Just like last year, Washington had to come from behind to stop Millwood to snag its second State Championship in the last two years with a 41-24 victory at Chad Richison Stadium at UCO last Saturday night.

The victory is number 30 in a row for the Warriors, whose seniors have won 44 of their last 45 games, the last Warrior loss was in the state finals against Marlow in 2021.

Washington has been to the championship game the last four years in a row.

This year’s senior class has a state record mark of 56-3. They played in 20 playoff games and won 18,

“They will look back at this and cherish it,” head coach Brad Beller said. “They will savor it more as time goes by.

“When you are going through it you don’t think about it,” Beller continued. “You are just coaching to win the next game. But when you look back that’s a long run. Not many can say their program has won 30 in a row. That’s tied for the 24th longest winning streak in Oklahoma history.”

The game started out in Washington’s favor.

On the second play of the game senior quarterback Major Cantrell tossed a 78-yard scoring strike to junior tight end Nate Roberts and the Warriors were up 7-zip.

But Millwood responded putting together their best (and only) drive of the night pulling within a point at 7-6.

Washington was in the process of a long drive of their own when OU commit Jaden Nickens stepped in front of a Cantrell pass and bobbed and weaved his way 82 yards to the Washington end zone.

At that point in the contest both teams kind of settled in and it became a defensive struggle.

That is until right before halftime when Xzavier Thompson got behind the Washington secondary to haul in a 54-yard scoring bomb that gave the Falcons an 18-7 advantage heading into the halftime locker room.

The Warriors quickly cut into the Falcon lead with Cantrell throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to junior Mason Singletary.

On the ensuing defensive possession the game turned on a dime in favor of the now three-time State Champion Warriors.

Sophomore quarterback Schuylar Turnbull lofted an aerial that was picked off by senior Kade Norman, who didn’t stop running until he was in the Millwood end zone.

“That put us up 21-18 and we kept the lead from then on,” Beller said.

After Cantrell galloped in from six yards out the Warrior lead had grown to 28-18.

The Falcons scored again after another possession drive knifing the margin to 28-24 but enter Singletary who scarfed up the ensuing kickoff and returned it for a touchdown.

“After his kick return I think everyone including Millwood knew we were going to win,” Beller said of the watershed moment.

After Naithen Spaulding forced a fumble that was recovered by Hudson Howard near midfield, Washington stuck a fork in the Falcons with an eight-yard Kade Norman touchdown scamper ballooning the margin to 41-24.

Earlier in the contest, sophomore Lane Taylor forced a fumble.

“He had a big strip fumble in the first half on their quarterback,” Beller said. “But the player of the night was Kade Norman with the pick six when we never trailed again and sealed the deal with the touchdown at the end.

“I’m proud of our defense,” Beller continued. “We gave up one long drive and the deep ball but other than that our defense played extremely well. Case Taylor, Naithen Spaulding and Case Alexander all played well.”

Taylor led the tackling chart with 11 stops. Spaulding and Alexander both had eight tackles, Keller Howard had seven while Norman and Max Wilson both had interceptions.

“And you can’t say enough about Major Cantrell,” Beller said turning to the offense. “He passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another,” Beller noted.

Cantrell had completions to Cage Morris, Roberts and Singletary, who had a text-book block on Roberts’ touchdown reception.

“Our special teams iced it away,” Beller noted. “It’s great to see all three phases of the game do well. Looking at the last two games all three phases show how complete of a team we were.

“When the offense struggled the defense would elevate. When the defense struggled the offense would pick it up. And the last two weeks the special teams have been huge, Mayson making every PAT against Jones and the return this week.

“You don’t go into coaching to just win championships but its to be a part of a group like this with all their hard work. The hard work pays off and its great to be around an outstanding bunch of kids.”