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Sulphur Springs Wildcats (1-1)
vs.
Whitehouse Wildcats (2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse

Coaches
Sulphur Springs: Greg Owens
Whitehouse: Randy McFarlin

Last week
Sulphur Springs: lost to Sherman, 49-44
Whitehouse: def. Chapel Hill, 38-14

Next week
Sulphur Springs: vs. Paris
Whitehouse: at Marshall

Playmakers
Sulphur Springs

  • QB Brad Macek, Sr., 5-11, 170 (44 of 55, 601 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs)
  • WR Cole Hill, Sr., 5-8, 175 (24 catches, 301 yards, 5 TDs)
  • WR Willy Ivery, Jr., 5-9, 180 (15 catches, 192 yards, 1 TD; 6 carries, 55 yards)
  • RB Buddy Ivery, Sr., 5-8, 190 (40 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 10 yards)
  • QB Derick Ingram, Jr., 6-0, 175 (19 of 28, 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 15 carries, 46 yards, 2 TDs)
  • WR Colton Wise, Sr., 6-4, 185 (12 catches, 207 yards, 2 TDs)
  • OL Jenner Jackson, Sr., 6-3, 230
  • DB Larry Pryor, Soph., 6-1, 195 (23 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
  • DE Bryton Wood, Jr., 5-8, 180 (17 tackles, 1 forced fumble)

Whitehouse

  • QB Patrick Mahomes, Jr., 6-3, 180 (33 of 49, 521 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT)
  • WR Dylan Cantrell, Sr., 6-3, 205 (14 catches, 249 yards, 5 TDs; committed to Texas Tech)
  • QB Ryan Cheatham, Jr. (15 of 28, 203 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 15 carries, 78 yards)
  • WR Jaylon Dews, Jr. (10 catches, 138 yards, 2 TDs)
  • DB Justin Dunning, Soph. (12 tackles, 2 INTs)
  • FS Colby Campbell, Jr., 6-0, 185 (14 tackles)
  • WR Coleman Patterson, Jr., 6-0, 185 (7 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD)
  • DB Isaiah Burton, Jr. (1 INT, 2 PBUs)
  • OL Hunter Conn, Sr. (committed to Lamar)

Just the facts

  • Sulphur Springs averages 555.5 yards per game, including 411.5 passing yards
  • Whitehouse averages 482.0 yards per game, including 362.0 passing yards
  • Sulphur Springs has allowed 41.5 points per game in its first two games
  • Whitehouse has allowed 16.0 points per game in its first two contests, as opposed to the 56.5 per game the Wildcats allowed in their first two games of 2011
  • Sulphur Springs has run 83 pass plays in 150 offensive snaps, or 55.3 percent
  • Whitehouse has run 77 pass plays in 130 offensive snaps, or 59.2 percent
  • Sulphur Springs beat Whitehouse 70-49 in 2011 for its fourth consecutive win against Whitehouse
  • During that four-game winning streak, Sulphur Springs has averaged 49.5 points to Whitehouse's 36.8
  • Whitehouse's last win against Sulphur Springs was a 33-30 victory Nov. 16, 2007 in a Class 4A Division II Region II bi-district playoff

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Key matchup: Either defensive line vs. either offensive line. The battle in the trenches may seem puzzling at first when you consider that both teams throw the ball more than they run, but don't overlook how important it is to keep the opposing defense off your quarterbacks. That all starts up front, of course, and has more to do with keeping a quarterback upright than simple three- and five-step drops and quick-hitting routes. Whitehouse won its season-opening contest against Hallsville, but Bobcat defensive Coby Bradford had a jaw-dropping five sacks and pressured Whitehouse quarterbacks nine times. Whitehouse cannot afford to have that kind of performance from its offensive line against Sulphur Springs, which uses a much more explosive offensive style than Hallsville's run-oriented attack. A turnover here or there can turn into points the other way very quickly, and that goes for both teams. Two of the region's top pass-catchers will square off in Sulphur Springs' Cole Hill and Whitehouse's Dylan Cantrell (committed to Texas Tech), but neither will get the chance to show off his skills if the respective quarterbacks aren't adequately protected. It sounds simple, but the team that puts more pressure on the opposing QB -- or QBs, since both teams use two quarterbacks -- will have a clear advantage in the battle against that team's high-powered passing attack.

Don't be surprised if: You go to this game and don't get out of Wildcat Stadium until 11 p.m. There's gonna be a few pigskins flying around in this one. Whitehouse has averaged 38.5 pass attempts in its first two games, and Sulphur Springs has averaged 41.5. Whitehouse QBs Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Cheatham have both shown the ability to throw the ball well, and the same goes for Sulphur Springs' Brad Macek and Derick Ingram. But if the statistics are any indicator, both teams have preferences with each quarterback. For Whitehouse, Mahomes, though an established multi-sport athlete with excellent feet, is more likely to be the gunslinger, while Cheatham appears to be the runner. On the other side, there's Macek the passer and Ingram the runner. Regardless of which quarterback is in for which team, this game promises to be a close one with the potential for a lot of points being scored. Sulphur Springs allowed 49 in last week's loss to Sherman, and while Whitehouse is vastly improved defensively from last year, slowing Sulphur Springs is a tall order. The bottom line is this game should be highly entertaining for fans, and a lot of fun for the players. Both teams have started strong, despite Sulphur Springs' loss last week, and will be in contention in their district races. This is the perfect non-district litmus test for each.

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