Washington successfully defends its Class 2A state title from last season, finishes 15-0
EDMOND, OKLAHOMA - In what was a rematch of last season’s Class 2A state championship game, Washington came alive in the second half.
The Warriors scored four offensive touchdowns and a pick-six after halftime to defeat Oklahoma City Millwood, 41-24, Saturday night at the University of Central Oklahoma. Washington had trailed, 18-7, at halftime but proceeded to outscore the Falcons, 34-6.
With this win, Washington wins its third gold ball in school history.
“This championship means the world to our community,” Washington coach Brad Beller said. “Winning this year and the year before is incredible.
"Our players worked so hard for this moment and this season was such a great journey. We have gotten here the past four years, and winning the past two had been awesome.”
In last season's 2A title game, the Warriors rallied in the second half with 10 unanswered points to stun the Falcons, 17-14. Washington started strong in Saturday's rematch.
After a bobbled snap on the opening kickoff, Washington found themselves deep in its own territory. But two plays later, tight end Nate Roberts caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Major Cantrell to begin the scoring.
In the second quarter, Millwood quarterback Schuylar (CJ) Turnbull found Xzavier Thompson open for a 39-yard completion. Freshman Anthony Keys finished the drive with a touchdown, but the Falcons went for two and did not get the conversion, keeping the Warriors in front.
Moments later, Washington was driving, but Oklahoma commit Jaden Nickens intercepted the ball and ran it back 82 yards for a touchdown. Millwood attempted another two-point conversion but was stopped by Washington, making the score 12-7 with 8:14 left in the second quarter.
Three plays after Millwood got the ball back following a turnover on downs, Turnbull threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Thompson, making the score 18-7 right before halftime. Millwood failed to convert on all of its two-point conversions.
Turnbull threw for 106 yards, but Cantrell threw for 158 yards in the first half.
Washington turned it up defensively, and Kade Norman tallied two turnovers in the third quarter. He recovered the football at the Millwood 35 with 8:45 left in the third quarter.
After a controversial false start penalty, Millwood’s Turnbull threw an interception and Norman ran it back 59 yards to give Washington their lead back.
“When the ball came right to my hand, I said, 'That's my ball,'” Norman said. “Once I caught the ball, I saw the open field in front of me and knew I was going to score the touchdown after I took off running.
"This community is special and I could not have made the plays I did without their support.”
Washington players celebrate after being awarded the Class 2A state championship trophy on Dec. 9, 2023.
Beller added Norman’s knowledge of football is what allowed him to make those big defensive plays.
“Kade is the Swiss Army knife for us, and is a special player,” Beller said. “For him to force two turnovers and to score on the interception, it was great. He does this for the team, not himself.
"He is an intelligent athlete and understands how to fool the offense. He can play anywhere on the field, and he was in the right spot at the right time.”
In between those two defensive plays by Norman, Washington took advantage of the fumble when Cantrell threw a 23-yard pass to Mason Singletary.
“Mason is just a gamer,” Beller said. “He is one of those guys who is quiet, but he wanted the ball. When he says he can get open, we listen because he can execute well.”
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On the next offensive series for the Warriors, Singletary picked up a huge third-down conversion to keep the drive going. The drive ended with a Cantrell 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
“The o-line gave us so much time to work in the backfield and blocked well for me on my touchdown run,” Cantrell said. “We were a bit jittery in the first half, but we talked about leaving a legacy in the second half. We did just that, as we scored four touchdowns.
"It is unreal how we won, and Washington is a special place.”
Millwood was down 28-18, but had more football in them. The Falcons went six plays for 71 yards with plays like Nickens catching the ball in double coverage for a 42-yard gain.
The drive ended when Turnbull scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Another two-point try failed, and the Warriors' lead remained at four, 28-24.
But Washington stole the momentum when Singletary returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to give Washington a 35-24 lead with 6:44 to play.
“When I saw the hole my teammates created, I turned on the jets and went for it,” Singletary said. “They blocked well and it is great knowing they can block.
"This win means everything and we are all just a huge family; the community included.”
Washington forced another turnover when Ben Vaughn recovered the fumble with 6:22 left in the game.
Norman scored a 9-yard rushing touchdown to finish the job with 42 seconds to play.
Millwood played hurry-up offense, but with three seconds to play deep in Washington territory, Max Wilson intercepted the pass.
“Our spirits were low at halftime,’ Beller said. “We did not execute well in the first half and credit to Millwood, as they played us really well and surprised us. But our guys showed (tenacity) and played as a team.”
Washington finishes with a perfect 15-0 record and has a 30-game win streak, which is tied with Fairview for the longest current win streak in Oklahoma. Ironically, Fairview got its 15-0 season and Class A state title earlier on Saturday.
Both the Falcons and Warriors tallied 206 passing yards, but Washington rushed for 131 yards to Millwood’s 108 yards.
Photos/video by Michael Kinney
-- Josh Jennings | @SBLiveOK
