Sulphur Springs Wildcat Day Day Jackson catches this end zone pass, late in the second quarter, allowing
the SS Wildcats to go to the dressing room at halftime with at 22-13 lead.

 

Wildcats Deliver Decisive 36-26
Win Over Whitehouse

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

In what has proven to be a building pre-season rivalry, when the Whitehouse Wildcats delivered the only loss to the 2007 SS Wildcats in regular play, the team came to town on Friday night, with high hopes of stealing a win. However, this year's hometown Wildcats "showed their metal" and delivered a decisive 36-26 win before a large crowd at Gerald Prim Stadium, on Friday night.

Picked in the polls as the "underdogs," our Wildcats came out with victory on their minds and took an early 7-0 lead from Whitehouse, when they executed a series of plays and called on center, Colby Suggs, to deliver a run up the middle for their first six points. Earlier he had even tried his hand at quarterback. The extra point by Fernando Arellano was good with just under six minutes left on the clock, in the first quarter.

The Wildcat defense held strong and soon the Wildcats had possession again. This time they marched up the field, using a number of hand-offs to Devion Hill and several "quarterback keeps" by Lee. Again the Wildcats called on Suggs to "bring the bacon home" as he delivered the winning six-points across the goal line. The Wildcats went for two and managed to take a 15-0 lead, in the game, with 11:56 on the clock remaining in the second quarter.

However, no one could fault the Whitehouse Wildcats. They bounced back with a scoring drive that netted them 7 points on the scoreboard with 5:24 remaining in the first half.

Then, an interception by Whitehouse put them in stricking distance again. A long pass by Whitehouse quarterback Conder to receiver Newton, landed them in the end zone for a second time in the quarter. Attempting to tie the score, the went for a two-point conversion and on a highlight of the game, SS Wildcat #17, Sharard Timmons, intercepted the pass and preserved the Wildcat lead of 15-13.

Late in the first half, the SS Wildcats scored their third touchdown of the game, when Lee connected with Day Day Jackson in the end zone (pictured above). With only 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Arellano's extra point was good and the SS Wildcats led at halftime intermission 22-13.

Coming back from halftime, early in the third quarter, our Wildcats turned the ball over to Whitehouse and they took advantage of the opportunity, scoring on a series of well executed plays. They scored on a run by quarterback Conder, but the hometown Wildcats continued to fight and blocked the extra point. Whitehouse was "knocking on the door" at 22-19.

After a series of plays, the SS Wildcats were forced to give up the ball, and Whitehouse took the lead after a 70 yard plus drive landed them in the end zone, with a connection from Conder to Newton, again. Whitehouse took the lead with 26-22, after the extra-point was successful.

This was actually when the SS Wildcats "showed their metal" before the hometown crowd. They were down by four points and never gave-up, as the clock was "ticking" in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats made some critical plays and Colton Lee connected with Kody Chester to score a touchdown, mid-way during the quarter. Arellano's extra-point was good and the Wildcats moved ahead 28-26.

Then, on the following kick-off in what looked like an excellent return, Tanner Gilbreath managed a fumble recovery for the SS Wildcats, setting the hometown team in excellent field position, just inside the 20 yard line. Two plays later, running back, Devion Hill scampered across the goal line and with a two-point conversion, the Wildcats took the lead 36-26, with six and one-half minutes left on the clock.

The Sulphur Springs Wildcat Defense showed what they were made of and made a series of outstanding plays to maintain the 10 point cushion and win the game.

"I'm proud of the team!" exclaimed a jubilant Head Coach Greg Owens. "We were playing an outstanding team in Whitehouse and our guys showed what they could do tonight. They never gave up and kept focusing on the win, even when we were down, during the third quarter, and that's what wins football games!"

 

Enjoy the following scenes from Friday night's victory, that puts the Wildcats 2-0 for the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 - 0 Wildcats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 - 0 Wildcats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wildcats will take a long road trip, to Wichita Falls Rider, for next Friday night's re-match, that the Wildcats won on ESPN Television, last year, here before a packed crowd. Make plans to support the Wildcats by following them to Wichita Falls!

Scores of Local Interest

Como-Pickton 13  - Ore City 47

Texas High 33  - Lake Hamilton, Ark. 13

Marshall 64 - Hunington, La. 6

Mesquite Poteet 50 - Frisco 14

Paris 33 - Longview Pine Tree 0

Mt. Vernon 18 - Gladewater 8

Mineola 37 - Quitman 0

Daingerfield 46 - Paul Pewitt 0

Big Sandy 21 - Alba Golden 0

Gilmer 76 - Emory Rains 12

Lone Oak 38 - Clarksville 0

Cooper 35 - Whitewright 8

Leonard 50 - Celeste 0

Wolfe City 13 - Honey Grove 19

Muleshoe 55 - Potales NM 14

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