Sulphur Springs JV defeats Van Alstyne at home
The Sulphur Springs JV team hosted Van Alstyne, Thursday night for a game at home where they traded points for most of the evening.
Van Alstyne started the game with a loss of 10 yards on a failed reverse attempt. The Wildcats defense held strong following two plays forcing a quick 3-and-out. The Wildcats started their first drive with excellent field position at the Van Alstyne 30. Even with the good field position the offense could not take advantage of the short field turning the ball over on downs.
The Panthers started their second drive moving the ball on the ground picking up multiple first downs. Van Alstyne converted a third down with a short swing pass to the right. After a nice tackle for a loss by Braxton Wall. Van Alstyne went back to the air with a short pass to the right to move the chains putting the Panthers at first and goal at the 4 yard line. Van Alstyne score on a quarterback keeper. The two point conversion was stopped in the backfield. Panthers took an early 6-0 lead.
After a nice 20 yard kickoff return by Ervine Iverson the Wildcats offense took over at their own 45. Kaden Mitchell and Iverson connection picked up two first downs taking the ball deep into Panther territory. Mitchell followed up with a first down completion to Chris Adams. Drake White crossed the plane and scored on a seven yard pass from Mitchell. Christobol Torres’ extra point was good putting the Wildcats out in front 7-6.
A bad snap on first down resulted in a Van Alstyne loss of 15. The Wildcats’ defense held strong forcing a punt. Dedrick Rose-Luke had a 30 yard return giving the Wildcats excellent starting field position again at the Panthers’ 40. The first play of the drive Jaylen Thompson carried the ball violently for a gain of 13. On the next play Mitchell went back to his favorite target Iverson but the Panthers’ secondary committed a pass interference giving the Wildcats a first down and goal at the eight. Mitchell’s pass to Colton Privit took the ball to the five. Adams scored on 4-yard pass on an out route to the left. Torres’ extra point was true again making the score 14-6.
The Wildcats’ defense gave away an excellent opportunity to hold the Panthers deep in their own territory when Van Alstyne’s reciever broke a 30-yard gain on third down. The Van Alstyne offense then steadily moved the ball down the field helped by a Wildcats personal foul. The Panthers scored on a quarterback sweep and converted a 2-point conversion to tie the game at 14-14.
The Wildcats’ special team came through again with an excellent return by Adams. Form the Panthers’ 45-yard-line the Sulphur Springs offense was able to put up enough yardage to put themselves in position for a late field goal by Torres with 13 seconds left in the half to make the score 17-14.
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Van Alstyne attempted an onside kick on the opening play of the second half. The kick went out of bounds giving the Cats the ball on the Van Alstyne 41. Struggling to gain momentum on the first three downs the Wildcat offense was forced into fourth and long where Mitchell gained crucial yards with a pass to Iverson. On the next play Mitchell went back to another first down pass to Adams. A quick strike to Wyatt Watson gained 8 yards. Thompson was able to pick up a first down with a strong run. Watson scored on a reception from Mitchell on a slant through the middle. Torres continued his perfect night adding his third extra point.
On the ensuing kickoff the Panthers took the return back for 80 yards and a touchdown. Wildcats defense denied the 2 point conversion. 24-20 Wildcats lead.
Mitchell came out firing on the next possession with a 12-yard pass the Watson. The Cats’ O-Line opened up holes for Rose-Luke who took four carries in a row for 40 yards and an eventual touchdown. Again the extra point was right down the middle and Sulphur Springs extended their lead 31-20.
The Panthers’ offense stayed on the ground and was able to pick up one first down. But the Cats stopped Van Alstyne on fourth and short. Turning the ball over on downs.
Sulphur Springs picked up a first down on a defensive holding penalty. Then Mitchell came right back with pass to Iverson for 17 more yards. A holding penalty on the Cats set them back 10 yards. On the next play the Wildcats’s offense made their first mistake of the night when a pass was picked off at the 20-yard line.
Van Alstyne did not fade into the night. The Panthers consistently moved the chains culminating in a touchdown on the ground. Once again the defense denied the 2-point attempt. The Cats lead was cut to 31-26.
Van Alstyne failed for a second time on an onside kick. The Wildcats offense started on the Panthers’ 41-yard line. A combination of Thompson and Rose-Luke on the ground gained 20 yards. Rose-Luke used his offensive line to take the ball down to the 6-yard line. The steady diet on the ground continued with carries by Rose-Luke to the 2 and then Mitchell called his own number with a short run into the end zone. Torres’ fifth extra point was good extending the lead to 38-26.
The Wildcats’ defense took the ball back with a fumble recovery by Barrett Thesing. On the next play Thompson picked up 30 yards on a physical run through the middle of the Van Alstyne defense. The Cats kept the ball on the ground and ran out the clock the secure a 38-26 win.
Submitted by: Allison Libby-Thesing
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