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Junior varsity coach Casey Jeter (left) talks with members of the junior varsity during a home game Sept. 12. The junior varsity lost 21-17 Thursday at Royse City. -
Sam Mitchum (11) for Royse City is tackled by Sean Dial (74) and other members of the Sulphur Springs defense. The visitors beat the Wildcats 40-20 in ninth grade play Thursday night at Gerald Prim Stadium. Photos by Don Wallace
Sulphur Springs | Football
Sulphur Springs dropped two sub-varsity football games Thursday night at two different locations.
ROYSE CITY 9TH, 40 SULPHUR SPRINGS 9TH, 20
The crowd at Gerald Prim Stadium saw an entertaining contest that wasn’t decided until the second half.
Conditions were perfect to begin the game with a heavy cloud cover producing a 79-degree kickoff temperature. The weather stayed cool most of the game; late in the contest a heavy sprinke fell on the fans.
The visiting Bulldogs pulled away late to secure the 40-20.
Royse City’s hero was starting quarterback Tatum Woods who ran for three scores. Bulldog running back Jonah Roberson contributed two touchdown trots.
Woods got on the board early, as he capped an opening 51-yard scoring drive for Royse City. Woods scored on a 13-yard run. The point after failed, but with 6:32 still to play in the first quarter, the home team trailed, 6-0.
Sulphur Springs could not move the ball and soon had to punt.
The Bulldogs appeared to have another drive clicking but surrendered the ball on a turnover. Woods was hammered while in the pocket, attempting to pass and fumbled. The ball was recovered by J.C. Williams.
The Wildcats again were limited on offense withe passing attack yet to get in gear.
Woods again did the trick for Royse City, following blockers for a 3-yard scoring run for the Bulldogs. The try for a point after was again no good. Royse City took a 12-0 lead, as action moved to the second quarter.
Bolstered by a Alexis Pasion interception, the Wildcats’ offense started to sparkle.
Wildcat quarterback Matt Mitchell completed passes to Landon Fields and Williams for big gains to move the chains. Tripp Smith cashed in the drive with a 1 yard scoring run. Sulphur Springs had reduced the lead to 12-6 with 4:57 still to play in the first half.
The visitors got a a 65-yard scoring run by Sam Mitchell and another scoring burst by Woods to pad the halftime lead to 27-6.
Sulphur Springs got two fourth quarter scores, when Mitchell threw to Matthew Clarke for a 10-yard score, and later, Mitchell tossed a 6-yard scoring pass to Williams.
Royse City also tackled on points late to win by the 40-20 final.
ROYSE CITY JV, 21 SULPHUR SRPINGS JV, 17
ROYSE CITY — The home team scored with 30 second left to hand Sulphur Springs a hard-fought defeat in junior varsity football Thursday.
Justin Richards of the Wildcats scored on a 3-yard run. The point after by Josh Tavera was good. Royse City tied the game at 7-all.
Sulphur Springs got a nice 5-yard scoring pass from Matthew Sherman to Weston Fields. With the point after, they went up 14-7. Tavera added a field goal to extend the lead to 17-7 for the Wildcats.
Royse City took advantage of Wildcat mistakes to win by the 21-17 final.
Wildcat offensive standouts were: Richards, Sherman, Field, Langston Bridges and Carson Fenton.
Defensive leaders were: Wyatt Smithson, Chase Mitchell, Jesus Godina, Devon Franklin, Jacob Semler and Beau Bankston.