District 14-4A Lead on the Line When Sulphur Springs Visits Hallsville

Sulphur Springs Wildcats (5-2, 2-0)
vs.
Hallsville Bobcats (6-1, 2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Bobcat Stadium, Hallsville

Coaches
Sulphur Springs: Greg Owens
Hallsville: David Plunk

Last week
Sulphur Springs: def. Texas High, 45-25
Hallsville: def. Pine Tree, 38-0

Next week
Sulphur Springs: vs. Pine Tree
Hallsville: at Mount Pleasant

Playmakers

Sulphur Springs

• QB Brad Macek, Sr., 5-11, 170 (134 of 182, 1,649 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs; 1 rush TD)
• ATH Willy Ivery, Jr. 5-9, 180 (54 carries, 447 yards, 13 TDs; 37 catches, 386 yards, 2 TDs)
• RB Buddy Ivery, Sr., 5-8, 190 (142 carries, 1,026 yards, 8 TDs)
• WR Cole Hill, Sr., 5-8, 175 (56 catches, 735 yards, 6 TDs)
• FS Larry Pryor, Soph., 6-1, 195 (83 tackles, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles)
• WR Colton Wise, Sr., 6-4, 185 (32 catches, 506 yards, 4 TDs)
• QB Derick Ingram, Jr., 6-0, 175 (38 of 62, 565 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 27 carries, 118 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Jordan Jackson, Sr. (16 catches, 151 yards, 3 TDs)
• OL Jenner Jackson, Sr., 6-3, 230
• SS Zach Spigner, Soph., 6-0, 180 (47 tackles)

Hallsville

• QB Austin Toney, Sr., 6-3, 185 (81 of 118, 1,045 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs; 33 carries, 108 yards, 5 TDs)
• ATH Macailyn Wilder, Jr., 5-10, 175 (7 of 15, 115 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; 76 carries, 552 yards, 12 TDs; 14 catches, 210 yards, 1 TD)
• DE Coby Bradford, Sr., 6-1, 205 (45 tackles, 21 for loss, 9.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 20 QB pressures)
• LT Hayden Wall, Sr., 6-4, 270
• RB Thaddeus Fagan, Sr., 6-0, 190 (82 carries, 503 yards, 4 TDs; 14 catches, 133 yards)
• S Cayden Ferrill, Sr., 5-10, 195 (58 tackles, 14 for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 4 PBUs)
• DB Santos Estrada, Sr., 5-9, 175 (27 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs, 2 forced fumbles, 12 PBUs)
• DB Jesse Navarro, Sr., 5-9, 170 (47 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, 4 recoveries)
• DT Tray King, Sr. (38 tackles, 18 for loss, 3 sacks)

Just the facts

• Sulphur Springs averages 44.6 points per game and allows 35.9.
• Hallsville averages 32.6 points per game and allows 18.3.
• Sulphur Springs has won four consecutive games after a 1-2 start.
• Sulphur Springs has outscored its opponents 50.0-32.5 during the four-game winning streak.
• Hallsville has won six consecutive games after losing its season opener.
• Hallsville has outscored its opponents by an average of 35.0-15.5 during its six-game winning streak.
• Sulphur Springs is 6-5-1 vs. Hallsville since 1978.
• Sulphur Springs has beaten Hallsville three times in a row.
• Hallsville's last win vs. Sulphur Springs was 46-9 in 1988.

Key matchup: Sulphur Springs' receivers vs. Hallsville's secondary. Hallsville has played only one team this season with a passing game comparable to Sulphur Springs: Whitehouse, which is the only team that has beaten the Bobcats. Whitehouse's Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Cheatham combined for 341 passing yards in a season-opening 35-18 victory against the Bobcats, who trailed 21-18 entering the fourth quarter but couldn't keep the Wildcats out of the end zone in the final period. Hallsville defensive end Coby Bradford was a terror, recording five sacks, but Hallsville didn't do enough to stop Whitehouse's attack, which the Bobcats must do this week against Sulphur Springs if they hope to remain in control of their District 14-4A destiny. Quarterbacks Austin Toney and Macailyn Wilder are coming off big rushing performances, and getting the same type of effort against Sulphur Springs would help the Bobcats dictate the tempo and keep Cole Hill, Willy Ivery, Colton Wise, and the rest of Sulphur Springs' receiving corps off the field.

Don't be surprised if: This decides the District 14-4A championship. Yes, that may sound obvious, but Hallsville still has Texas High and Mount Pleasant on the schedule, two teams that Sulphur Springs has already beaten. It won't be an easy road, but if Hallsville beat Sulphur Springs the path would be paved for the Bobcats to win the district title with an flawless league record, which they haven't done since 1973. On the other hand, if Sulphur Springs wins, the Wildcats have an easy jog to the district title finish line. A win would give them victories against the other three best teams in 14-4A with games remaining against Marshall and Pine Tree. Nothing is a guarantee, but it's safe to say that Sulphur Springs will be a heavy favorite in both contests. Tonight's game could come down to tempo: Sulphur Springs' "NASCAR" spread or Hallsville's run-oriented attack.