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Chase Haney looks in a reception for the Wildcats during Friday, Oct. 18 action at Corsicana. Courtesy/Cathy Bryan
Sulphur Springs | Football
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats have three big district games left, and they have to make the most of them.
The drive for a playoff berth begins Friday when they host rival Greenville at 7:30 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Greg Owens, Wildcats head coach, has already declared the game a “must-win” as he has for the remainder of the district schedule.
“I was frustrated with the loss at Corsicana. Our kids battled and fought to the very end, but it was not our night. Our mentality is win and advance one game at a time,” Owens said. “Greenville is one of the games we have to win. If we win out, we control our own destiny.”
Greenville comes into the contest with a 4-3 mark, 3-2 in district. The Lions have been installed as 7-point favorites in the 8-5A battle.
In other district contests, North Forney is a 24-point pick over Terrell; Royse City is tabbed to win by 31 against Kaufman; and Corsicana is a four-touchdown choice, 28 points against Forney. Ennis is open this week.
Sulphur Springs is 1-6 overall, 1-4 in district. The Wildcats were hammered 41-14 at Corsicana on Friday, Oct. 18.
In a district game also played Oct. 18, the Lions were edged 17-14 in an intense district battle with Royse City.
Brandon Stephens, junior quarterback, operates the Lions’ offense. He has completed 53-of-117 passes for 736 yards with nine touchdown passes and three interceptions.
“The quarterback [Stephens] scares me. He can put his foot in the ground and be gone. He is much faster than the quarterback we just saw at Corsicana. We have to be good tacklers,” Owens said.
Top rusher is Lester Turner, a 190-pound senior. He has accounted for 756 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards a carry. Stephens has rushed for 423 yards so far this year.
Top receiver is Caleb Johnson with 20 receptions for 282 yards and two scores. Miles Denson has 14 receptions for 138 yards.
In district play, the Lions opened with a 20-7 loss to Corsicana. They then won three games in a row with victories over Kaufman (24-7), Terrell (28-16) and Kaufman (28-16) leading up to the loss against Royse City.
“The key to our game is for us to be sound with our fundamentals. We need to create turnovers and not give them second chances. We have to play with passion, and I think we will because it is Greenville. We know them, and they know us. We play them in other sports. We have to come out on fire,” Owens said.