Washington is back in familiar territory with a familiar foe.

When the Warriors tee is up Friday night at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond it will be their sixth straight trip to the State Finals and their seventh in the last nine years. The three-time repeating State Champions will try to make it four in a row when they square off with Jones at 7 p.m.

Last year was the first time since 2020 the two old opponents didn’t play. In fact, from 2020-2023 the two teams squared off six times in four years.

The 13-0 Longhorns operate out of the spread on offense and base their defense out of a 3-4.

Warriors Head Coach Brad Beller sums up the ‘Horns in one word, “Talented.”

“They are by far the most talented team we have faced this season,” Beller confirmed.

“The key will be for us to control our emotions,” he said. “Because you’re playing in the State Championship game. We will have to play very balanced in stopping the run game and stopping the passing game. We will have to run the ball and throw the ball efficiently. The most balanced team with the most discipline will win the game.”

Both Jones and the Warriors are coming off decisive semifinal victories. Jones knocked off Marlow, 48-21 and Washington drilled OCS, 41-20.

OCS had a chance to cut the deficit to a one-score margin in the second half when senior cornerback Braedon Hutchinson made the play of his life.

A pass hit a Saints wide receiver right in the hands in the end zone but Hutchinson some how wrestled the ball away for an interception.

“He made one of the greatest interceptions I’ve ever seen,” Beller said of the game changing play. “Their guy had both hands on the ball and Braedon was able to take it away. His amazing interception kept it a two-score game late.”

  Beller also called out the stellar play at safety by Kinser Scott and Dawson Thomas.

“And it wasn’t just making plays but getting us aligned and making all the checks,” the coach said.

Case Alexander led the team in tackling with 11 stops including three for losses. He also had a pass break up and a sack.

Blake Heiliger finished with eight tackles including one for a loss and he also had a sack. Ricky Ramirez also had a quarterback sack in the contest.

“Ricky, Hunter Sanders and Lane Taylor all did a good job of pressuring the Saints signal caller.

“We didn’t get him on the ground a lot but we moved him off his spot,” Beller said.

Sophomore quarterback Creed Barrett got off to a hot start for the Warriors completing seven of 12 first half passes for 118 yards with Kade Babcock his favorite target. Six of Babcock’s seven receptions in the game came in the first half for 103 yards.

“It was a phenomenal performance by those two guys,” Beller said. “And once we opened things up with our passing our running game was very efficient,” the coach said.

Josiah Dickerson carried the football 26 times for 172 yards and a 36-yard scoring jaunt to wrap up the Warriors’ scoring. He also had a two point conversion run.

Javen Hall carried the mail 26 times for 186 yards and scored on runs of three, seven and four yards.

Barrett also had a pair of touchdown runs. His first quarter 14-yard touchdown scamper opened the Washington scoring. He lugged the ball over the goal line from 19 yards out in the final stanza.

Washington rushed for 395 yards as a team.

“With that many yards it showed the dominance of our offensive line,” the coach noted.

He was speaking of the play Sam Cantrell, Gunnar Baker, Kingston Stringer, Chance Phillips, Evan Painter and Trip Wilson.

Their work in the trenches paid huge dividends as the game ticked down to the final minutes of the game enabling the Warriors to keep the ball on the ground and keep the clock running.