Wildcats 2024 Football Schedule Announced
Last week the UIL announced their district realignment for 2024-2026 and teams saw who their competition would be for the next two years. With the district portion now decided, teams were free to fill out the rest of their schedule and the Sulphur Springs Wildcats have announced theirs. After back-to-back seasons of improvement for the Wildcats, they will look to keep that trend going.
Scrimmages
Friday, Aug. 16 @ Lindale
Thursday, Aug. 22 vs Kaufman
Just as they have in years past, the Wildcats will have a pair of scrimmages with one being on the road and one being at home. Lindale has become a familiar scrimmage foe and will be again this year, while Kaufman was previously in the Wildcats district. Both teams have had strong programs in the past and will be perfect opponents to play before the regular season, as each team will be looking to get some in-game reps before the season begins.
Non-District
Friday, Aug. 30 vs Mesquite Poteet
The Wildcats will get to start this season at home, after opening last season with back-to-back road games. Poteet will be in 5A Division 2 again next season, giving Sulphur Springs an opportunity to open their season against a bigger school. A win in this one would be huge, setting the tone for a tough schedule ahead.
Friday, Sept. 6 @ Greenville
After opening the year at home, the Wildcats will hit the road, facing a district rival of Poteet’s in Greenville. Neither Poteet or Greenville were able to make the playoffs last season, but will certainly be looking to have bounce back years. This will also be the first match between Sulphur Springs and Greenville since they were district mates back in 2021.
Friday, Sept. 13 vs Bullard
Sulphur Springs will be back at home in this one, as they play on what will hopefully be a lucky Friday the 13th. In this one the Wildcats will be hosting Bullard, a team who fell just a game short of making the postseason in 2023. This will also be the first 4A opponent Sulphur Springs faces in the new season.
Friday, Sept. 20 @ Mount Pleasant
For a second season in a row the Wildcats will be making the drive up I-30 to face their rival Mount Pleasant Tigers. In 2023 it was an early season loss to Mount Pleasant that catapulted the Wildcats to a seven-game winning streak. Sulphur Springs will certainly be looking to seek revenge for last seasons 35-22 loss and pick up a road victory in their non-district finale.
District
Friday, Sept. 27 @ Aubrey
With a larger district, comes a shorter non-district schedule and the Wildcats will be playing district football before the calendar even turns to October. A trip to face the Aubrey Chaparrals is how the Wildcats will be welcomed into their new district. Aubrey went undefeated in district play last season and made a trip to the Regional Quarterfinal before falling to eventual stat champion Gilmer.
Friday, Oct. 4 Bye
The bye comes exactly at the midway point of the season for the Sulphur Springs Wildcats this season. Though they will already have one district game under their belt, this will give them an opportunity to regroup and have an extra week of preparation for their district home-opener in the following week.
Friday, Oct. 11 vs Celina
The Celina Bobcats are another new team for Sulphur Springs and another team coming off a very successful 2023. Last season the Bobcats went 11-2, including an overtime win against Anna, who would go on to win the state championship. Though Celina’s season would be cut short in the Regional Quarterfinal, they’re a very strong team and a win against them would go a long way for the Wildcats.
Friday, Oct. 18 @ Paris
Just like their non-district battle against Mount Pleasant, this will make the second consecutive season that the Wildcats will make the trip up the road to face Paris on the road. In each of their last two meeting’s it came down to the final play, with Sulphur Springs winning each matchup. They will look to pick up a third consecutive win against them, in what could prove to be a deciding match for one of these teams.
Friday, Oct. 25 vs Community
Community and Paris are the only two familiar teams in the district for Sulphur Springs and they will certainly be looking to use that to their advantage. Over the last two seasons the Wildcats have beaten Community by almost identical scores of 37-7 and 36-7. With two tough teams still remaining on the schedule, the Wildcats will want to replicate that same success in this one.
Friday, Nov 1 @ Lake Dallas
The final road game of the season is here, as the Sulphur Springs Wildcats will make their first trip to Lake Dallas. Last season the Falcons of Lake Dallas went 10-2 and made it to the Area round of the playoffs, before falling short to Rider in a 49-20 loss. In a tough district with a number of teams, each game will be huge and both teams could find themselves needing a win in this one to better their playoff seeding.
Friday, Nov. 8 vs Panther Creek
The Frisco Panther Creek Panthers are a young program, but one that has already seen a ton of success. In just two seasons the Panthers have went from 3-8 to 11-2 and a perfect 6-0 in district play. They also made it to the Regional Quarterfinal where they would fall just short to the eventual state champion Anna Coyotes in a close 42-38 battle.
