Sulphur Springs Takes Control of District 14-4A with 38-31 Victory at Hallsville

HALLSVILLE -- The Ivery cousins combined for almost 250 rushing yards and Sulphur Springs erased an early 11-point deficit to beat Hallsville 38-31 on Friday in a pivotal District 14-4A matchup.

Willy Ivery carried 10 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 57 yards and another score, while Buddy Ivery ran for 94 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Sulphur Springs (6-2, 3-0) takes sole possession of first place in 14-4A with the win and is the only remaining unbeaten team in district play.

Hallsville (6-2, 2-1) jumped ahead 14-3 less than 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Macailyn Wilder to Coby Bradford and a nine-yard strike from Wilder to Santos Estrada. But from the 6:04 mark of the second until the 4:00 mark of the fourth, Sulphur Springs went on a 35-7 run to take control of the game.

Buddy Ivery scored twice and Willy Ivery scored three times, the final being a 53-yard pass play from Derick Ingram for a 38-21 lead with 9:58 left in the game. Hallsville's Austin Toney ran for a two-yard touchdown with 3:41 left, and Paden Brown hit a 26-yard field goal with 48.9 seconds left to cut Sulphur Springs' lead to seven points, but the Wildcats recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve the 38-31 win.

Sulphur Springs ougained Hallsville 412-313 and held the Bobcats to 69 rushing yards. Bradford, who entered the game as East Texas' sacks leader, added two more Friday to give him 11 1/2. Wilder completed 5 of 7 passes for 64 yards and two scores and ran nine times for 38 yards and a touchdown, but left the game in the fourth with an injury and didn't return. Hallsville left tackle Hayden Wall was injured earlier in the game and didn't return.

Toney completed 20 of 37 passes for 180 yards, throwing 21 fourth-quarter passes as Hallsville tried to dig its way out of a 38-21 hole. Andre Jones led Hallsville with eight catches for 82 yards.

Cole Hill led Sulphur Springs with six catches for 74 yards. Teammates Antun Walton and Dedric Smith had one sack apiece. Hallsville's Cayden Ferrill also had one sack, while Bobcats Jesse Navarro and Estrada each had an interception.

Sulphur Springs hosts Pine Tree (2-5, 0-3) next Friday. Hallsville visits Mount Pleasant (6-2, 2-1).