Meeker up next

Up next for the No. 1 ranked Washington Warriors is a date Friday night with the Meeker Bulldogs.

Kickoff for the second round playoff contest is set for 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs run a multiple spread offense.

“Their quarterback and running back are their playmakers,” Washington Head Coach Brad Beller reports. “They could be playmakers on anybody’s offense. They are really solid and fast.

‘But they are elusive as well. It’s hard to hem someone up if they are straight line fast but can make you miss if you over pursue.”

The Meeker forward wall packs some size and athleticism. 

“They are big in spots and they are athletic in spots,” Beller said. “So it’s a pretty good mixture.”

The Bulldogs will play a 4-2 as their base defense.

“Once they get aligned they like to play fast,” Beller noted. “They try to get penetration out of their front four without blitzing. That way it allows their linebackers and safeties to run to the football. Their front four are very disruptive that cause so much chaos it allows their backers and defensive backs to go to the ball carrier.

“The key for us is to take care of the football and have all 11 defenders to get to the ball carrier and not let them get loose,” he said.

The Warriors ran their current winning streak to 26 in a row with last Friday night’s 55-7 victory over Lexington.

The fact that Lexington scored in the final quarter snapped a streak of six straight shutouts pitched by the Warrior defenders.

Linebacker Case Taylor had a mammoth game posting a team-high 11 tackles.

“He was everywhere,” Beller said. “He played from sideline to sideline and made all our checks in front. He was the quarterback of the defense.

“Another player who had an outstanding game was Case Alexander,” Beller said of his talented freshman linebacker.

Alexander had nine tackles and picked off a pair of Bulldog passes, including one for a touchdown.

Jordan Kilmer and Kale Brakefield both rotated in at linebacker with Kilmer posting six tackles with Brakefield making five stops.

“They used their athleticism to get to where they needed to be and make plays,” the coach said.

Washington had 10 different players, including Hudson Howard, rush the football with none of them having double digit carries.

“It was good to have Hudson Howard back,” Beller said. “He’s been out since the Purcell game. We tried to limit his carries.”

Howard finished the night with seven carries for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We didn’t throw the ball much but we were very efficient.”

Hudson had a 43 yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter and scored from 22 yards out in the second period.

Major Cantrell was 8-12 for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He hit Cooper Alexander on a 10-yard scoring pass in the opening quarter and hooked up with Cage Morris for a 40-yard touchdown play later in the first quarter.

“Cage Morris has proven himself as a really reliable guy in short yardage pass plays but now he’s playing that way on deep routes as well,” Beller said.

Mason Singletary closed out the first period scoring with a 40 yard run to pay dirt.

Case Alexander’s pick six came in the second frame.

The Thomas brothers closed out the scoring in the third quarter.

Sophomore Dawson Thomas scored on a 27 yard run followed by junior Mayson Thomas with a 12 yard touchdown run.

As a team, the Warriors ran for 331 yards on 28 carries.

“Both our first and second team lines played well,” Beller said. “Jordan Vanya is playing his best football of the year from his left guard position.”