Wildcats Ready To Open Season At Tomato Bowl
The Texas High School Football season is finally here. After a 7-win season in Year 1 under Coach Faircloth and company, the Sulphur Springs Wildcats will start what they hope to be a historic season this Friday night, in one of the most historic stadiums in Texas, the Tomato Bowl.
For the second consecutive season the Wildcats will be opening their season against Jacksonville, after picking up a 15-point win against them at home in last year’s season opener. Dave Campbell’s has Sulphur Springs as a 15-point favorite again this season, already setting the expectations high for this years’ Wildcat team.
Offensively the Wildcats will be led by a number of returning players, including quarterback Brady Driver. In last year’s match Driver had a strong showing, getting the job done both in the air and on the ground. The Wildcats QB1 racked up 83 rushing yards, as well as 145 passing yards and one touchdown. Driver also racked up five touchdowns in this years scrimmages, passign for three and rushing for two.
His one passing touchdown in last years season opener was thrown to Jaxson Haire, who was making his varsity debut as a freshman. With pass catchers like CJ Williams, Cooper Faircloth and Matt Mitchell graduating, Haire will have the opportunity to play an even bigger role this season, after having three receiving touchdowns and 217 receiving yards a season ago.
He will be joined by a number of returning pass catchers, including receivers Skylar Lewis, Chris Addams, Tyrsten Hankins and tight end Grayson Reams.
In the run game it was running back Malachi Roland who paced the way for the Wildcats. Roland opened his junior campaign by carrying the ball 24 times and finishing just shy of 100 yards. He also had a pair of touchdowns, helping the Wildcats to a 21-6 win in the opener.
Now a senior, Roland will be joined by running backs Dee-Rose Luke and Cameron Jefferson, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the scrimmages, after seeing a lot of success last year at the linebacker position. The trio of running backs have looked solid in their scrimmages against Lindale and Wills Point and will hope to open the season on a strong note Friday night.
Defensively it was a trio of then sophomores who set the tone with strong debuts. Safety Ty Bybee, linebacker Larren Vaughn and defensive end Nathan Andrews, who will each be looking to open their junior campaigns in a similar way.
Bybee finished with nine tackles, which was good for the third most on the team, behind graduating safety Riley Hammons and Jefferson who each finished in double-digits. Vaughn had four tackles and led the team with three quarterback hurries, while Andrews consistently put pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Though it will be on the road this time, Sulphur Springs enters the match as heavy favorites and will certainly look to open this season with as much momentum as they did a year ago. To watch our live broadcast of the game, tune in to Front Porch News and Chad’s Media.
