State Runners-up

Washington’s Warriors brought home the Silver Ball after last Saturday’s Class 2A showdown with Metro Christian.

The Patriots backed up last year’s State Championship, edging the Warriors 48-37 despite a 20-point fourth quarter by Washington.

Coach Brad Beller’s troupe fell behind 34-10 in the third period but battled back only to have their comeback bid fall just short.

The Warriors rolled up 240 yards on the ground and added another 78 through the air.

Senior Kade DuBois opened the scoring at Wantland Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond with a 54-yard field goal.

But Metro Christian answered with a pair of touchdowns before Chase Allison punched one in from two yards out in the second quarter.

Allison, who carried the mail 24 times for 116 yards, also had a three-yard touchdown burst.

Jamison Holland hauled in a nine yard pass for a score off the arm of quarterback Emitt Wilk.

Kelton Schultz had a three-yard touchdown dive.

Schultz gained 45 yards rushing on five carries and hauled in three pass receptions for 37 yards.

“He’s been our Swiss Army Knife this season,” Beller said of the utility player.

Wilk, who had 25 carries for 103 yards, scored on the last play of the game after the Warriors drove the length of the field with under a minute to play.

“We tried to kick on sides and they recovered and took a knee.

“Then they called time out and scored a touchdown,” Beller said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. They drove the length of the field and scored on the final play of the game even though it wasn’t going to change the outcome.

“That’s the true legacy of this team that they fought even when people told them it was worthless. I’m proud of them finishing the game with a touchdown,” he said.

The Warriors scored 27 of their points in the final 12 minutes of the game but could never get closer than 10 points.

“From an offensive perspective we did some really, really good things across the board. We just weren’t consistent enough,” Beller said.

“We did a good job of moving the ball at times but the first two possessions we had really good field position and only got three points out of it.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Beller said the Warriors would have a good possession and then struggle on the next.

Metro Christian’s first touchdown was a little dicey.

Beller said time had expired in the first quarter and he was walking out onto the field to talk to his team.

In the meantime, Metro Christian threw a touchdown pass that was allowed to stand.

“That took away some of our momentum,” he said.

“Give Metro Christian credit. They have a really good team,” Beller said.

The veteran Warrior coach said the game was actually decided in the last two minutes of the first half.

“It was 110 percent my fault,” Beller said. “They scored with under a minute to play and we tried to get some things going and fumbled. They scooped it up and that resulted in another Patriot score.

“So instead of being down 21-10 we were down 28-10.

“Last week it paid off and this week it didn’t,” the coach said. “That honestly proved to be the difference in the game because we out-scored them in the second half.” 

Both teams finished the season 12-2.