Football Game Preview: Bagdad Sultans vs. Williams Vikings + How To Watch

Bagdad and Williams are an even 5-5 against one another since November of 2016, but not for long. The Sultans will host the Vikings at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Bagdad is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.

Bagdad is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They claimed a resounding 60-0 win over Valley Union. The result was nothing new for the Sultans, who have now won six matchups by 20 points or more so far this season.

Destry Owings

Receiving Touchdowns

10/31/25 vs Valley Union	3
10/03/25 @ Mohave Accelerated	3
10/10/25 vs Salome	2
09/12/25 @ Williams	2
09/19/25 vs Desert Heights Prep	1

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Bagdad to victory, but perhaps none more so than Thomas Rodriguez, who rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. Rodriguez also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, picking up a sack and making three total tackles. Destry Owings was in the mix as well, providing Bagdad with three scores.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Bagdad was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 244 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in November of 2024.

On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Bagdad's defense and their four sacks. Ezrah Aguilar refused to say out of the backfield, picking up two sacks all by himself.

Meanwhile, Williams faced St. David in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Vikings enjoyed a cozy 58-40 victory over the Tigers.

Bagdad better focus on containing Kyle Mendoza and Jack Dent as the pair were huge in Williams' win. Mendoza picked up 196 receiving yards and six TDs, while Dent threw for 433 yards and seven touchdowns while picking up 12.7 yards per attempt. Dent's passing game has become a key predictor of Williams' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 110 or higher, but only 2-4 otherwise. Joshua Rue-Wilbur also helped out as he racked up 164 receiving yards.

Bagdad's record now sits at 9-0. As for Williams, their record is now 7-4.

Everything came up roses for Bagdad against Williams in their previous matchup back in September, as the squad secured a 62-26 win. Do the Sultans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Vikings turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.