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C.J. Williams (with ball) of the Sulphur Springs ninth grade team gets yardage on a pass reception as he slips by a defender from Frisco Wakeland in Thursday sub-varsity football competition. The visitors won 10-6 over Sulphur Springs in action played at Gerald Prim Stadium. Photo by Don Wallace
Sulphur Springs | Football
Sulphur Springs teams were swept 2-0 by sub-varsity squads from Frisco Wake-land in season opening football openers played Thursday.
FRISCO WAKELAND — 10
SULPHUR SPRINGS — 6
Sulphur Springs ninth grade football team had a good night on offense, but it was a late defensive score that kept them from being shutout at home. The large crowd at Gerald Prim Stadium witnessed a see-saw affair that featured some spirited defensive play.
The most exciting play for the home fans came late in the game. With visiting Wolverines up 10-0 and trying to run out the clock, the Wildcats came up with a “pick six” play to delight the faithful. Sulphur Springs defensive back Riley Hammons picked off a deflected pass and rumbled through traffic, breaking free for a 42-yard interception return and a score.
The big play came with 2:16 left in the final period. The try for an extra point failed due to a low snap, but the Wildcats had a chance for a win with the Frisco Wakeland lead now cut to 10-6.
The Wildcats never got the ball back. The visitors recovered an onside kick. The Wolverines used five consecutive running plays to ice the game and secure the victory.
In the first half, it was a game of ups and downs for Sulphur Springs. The Wildcats had two turnovers on offense, but the Sulphur Springs defense came up with two impressive stops to quell possible drives by the Wolverines.
The lone score of the first half was a 24-yard field goal by Frisco Wakeland’s Jonathan Tripode. The scoring kick was set up by a Wildcat miscue which led to a fumble recovery by the Wolverines.
At the half, the Wildcats were trailing 3-0. Sulphur Springs did move the ball well in the passing game at times.
For the game, quarterback Matthew Mitchell completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards with one interception. Top receiver was Landon Fields with four grabs for 64 yards. The electric moves of C.J. Williams accounted for 60 yards, as he caught four passes. Other receivers with catches were Brayden Norris and Matthew Clarke.
The only Wolverine score of the night came on a 1 yard run by Colby Perkes with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter.
Perkes tacked on the extra point to give the visitors a 10-0 lead.
The Wildcats scored late on the Hammons defensive tally to cut the lead to 10-6. The Wolverines ran out the clock to claim the 10-6 victory.
Standouts on the Wildcat defense were Fields, Tripp Smith, Luke Caton and Sean Dial. Mitchell and Preston Norris had fumble recoveries.
“We lost a hard-fought game on both sides. The Wildcats had too many errors and turnovers to beat a sound, well-disciplined football team like Frisco Wakeland,” said Sulphur Springs ninth grade coach Jason Meskimen.
FRISCO WAKELAND JV 23,
SULPHUR SPRINGS JV 20
FRISCO—A last-second, 27-yard field allowed the Frisco Wakeland junior varsity to score a 23-20 nail-biting win over Sulphur Springs in Frisco Thursday night.
The game was deadlocked at 20-all in the final seconds.
The visiting Wildcats were unable to get a score, and the Wolverines rallied to open the season with a close win.
Weston Fields for the Wildcats recorded the first score, as he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
The extra point try failed, but the Wildcats were up 6-0.
Frisco Wakeland answered with a touchdown on a trick play. The Wolverines converted the point after to edge ahead 7-6.
The home team padded the lead to 14-6 with another score and point after.
The Wildcats got a 10-yard scoring jaunt from Justin Richards in the second period. The point after by Josh Tavera was good , and at the half, the Wolverines were up 14-13. Matthew Sherman connected with Fields on a 70-yard scoring pass. The point after by Tavera tied the game at 20-all.
The home scored late with the field goal to secure the victory.
“We played hard the whole game. We fought back. The game was back and forth, and we were able to fight back but came up short,” said Coach Mike Meador
Listed by Coach Kurt McCain as defensive standouts were Bradley Futch, Chase Mitchell, Bryan Osornio, Colby Albritton and Beau Bankston.
“We flew to the ball and played well on defense,. We were much more physical than last week” McCain added.