PREVIEW: Marshall Hopes to Build Winning Streak in Matchup With Sulphur Springs

DISTRICT 16-5A 

Sulphur Springs Wildcats (2-3, 0-1)

vs.

Marshall Mavericks (1-4, 1-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Maverick Stadium, Marshall

Coaches

• Sulphur Springs: Greg Owens
• Marshall: Claude Mathis

Last week

• Sulphur Springs: lost to Pine Tree, 55-47
• Marshall: def. Texas High, 35-33

Next week

• Sulphur Springs: vs. Texas High
• Marshall: at Mount Pleasant

Playmakers

Sulphur Springs

• QB Ryan Humphries, Sr., 5-10, 172 (70-of-110, 891 yards, 8 TDs, 5 INT)
• DL D'Idrec Dugan, Sr., 6-0, 225 (33 tackles, 9 for loss, 3 sacks)
• DB Terrell Turman, Sr., 6-1, 150 (28 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)
• WR Simeon Taylor, Sr., 6-2, 170 (20 catches, 300 yards, 4 TDs)
• RB Colton Allen, Jr., 5-7, 150 (44 carries, 189 yards, 2 TDs)
• OL Jesus Olivo, Sr., 6-2, 280
• LB Jaxon Reneau, Sr., 5-11, 200 (51 tackles, 4 for loss)

Marshall

• OL Chasen Hines, Sr., 6-3, 330 (committed to LSU)
• OL Kameron King, Sr., 6-3, 270 (committed to North Texas)
• DL Marje Smith, Sr., 6-6, 215 (committed to Baylor)
• QB JJ Green, So., 6-2, 165 (51-of-116, 821 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs)
• OL Christian Hood, Jr., 6-4, 300
• WR De'Kendrick Bender, Jr., 6-0, 165 (17 catches, 250 yards, 3 TDs)
• DB Champ Mathis, Jr., 5-11, 180
• WR Tahj Washington, Jr., 5-11, 160 (10 catches, 146 yards, 2 TDs)
• DB Tre Macon, Sr., 5-11, 180

Just the facts

• Sulphur Springs is averaging more than 200 yards passing per game.
• The Wildcats are on a three-game skid after starting the season 2-0.
• Marshall narrowly won its first game of the season this past week, 35-33. This came after four straight losses for the Mavericks.
• The Mavericks are also averaging more than 200 yards through the air.
• Marshall owns a 4-3 lead in the series since 2008 and has won the past three contests.
• Last year the Mavericks won, 56-13.

Key matchup: Marshall offensive line against the Sulphur Springs rush. Marshall's offensive line is brimming with talent. Kameron King and Chasen Hines are heading to FBS schools, while Christian Hood stands 6-4, 300 pounds.

Meanwhile, Sulphur Springs' Dee Dugan has been a nightmare for opposing offensive lines. He has nine tackles for loss to go with three sacks so far. Pair him with linebacker Jaxon Reneau, who has 51 tackles and four for a loss, and the Wildcats have the tools to cause trouble for Marshall.

With Marshall looking to build a winning streak and improve to 2-0 in district play and Sulphur Springs looking to snap its losing streak, this matchup should be the focus. Whichever team gets the upper hand in this one will have a much better chance at succeeding in its ultimate goal.

Don't be surprised if: JJ Green impressive again. After a quiet start to the season (he didn't even start in the first game), Green impressed this past week. He threw for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns in Marshall's victory against Texas High.

He is only a sophomore, so it makes sense he would need a few weeks to adjust. This could be the week he hits his stride, though. His performance in this game will determine whether Marshall has the chance to make some noise in this district.