SS meets Royse City in homecoming game

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  • Eleazar Brena (40) for Sulphur Springs flies in to make a tackle on a Terrell player during Friday, Sept. 13 action at Terrell Memorial Stadium. Brena led the team with 10 tackles in the 15-13 road district defeat. The Wildcats host Royse City for homecoming Friday. Courtesy/Isabel Reyna
    Eleazar Brena (40) for Sulphur Springs flies in to make a tackle on a Terrell player during Friday, Sept. 13 action at Terrell Memorial Stadium. Brena led the team with 10 tackles in the 15-13 road district defeat. The Wildcats host Royse City for homecoming Friday. Courtesy/Isabel Reyna
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Sulphur Springs | Football

It will be an important district game, even though it’s just week two of the 8-5A slate. The District 8-5A battle will be the feature event Friday for homecoming at Gerald Prim Stadium.

Sulphur Springs, winless on the year at 0-3 and 0-1, will host undefeated Royse City.

The visiting Bulldogs are the 11-point pick to open district play with a win at Sulphur Springs. The Wildcats are still regrouping from the Sept. 13 road loss to Terrell by a nail-biting, 15-13 final.

This week, predictions in the district by statewide services include: North Forney picked by 11 over Ennis, Corsicana is a 28-point selection of Kaufman,; Terrell is a 14-point favorite against Forney, and Greenville is idle.

“We know Royse City is a good team, and they always play hard against us. I picked them as one of the top three teams in the district. They’re 2-0 and coming off a bye week. They’ll be ready,” said Greg Owens, Sulphur Springs head football coach.

The Bulldogs won the season debut Aug. 29 over Frisco Centennial, 28-7; they were victorious by a 37-14 margin at home Sept. 6 against Garland High School.

The Bulldogs were picked fifth in the District 8-5A race, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas football magazine. The Wildcats were selected sixth in the same publication.

Royse City has four offensive and four defensive starters back from a team which went 6-4 last year.

With the Wildcats still licking their wounds from an 0-3 start to the season, Owens said he sees improvement in his team and would like to get a win.

“We’re doing some good things. Our defense dominated Terrell. We just gave up about 40 yards rushing and a little over 100 passing while our offense got close to 400 yards. We should have won the game,” Owens said.

For the season, quarterback Kaden Wallace has completed 50-of-95 passes (52%) for 568 yards with four interceptions of two Wildcat touchdowns.

Top running backs are Caden Davis and Da’Korian “Choc” Sims. Davis has carried the ball 53 times for 364 yards and two scores. Sims has 159 yards rushing on 36 attempts and three scores.

Top receivers for the Wildcats are Bryant Sanchez with nine grabs, and Chase Haney and Zach Tiemayer have 96 yards each on receptions.

Tackling leaders are Ryan Carrillo with 26 with Haney accounting for 21, with D’Andre Peoples and Kylan Wade, who have 17 each.

For Royse City in two games, quarterback Tyson Oliver has completed 29-of-38 throws (76%) for 385 yards for four scores.

Bryce Martinez is the top running back with 214 yards on 42 attempts and two scores.

Jamie Cortez paces the defense with 4.5 tackles per game with four tackles for losses and two sacks.

“Cortez is 5-10, 270 pounds and very strong. He plays noseguard and is a difference-maker. He likes to cause destruction. They also have other defensive players who can give you problems,” Owens said.

The Bulldogs on offense are primarily a running team.

“They run the ball about 70% of the time. They want to grind it out and make you make mistakes. I think we will be locked in, and playing for homecoming won’t be a distraction,” Owens said. “Coach Petroff does a good job. His teams are always well-coached. We’ve always had tough, close, fun games with them every year. Last year, we moved the game to Thursday due to the weather. I don’t believe we’ll have to do that this time. We just need a win. We’re not in a panic mode; we just want to win.”

“I think it will be a great game. I know Sulphur Springs is looking to get the bad taste out of their mouth from the Terrell game, and Coach Owens will have his team ready to play,” said David Petroff, Royse City head football coach.