Rivals Whitehouse + Sulphur Springs Meet In Final Non-District Tuneup

Whitehouse Wildcats (1-1)

vs.

Sulphur Springs Wildcats (1-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Gerald Prim Stadium, Sulphur Springs

Coaches

• Whitehouse: Adam Cook
• Sulphur Springs: Greg Owens

Last week

• Whitehouse: def. Chapel Hill, 51-21
• Sulphur Springs: def. Sherman, 20-17

Next week

• Whitehouse: idle
• Sulphur Springs: idle

Playmakers

Whitehouse

• RB/LB Khyree Key, Jr., 6-2, 220
• WR Trent Williams, Sr., 6-3, 190
• WR Ashton Melton, Jr., 5-11, 165
• QB Collin Bullard, Sr., 6-2, 180
• QB/WR Tanner Roach, Jr., 6-0, 170
• LB Cade Parrish, Sr., 5-11, 195
• DB Connor Clark, Jr., 5-10, 160
• OL Anthony Brown, Sr., 5-11, 250

Sulphur Springs

• RB Jaylon Hawkins, Jr., 5-8, 185
• DE Derrick Weeks, Sr., 6-2, 220
• DB Keylon "Bubba" Hall, Sr., 6-2, 175
• QB Tanner Ramirez, Sr., 5-11, 165
• OL Spencer Bramlett, Sr., 6-4, 240
• DL Dakota Stalcup, Sr., 6-3, 200
• LB J'alynn Mitchell, Sr., 6-2, 185
• LB Cole Cooper, Sr., 5-10, 180

Just the facts

• This is the 28th meeting between Sulphur Springs and Whitehouse. Sulphur Springs leads the all-time series, 19-8. However, Whitehouse has won the last four.
• Sulphur Springs and Whitehouse have met twice in the playoffs, both Whitehouse wins in 2007 and 2013.
• Whitehouse has averaged 45.6 points per game since the start of the 2012 season.
• Since 2005, Whitehouse is 26-14 in non-district games.
• Prior to 2006, Whitehouse registered just 10 winning seasons. It has six since.
• Sulphur Springs has averaged 40.8 points per game since the start of the 2012 season.
• Since 2005, Sulphur Springs is 28-18 in non-district games.
• The last time Sulphur Springs failed to reach the postseason was 2006.

Key matchup: Whitehouse passing game vs. Sulphur Springs secondary. There's no secret to Whitehouse's M.O. on offense. Whitehouse will do its best to get its deep fleet of receivers on track, and will use a rotation of quarterbacks to get it done. Senior Collin Bullard and junior Tanner Roach have each split time behind center through the first two weeks of the season, with each leaving their mark. In a season-opening loss to Texas High, Roach had it working, competing 22 of 34 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. In last week's defeat of Chapel Hill, it was Bullard who came up big by going 23 of 36 for 394 yards and three touchdowns. Bullard also picked up 48 yards on six rushing attempts in the 30-point win. Whoever gets the majority of the snaps Friday night, Whitehouse has several weapons in the receiving corps, including seniors Trent Williams and Shemar Smith and juniors Ashton Melton and Zach Parker.

Sulphur Springs is certainly no stranger to Whitehouse and what it does effectively on offense. The question will be is there any way Sulphur Springs can meaningfully defend it? Sulphur Springs' pass rush took a hit with the injury to defensive end Cain Cody, which means more pressure will be on fellow senior defensive end Derrick Weeks to apply heat on the quarterback. But most importantly, however, Sulphur Springs' secondary will surely be put to the test this week. Sulphur Springs is young at certain spots in the defensive backfield, but it does bring back one of East Texas' top safeties in Keylon "Bubba" Hall, who has great range and physicality in the back end of Sulphur Springs' defense. Preparing for two quarterbacks could be a challenge, but if Sulphur Springs can keep Whitehouse's receivers in front of them, it will stand an excellent chance of remaining competitive for four quarters.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game materializes into a shootout. Both Whitehouse and Sulphur Springs have engaged in several high-scoring affairs over the years, and this season's encounter doesn't figure to be any different. With senior Tanner Ramirez calling the shots at quarterback and junior Jaylon Hawkins terrorizing opposing defenses out of the backfield, Sulphur Springs can certainly put points on the board. Whitehouse experienced major difficulties on defense through the first six quarters of the season, allowing 48 points to Texas High in Week 1 to go with 21 points and 238 yards of offense in the first half last week. But to Whitehouse's credit, Chapel Hill was shut out and limited to only 24 yards in the second half -- a half in which Whitehouse outscored Chapel HIll, 37-0. If Whitehouse's defense builds off its last two quarters, it would certainly give Whitehouse a great chance of winning its second straight.