Top 25 Games of 2014: No. 23, Sulphur Springs at Whitehouse

It can't be September, or mid-November for that matter, without Sulphur Springs taking on Whitehouse in a series that's rapidly become among East Texas' most anticipated every year.

This season's installment, Sept. 12 in Whitehouse, checks in at No. 23 on ETSN.fm's list of the top 25 games of 2014.

Since 2006, Sulphur Springs and Whitehouse have met 10 times, including two postseason encounters. The two Wildcat teams are 5-5 against one another over that time span.

Last season marked the second time they faced each twice in the same year. Whitehouse rolled to a 61-22 regular-season victory, and followed that up with a 38-14 rout in the bi-district round of the Class 4A Division II playoffs. Overall, Whitehouse has won three consecutive games in the series after Sulphur Springs enjoyed a four-game winning streak from 2008-2011.

Four of the meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, and the matchups are always high scoring. The winning team has never scored less than 33 points, and the average final score since 2006 is 45-30.

This year's matchup features two of East Texas' top recruits -- Sulphur Springs quarterback/safety Larry Pryor and Whitehouse safety Justin Dunning, who are both part of Texas A&M's stacked 2015 recruiting class.

When Sulphur Springs and Whitehouse hit the field next month, the game will serve as the final non-district tuneup for both teams. So, expect the two uptempo spread offenses and rangy, athletic defenses to leave everything on the field with the bye week to follow.

ETSN.fm's Top 25 Games of 2014

• No. 23: Sulphur Springs at Whitehouse
• No. 24: Nacogdoches at John Tyler
• No. 25: Van at Lindale