, Austin Smith, Caleb Bruce and Tanner Winlock.
“We knew Chase Allison and Emitt Wilk would get their jobs done but we game planned to get our tight end Kelton Schultz going.”
Schultz responded with two big grabs, both for touchdowns.
“We needed him to have a big game and I’m very proud of the way he stepped up and helped Chase and Emitt make some plays.” Beller said.
Beller’s defense was dominate.
There’s no other way to put it. They stuffed the Demon run game.
Beggs finished with minus 13 yards rushing on 19 attempts.
“It was a complete team effort and was one of the more dominating performance I’ve seen with the amount of talent they have.
“We limited their deep passing game. Our secondary did an amazing job of containing their athletes and the front seven were able to get pressure.
“They put in a complete game,” the coach said.
He praised the play of defensive backs Kobe Scott, Lane Steele, Reese Stephens, Jaxon Sanchez and Wilk.
Now it’s time to put an end to Metro Christian’s win streak.
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