Washington’s defense smothered Metro Christian last Friday night at Harrah in the State Semifinals, leading to a 46-7 victory.

The victory punches the Warriors’ ticket to the State Finals for the third straight year against Millwood. The two teams have met in the finals four out of the last eight seasons. It is Washington’s fifth straight finals and sixth out of the last eight.

The Warriors will take a 43-game winning streak into the contest.

Veteran head coach Brad Beller called the defense’s accomplishment, “One of the most dominating performances I’ve seen a Washington team play against a team that throws the ball.”

The stingy Warrior defenders held Metro Christian to 60 yards passing. They were averaging 240 coming into the contest.

The Patriots rushed for 126 yards in the game, but 50 of those yards came against Washington reserves. The starting defenders limited then undefeated Metro Christian to 111 total yards.

“It wasn’t just pressure, but we did get some pressure,” Beller said. “We covered their receivers. It was a mixture of everything, just a great job.

“They just didn’t have the space they usually work in,” the coach confirmed.

Kale Brakefield led the tackling chart with 14 stops.

Case Alexander had eight tackles, two interceptions including one for a touchdown, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

“Case Alexander was responsible for three Metro turnovers and returned one for a touchdown,” Beller said. “Kale Brakefield had a monster of a game. He did a great job of stopping the run. When the quarterback would try to scramble he’d get him. Those two guys really anchored the defense.’

Beller praised the play off all his defensive backs.

“They all did a great job,” Beller said referring to the play of Tanner Olson, Tatum Wilk, Dawson Thomas and Kash Guthmueller.

“Those were the main ones but Mason Singletary and Kade Babcock rotated in and helped us out,” he said.

On offense for the Warriors it was the Hudson Howard and Creed Barrett show in the scoring department, but Beller had high praise for Babcock.

“The guy who stepped up early was Kade Babcock,” Beller confirmed. “He had four receptions for 71 yards with the majority coming in the first half when they were covering him one-on-one. He made plays and opened up the offense for Nate Roberts and Mason Singletary to have big nights.”

Roberts, who signed to play at Ohio State Wednesday morning, snagged four Barrett passes for 56 yards. Singletary caught four balls for 102 yards.

Howard, who has rushed for 1,212 this season and 20 touchdowns, scored twice Friday night in the semifinal victory over the Patriots.

Against Metro Christian, Howard opened the scoring on a one-yard run in the opening quarter and crashed in from eight yards out in the third period.

“He is averaging 7.3 yards per carry with seven to eight people in the box. Everything works because of Hudson Howard.

“If we can run the ball, it makes it impossible with all the weapons we have outside,” Beller said.

Barrett also rushed for a touchdown, a 21-yard burst in the fourth quarter. The freshman phenom was 15-24 passing for 251 yards and three scores.

Singletary had touchdown catches off Barrett’s arm of 14 and 81 yards. Barrett hit Roberts for 21 yards and a score in the second quarter.

All of that to go with Alexander’s defensive score added up to an impressive victory.

Millwood

Beller calls the once-again finals battle with the Falcons, “the same story just a different chapter.”

“They are very similar names from last year,” Beller said. “They only lost four players from that team and have had the same results.”

Millwood’s only loss came early at the hands of 3A Heritage Hall.

“In the playoffs, they have been playing unbelievable football,” the coach said. “In my opinion they have the best receiver in the state of Oklahoma in Xavier Thompson. As he goes, they go.”

Millwood’s quarterback, Schuylar Turnbull is starting in the championship game for the third year in a row after starting as a sophomore and junior.

“He has now become a threat to run,” Beller confirmed.

The coach said the key for a Warrior victory will be eliminating big plays through the air when they are on defense and “just be fast to the run.”

“We have to stay on top of them and rally to the run. On offense, we need to be as balanced as we can,” he said.

Kickoff at Chad Richison Stadium at UCO is set for 1 p.m. Friday.