Texas High Dominates Sulphur Springs 43-7 in Matchup of District 14-4A Favorites

[By Johnny Green, Special to ETSN.fm]

TEXARKANA — The Harris Rating System called Sulphur Springs' game at Texas High Friday as one of the top Class 4A games in the state, but in actuality the District 14 showdown was over by halftime.

Three turnovers and two failed fourth-down gambles by Sulphur Springs turned into a 29-0 halftime lead for Texas High, and the Tigers established themselves as the league favorites by beating the Wildcats, 43-7.

Tre Walker ran for 202 yards and five touchdowns as Texas High (6-1) moved to 2-0 in district, tied with Hallsville for first place.

"Our kids really wanted this game," said Tigers coach Barry Norton. "There had been some things written in their newspaper that maybe our defense had built its reputation against a weak schedule, and our defensive kids took offense to that. It's was probably as complete a game as I've had here at Texas High."

Sulphur Springs, which came into the game averaging 43 points and 480 yards per game, was held to 129 yards total by Texas High's defense, which shut down the Wildcats two heralded standouts Willy Ivery and Larry Pryor.

Ivery, who had seven touchdowns in last week's rout of Mount Pleasant, managed just 72 yards on 17 carries and was held to minus-11 yards on four receptions. Pryor, who had thrown for 1,335 yards, completed 10 of 19 passes for 35 yards and was intercepted once.

Texas High put the game away with a touchdown on its first possession of the second half, driving 53 yards on nine plays following an onside kick by the Wildcats. Walker scored his fifth touchdown on a 12-yard run with 7:18 left in the third period.

Sulphur Springs, which failed on fourth down for the third time on its ensuing possession, got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Dekeistan Mosley, setting up a seven-play, 55-yard scoring drive capped by Ivery's 6-yard sprint around the right side.

But that was it for the Wildcats (4-3, 1-1), and Texas High finished the scoring on a 1-yard sneak by backup quarterback Clete Norton with 9:13 left in the game.

Walker's scoring runs in the first half covered 12, 11, 6 and 4 yards, and Mantus Urienezius booted a 23-yard field goal on Texas High's first possession after Marquan Daniels intercepted Pryor.

Texas High travels to Mount Pleasant next week, while Sulphur Springs hosts Hallsville.

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Texas High 43, Sulphur Springs 7

Tiger Stadium at Grimm Park, Texarkana

Sulphur Springs         0    0    7    0    —    7
Texas High                9   20   7    7    —   43
First Quarter
TH--FG Mantas Urienezius 23, 7:11.
TH--Tre Walker 12 run (pass failed), 2:58.
Second Quarter
TH--Walker 11 run (Urienezius kick), 11:17.
TH--Walker 6 run (kick failed), 3:57.
Third Quarter
TH--Walker 12 run (Urienezius kick), 7:18.
SS--Willy Ivery 6 run (Ryan Watson kick), 4:07.
Fourth Quarter
TH--Clete Norton 1 run (Urienezius kick), 9:13.

                                     SS               TH
First Downs                       6                22
Total Yards                     129              292
Rushes-Yards               29-94        54-252
Passing Yards                   35               50
Comp.Att.-Int.           10-19-1           5-9-0
Punts-Avg.                  2-27.5         2-32.0
Fumbles-Lost                    2-2             3-1
Penalties-Yards               4-40           3-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Sulphur Springs, Ivery 17-72, Larry Pryor 12-22. Texas High, Walker 34-202, Javon Thomas 14-39, Norton 2-3, Kody Hunter 3-10, Clayton Shores 1-(-7).
PASSING—Sulphur Springs, Pryor 10-19-1-35. Texas High, Hunter 3-6-0-39, Norton 2-3-0-11.
RECEIVING—Sulphur Springs, Ivery 4-(-11), Alex Burney 3-32, Isaiah Lacy 1-2, C. J. Stephens 1-2. Texas High, Jarion Anderson 2-35, Walker 3-15.