Washington rushed for 332 yards and passed for another 183 in a 55-13 rout of Vian to open the 2023 season last Friday night at Reed Field.

Hudson Howard had eight carries for 194 yards and four touchdowns while Major Cantrell was completing 11 of 14 pass attempts including three touchdowns.

Couple those offensive statistics with a stingy defense and you have a complete victory in the books, Washington’s 16th in a row.

Washington’s first team defense yielded two first downs and 63 yards of offense.

“Our defense kept us in the game early,” head coach Brad Beller said. “We didn’t sputter on offense, it was just the first game jitters.

“Our defense took control early led by linebacker Keller Howard. He played extremely well,” Beller said.

“He did a great job of shutting down the interior run game forcing them to go outside. Then we would use our team speed to get to their running back Mason Wright. The starting defense did a great job of controlling him.”

Other defenders that caught the eye of the veteran head coach were Kane Lampkin with five tackles, Cole Beller with five tackles and the Taylor brothers, Lane and Case, who both ended up with four stops apiece.

“The offense always starts up front,” Beller said.

He was referring to the play of Tanner Winlock, who led the group with an 86 percent grade, Jordan Vanya, Kingston Stringer, Easton Berglan and Baylor Haynes.

“They paved the way for Hudson,” Beller said. “They (Vian) came in to shut down our two tight ends putting only five and sometimes four in the box. So we got hat on hat and Hudson made some really good runs breaking tackles at the second and third levels.

“Once we established the run game it opened up the passing game,” the coach continued. “We had six different guys have receptions. Major did a really great job of distributing the ball to all our skill positions.”

Washington led 21-zip at halftime and added 27 more in the third quarter before Vian ever got on the board.

Howard scored on runs of 70 yards, 55, one and 53 averaging nearly 25 yards a carry.

Cantrell hooked up with Cooper Alexander for a 34 yard touchdown pass and catch, hit Max Wilson for a 34 yard score and found Mayson Thomas open for a 25 yard touchdown.

Dawson Thomas closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on an 85 yard kick return.

Up next for the Warriors is a road trip Friday to Sulphur, who will be playing their first game of the season after a pair of pre-season scrimmages.

The Bulldogs will show a little more spread offense this year as opposed to their usual down hill running style of offense.

“They will be a little more spread this year,” Beller confirms. “But they will still have their power run game. They have a lot of speed with the Gaddy kid. He and Patterson will be two of the fastest receivers we will see all year.”

Beller said the Bulldogs will try to stretch the field vertically with their speed and still run their power run game.

On defense the Bulldogs will work out of a 4-3 and some 4-2.

“And they will be as aggressive as they come,” Beller said. “They come extremely aggressive and physical from their front seven.”

Beller said the key for the Warriors will be to match Sulphur’s physicality on both sides of the ball and try to stay balanced on offense.

“On defense we need to make sure we tackle well in space,” the coach said.

Warrior notes:

Washington Head Coach Brad Beller nominated Hudson Howard as the Offensive Player of the Week. Howard had eight carries for 194 yards and four touchdowns.

Beller nominated Tanner Winlock as the Offensive Lineman of the Week. He graded out at 86 percent against the Wolverines.

Getting the nod as the Defensive Player of the Week was Keller Howard with seven tackles.

The nominee for Defensive Lineman of the Week went to defensive end Kane Lampkin with five tackles.