Texas Football hits newsstands; Cats picked 6th

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  • Kylan “Karo” Wade (19) jumps to snag an interception in front of Landry Meskimen (7) during the annual spring game May 17. The Sulphur Springs Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in District 8-5A Division II by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, out on newsstands now. Staff photos by Quinten Boyd
    Kylan “Karo” Wade (19) jumps to snag an interception in front of Landry Meskimen (7) during the annual spring game May 17. The Sulphur Springs Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in District 8-5A Division II by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, out on newsstands now. Staff photos by Quinten Boyd
  • Sulphur Springs coach Cameron Warren gives instructions to Dominique Simms during the annual spring football game May 17. The Wildcats open their regular season at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at home against Frisco Wakeland.
    Sulphur Springs coach Cameron Warren gives instructions to Dominique Simms during the annual spring football game May 17. The Wildcats open their regular season at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at home against Frisco Wakeland.
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Sulphur Springs

Hope springs eternal – especially in the world of sports.

Nowhere is that more true than on the football field, where players, coaches and fans alike all go into the summer believing in deep playoff runs and hoisting a state championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

That feeling intensifies with the release of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, where fans can get a glimpse of the new, the now and the next while anticipating where their team will finish in the district standings.

This year’s edition is currently on sale. The iconic magazine has two covers this season: one featuring University of Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and one featuring a collage detailing the Dallas-Houston football rivalry. Dallas is represented by Duncanville quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson while Houston is represented by Galena Park North Shore running back Zach Evans.

Duncanville and North Shore played in the 6A Division I state championship game this past season, with North Shore winning on a Hail Mary from Dematrius Davis to Ajani Carter as time expired.

For the next three weeks, the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram will take a look at the iconic magazine’s thoughts and predictions for Hopkins County’s three football teams: Sulphur Springs, Como-Pickton and Cumby.

A more detailed look at the teams and districts can be found in the News-Telegram’s annual Friday Night Lights magazine, which debuts in August.

First, a look at the Sulphur Springs Wildcats:

CATS PICKED 6TH

The Sulphur Springs Wildcats had a decent amount of success in the 2018 season – just not as prolonged as many hoped.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 start that included a win at Ennis before finishing 1-4 in their final five games, including a bidistrict round loss to Frisco. The Wildcats hope to return to the playoffs, but Texas Football has their eyes on other teams to represent the district.

The writers of DCTF predicted Sulphur Springs would finish sixth in District 8-5A Division II behind Ennis, Corsicana, North Forney, Kaufman and Royse City and ahead of Forney, Greenville and Terrell.

The magazine selected Ennis’ Dyllan Santos as preseason offensive MVP and Corsicana linebacker Tyler Farmer as defensive MVP.

Last season, the Wildcats finished tied for third with Ennis and Royse City and received the third seed out of the district following tiebreakers. Forney, North Forney, Greenville and Terrell rounded out the 2018 standings.

The Wildcats return four starters on offense and four starters on defense – tied with Royse City for fewest returning players in the district.

“A large senior class has moved on, so the Wildcats will need youth to be served if a playoff return is in order,” the magazine states.

Texas Football believes the Wildcats will benefit from returning running backs Caden Davis (5’8, 190) and Da’Korian “Choc” Sims (5’7, 190) as their new offensive starters gain their footing.

“Running backs Davis and Sims are great building blocks for an offense breaking in a new signal caller,” the magazine states.

Defensively, Texas Football expects linebacker Kylan “Karo” Wade (6’2, 200) to be one of the unit’s leaders. Wade finished last season with 73 tackles and a sack.

“Wade is an aggressive and athletic playmaker and will lead a defense that returns four overall starters,” the magazine states.

Also listed as assets on defense are linemen Cameron Kaufert (6’2, 210) and D’Andre Peoples.

“Kaufert is undersized, but technically sound on the defensive line and will pair with talented junior Peoples to lead the defensive line,” the magazine states.

Also listed as players to watch for the Wildcats are quarterback Kaden Wallace, defensive back Chase Haney, linebacker George Greenway, defensive back Derrick Clayton and kicker Brandon Zavala.

Sulphur Springs has their lone scrimmage Aug. 22 at Liberty-Eylau. The Wildcat open their season Aug. 30 at Gerald Prim Stadium against Frisco Wakeland. The district opener is Sept. 13 at Terrell.

Homecoming is Sept. 20 against Royse City and Senior Night will be on the final night of the regular season, Nov. 8 against North Forney.

POSSIBLE PLAYOFF OPPONENTS

In District 7-5A Div. II – the district Sulphur Springs and its district would face in the bidistrict round – Frisco Reedy is predicted to finish first, followed by Lucas Lovejoy, Denison and Frisco.

Denton Braswell, Lake Dallas, Princeton, Frisco Memorial and Frisco Lebanon Trail round out the district.