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Kylan Wade (47) goes for the ball for Sulphur Springs against Lucas Lovejoy. Wade, a starter on defense, also caught a scoring pass in the 34-27 road loss. Courtesy/Isabel Reyna
Sulphur Springs | Football
LUCAS — The home team rallied for two late scores to edge Sulphur Springs, 34-27, in non-district football action Friday, Sept. 6. The crowd at Leopards Stadium saw a fierce encounter between the two teams of gridiron gladiators.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 0-2 in non-district play. The Leopards are now 1-1 after two games.
“It was a very frustrating loss. We had several opportunities to win the game, but we couldn’t overcome our own mistakes,” said Greg Owens, Wildcats head football coach.
The teams were evenly matched on the field and in statistics. Sulphur Springs recorded 377 total yards, while Lovejoy rolled up
406. The Wildcats scored three touchdowns and two field goals, and the Leopards had five touchdowns, making 4 of 5 extra points.
“Although we lost for the second week in a row, we did a lot better in many areas. The thing I was the most proud of [is] the players, is the heart and fight they showed for 48 minutes,” Owens said.
Junior linebacker Ryan Carrillo paced the Sulphur Springs defense with 12 solo tackles and 14 total. Chase Haney had nine tackles, George Greenway accounted for eight, Kylan Wade and Cameron Kaufert had five total tackles each, and Aidan Walker turned in four tackles and recovered a fumble.
Kaufert and D’Andre Peoples each had three quarterback hurries.
The Wildcats, who came into the game at 17-point underdogs, started the game in tricky kind of kick. They pulled off an onside kick to start their game, their third in two games.
Walker soared high to nab the pigskin after the opening boot was bounced off the turf, covering the necessary 10 yards for Sulphur Springs to take possession.
Sulphur Springs put together an impressive drive, mixing in runs by Ca-den Davis and Ka’Darian “Choc” Sims and passing from junior quarterback Kaden Wallace.
Davis picked up a first down on a nifty 13-yard run. Sims moved the sticks, picking up yardage behind blockers off tackle. Wallace threw to Landry Meskmen, Bryant Sanchez and Sims to move the Wildcats into scoring territory.
The touchdown came at the 6:07 mark in the first quarter, when Wallace connected with Kylan Wade from 6 yards out. The point after by Brandon Zavala was good. The visitors were up 7-0 early.
The Leopards were not deterred and answered with two scoring drives.
Running back Noah Naidoo recorded the first touchdown by the Leopards. The Trent Rucker kick tied the game at 7-all with 3:01 to play in the opening frame.
The Leopards got the ball back when Sulphur Springs was forced to punt after losing yardage on a sack of Wallace by Jack Duncan and Trent Rucker.
R.W. Rucker guided the Leopards to the goal, capping the possession with a 10-yard scoring pass to favorite receiver Reid Westervelt. The extra point put the home team up 14-7 at the half.
The Wildcats outscored the Leopards, 10-7, in the third frame. Zavala booted a 29-yard field goal to cut the advantage to 14-10.
Lucas Lovejoy got another scoring connection from R.W. Rucker to Westervelt to jump ahead, 21-10.
The Wildcats responded with a scoring pass from Wallace to Derrick Clayton from 21-yards out. Sulphur Springs now just trailed 21-17 with 3:56 to play in the third frame.
Action moved to the fourth period with the Wildcats on the march. Wallace completed a 36-yard pass to Bryson Lacy for a key first down. Davis ended the drive in the end zone with a 13-yard burst for a touchdown. The extra point by Zavala gave Sulphur Springs the lead 24-21 with 11:56 to play in the final period.
The home team rallied for two scores to regain the lead and win the game.
First, King scored on a 4-yard run. Then R.W. Rucker scored on a 32-yard touchdown trot.
The Wildcats added a late 25-yard field goal by Zavala but came up on the short end of a 34-27 final.
For the game, Wallace completed 25-of-37 passes for 277 yards with two scores and one interception.
Sanchez snagged five passes for 22 yards, Haney caught four passes for 67 yards; Lacy grabbed three for 52 yards, Sims caught three for 36 yards, and Noe Ponce, Davis, Zach Tiemeyer and Wade each had two receptions. Wade’s first quarter catch was the first touchdown on the offensive side of the ball for the player who also starts on defense.
Clayton and Meskimen had one reception each. Clayton’s catch accounted for a score.
Ponce punted four times in the game for a 41.3 yard average.
Zavala had 9 total points from two field goals and 3 extra points.
For the Leopards, R.W. Rucker completed passes for 141 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 92 yards and one score.
Top rusher for the Leopards was Naiidoo with 145 yards.
“We will press on as we open district against at Terrell Friday night,” said Owens. “We have to hit the reset button and prepare for the district opener. We must continue to do the little things right and keep on fighting.”