First Half Woes Stymie Wildcats in Loss to Kaufman
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats tried desperately to dig themselves out of a 17-point halftime deficit Friday night against the Kaufman Lions, unfortunately they came up a couple of shovelfuls short.
The Wildcats had a difficult time getting out of their own way offensively in the first half of the District 8-5A game at Gerald Prim Stadium, and despite putting up 21 points in the second half, fell to Kaufman 30-21.
With the loss, the Wildcats drop into a second-place tie in district at 5-2 with Kaufman, who now holds the tie-breaker advantage.
Despite the final score, the Wildcats made a game of it in the second half by scoring on a 30-yard pass from D’Corian Young to Landry Tyson on their first possession of the second half, and then turning in a defensive TD on a 46-yard fumble return by DQ Pitts to draw to within three points at 17-14 midway through the third quarter. Following a Kaufman third-quarter TD, the Wildcats got even closer early in the fourth quarter when quarterback D’Corian Young and wide receiver Bryce McQueen hooked up on a 92-yard scoring pass to draw to within two points at 23-21.
Sulphur Springs even had a chance to make the game more interesting late in the fourth quarter when they drove to the Kaufman 3-yard line while trailing again by 9 points, but a lost fumble effectively ended their chances.
The Wildcats got 94 yards rushing from senior Colton Allen on 11 carries, but ended with just 90 total rushing yards because of bad snaps and sacks that lost a combined 63 yards. Young threw for 192 yards but completed just 8-of-18-passes. He suffered a leg injury early in the game and was replaced by backup Noe Ponce, who completed 1-of-3 passes for 7 yards. Young re-entered the contest before halftime.
Kaufman, meanwhile, was paced by quarterback Trey Collier, who has committed to Tulsa as a wide receiver. Collier ran for 143 yards on 22 carrries and threw for another 50 yards.
It was Collier who gave the Lions the first lead of the game when he scored on a 40-yard run on Kaufman’s opening possession. The Lions made it a 17-0 halftime advantage on a 1-yard run by Billy Pullen, who plays quarterback in their goalline formation, and a 20-yard field goal by Yahel Sandoval.
In the first half, the Wildcats had just 67 yards of total offense while Kaufman had 163. The SSHS defense played well, considering Kaufman three times started drives inside the Wildcat 35-yard line. In addition, Sulphur Springs forced four turnovers on fumble recoveries by Pitts — who had three including one for a TD — and another by Kylan Wade, who came up with a loose ball in the endzone after a fumble by a Kaufman receiver at the 1-yard line.
But, the Wildcats had their own problems with two turnovers, including the one on their final drive of the game with 90 seconds remaining.
NOTES — The Wildcats converted just 2-of-9 third down opportunities, but fourth downs were even more brutal. In the first half, Sulphur Springs had five possessions and four of them ended on fourth down miscues. They were stopped on downs at the Kaufman 26-yard line,then missed a 37-yard field goal, had a bad snap on a punt result in a 13-yard loss and then another bad snap result in a 1-yard punt. … The Wildcats had eight rushing plays that resulted in minus-69 yards. … SSHS was hit with eight penalties for 75 yards, while Kaufman was penalized once for 10 yards. … Kaufman ended the game with 18 first downs, compared to 13 for Sulphur Springs. … Sulphur Springs officially was listed with five fumbles, four of them on low snaps.
DISTRICT ROUNDUP — Corsicana finished the season with a 7-1 record in District 8-5A (8-2 overall) to win the championship. They did it despite losing to Ennis 28-7 on Friday. Sulphur Springs and Kaufman are both 5-2 in district and 6-2 overall. Ennis and Royse City are both tied for fourth with 4-3 records after Ennis’ upset of Corsicana and Royse City’s 37-20 win over North Forney. Meanwhile, Forney is still in the playoff hunt after a 49-39 victory over Greenville.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS — Some things are certain: Corsicana will end up as the No. 1 seed, while Terrell, Greenville and North Forney are all out of the playoff hunt. If Sulphur Springs and Kaufman both win Friday night (SSHS plays at North Forney while Kaufman hosts Forney), then Kaufman will be the No. 2 seed and Sulphur Springs will be the No. 3. … Sulphur Springs can finish no worse than the No. 3 seed. If Ennis and Royse City both win, then Ennis will be the No. 4 seed because of their head-to-head win over Royse City. … Royse City could jump up to the No. 3 seed if they win next week and Kaufman and Ennis both lose. … Forney still has an outside chance at the playoffs. If Forney beats Kaufman and Ennis and Royse City both lose, then Forney wins the three-way tiebreaker on points.
Kaufman 7 10 6 7 –30
Sulphur Springs 0 0 14 7 –21
First Quarter
Kaufman — Trey Collier 40 run (Yahel Sandoval kick), 8:39.
Second Quarter
Kaufman — Billy Pullen 1 run (Sandoval kick0, 4:13.
Kaufman — Sandoval 20 field goal, 0:25.
Third Quarter
Sulphur Springs — Landry Tyson 30 pass from D’Corian Young (Brandon Zavala kick), 10:05.
Sulphur Springs — DQ Pitts 46 fumble recovery (Zavala kick), 5:16.
Kaufman — Pullen 2 run (kick blocked), 1:23.
Fourth Quarter
Sulphur Springs — Bryce McQueen 92 pass from Young (Zavala kick), 7:52.
Kaufman — Ladamian Bailey 27 run (Sandoval kick), 2:36.
STATISTICS
RUSHING
Kaufman, 55-240 — Trey Collier 22-143, Ladamian Bailey 19-87, Billy Pullen 3-5, Michael Glick 2-6, Raikyviun Shaw 1-(-1).
Sulphur Springs, 25-90 — Colton Allen 11-94, Da’Korian Sims 4-29, Caden Davis 7-19, D’Corian Young 2-(-25), Austin Dodd 3-9, Noe Ponce 1-(-23), Jermond Bryant-Amos 1-(-13).
PASSING
Kaufman 4-6-0-78 — Trey Collier 3-4-0-50, Billy Pullen 1-2-0-28.
Sulphur Springs, 9-21-1-199 — D’Corian Young 8-18-1-192, Noe Ponce 1-3-0-7.
RECEIVING
Kaufman 6-78 — Raikyviun Shaw 1-28, Kerya Powell 1-22, Colton Roeder 1-20, Charleston Miller 1-8.
Sulphur Springs, 9-199 — Bryce McQueen 2-115, Landry Tyson 4-57, Austin Dodd 1-9, Jermond Bryant-Amos 1-7, Connor Burgin 1-11.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Kaufman, 1 — John Maldanado 1.
Sulphur Springs — DQ Pitts 3, Kylan Wade 1.
INTERCEPTIONS
Kaufman, 1 — John Maldanado 1.
Sulphur Springs — none.
PUNTING
Kaufman, 3-100 — Trey Collier 3-100 (33.3 average).
Sulphur Springs, 3-75 — Jermond Bryant-Amos 3-75 (25.0 average).
KICK RETURNS
Kaufman, 4-15 — Raikyviun Shaw 2-8, Ladamian Bailey 1-7, Michael Glick 1-0.
Sulphur Springs, 4-64 — Damiyon Dugan 3-31, Caden Davis 1-33.
PUNT RETURNS
Kaufman, none.
Sulphur Springs, 1-16 — Austin Dodd 1-16.
FUMBLES-LOST: Kaufman 5-4, Sulphur Springs 5-1.
PENALTIES: Kaufman 1-10, Sulphur Springs 8-75.
FIRST DOWNS: Kaufman 18, Sulphur Springs 13.
Game Day: Wildcats Host Kaufman; Senior Night at The Prim
The Kaufman Lions are coming to Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night (November 2) at 7:30 p.m. to take on the Wildcats in a big district game. It’s a battle for second place in district and it’s also Senior Night for 33 Wildcats seniors.
It doesn’t appear that the two schools have ever played before. The Wildcats have made the playoffs. They will be either a #2 or #3 seed. They are 5-1 in district play and 6-1 overall. Kaufman is 4-2 in district play and 5-2 overall. The Lions need a win Friday and losses by Royse City and Ennis to secure a playoff spot.
The Lions head Football Coach is Jeramy Burleson in his third season as Kaufman Head Football Coach. He was a Wildcats assistant under Coach Brad Turner from 2001 through 2006. The Wildcats Head Football Coach is Greg Owens, in his thirteenth year here.
At his weekly media gathering Wednesday (October 31), Coach Owens was asked if Kaufman was the most explosive team in the district and he said they probably were. He compared them to the district’s #1 team Corsicana. Coach Owens said Kaufman’s quarterback may be a better passer than the Corsicana quarterback. He said both teams have skill players who can go the distance when they get the ball. He said both teams have very good offensive lines that allow them to do a lot of things plus skill players who are talented.
#15 Ranked Wildcat Basketball in Elite 14 Scrimmage in Wichita Falls Saturday
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark is wasting no time in testing his team. It begins at the team’s first scrimmage. The Wildcats, preseason ranked #15 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, will participate in the Elite 14 scrimmage at Wichita Falls Hirschi Saturday (November 3).
Coach Cipoletta explains that 60 teams have been invited to the scrimmage: twenty from Texas, twenty from Oklahoma and 20 more from the US and Canada. The Wildcats will play Lubbock Estacado, preseason ranked #6 in Class 4A, Norman, Oklahoma High School and Millwood, Oklahoma, a prep school. Coach Cipoletta says the Wildcats will be challenged and he adds lots of college coaches are expected to attend the scrimmage. The Wildcats second and last scrimmage will be at Longview Tuesday (November 6) as the Wildcats will scrimmage two Class 6A teams, Cedar Hill and Longview.
The Wildcats open the regular season again this year at the Cowtown Showdown in North Crowley on November 10 against Plano East. Coach Cipoletta calls them a good Class 6A team. Last year the Wildcats opened the season at the Cowtown Showdown by defeating Arlington Bowie, ranked in the top 25 in Class 5A. This year Coach Cipoletta has the Wildcats again playing Rockwall, ranked #6 in Class 6A, also Denton Guyer, ranked #1 in Class 6A and again Jesuit of Dallas, a Class 6A team.
The Wildcats home opener this season will be against Class 6A Rockwall Heath on November 13.
NETBIO Celebrates 20 Years With November 14th Sale
The cattle industry in Northeast Texas will celebrate a milestone at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission on Wednesday, Nov. 14 when the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) mark the 20th year of operation for this pre-conditioned cattle producer’s organization.
NETBIO is a group of independent cow/calf producers and agribusiness representatives who launched the organization in November 1998 to improve, promote and enhance the beef industry in Northeast Texas. The organization is recognized across the State of Texas and the Southern United States as the leader in its reputable offering of pre-conditioned calves.
To kick off this special anniversary event and sale, the annual meeting of the NETBIO organization will be held under the “big-top” located in front of the sale barn beginning around 11 a.m.
The annual business of the organization will be conducted under the direction of CEO Dwyatt Bell, followed by a barbecue lunch for the member sellers, buyers, their families, friends and NETBIO supporters.
Nearly 8,000 head of cattle have been consigned for the sale and auctioneer Joe Don Pogue will begin selling cattle at 1 p.m.
Helping keep the NETBIO organization and the largest pre-conditioned cattle sale in Texas going for 20 years are the producer board members and the agribusiness board members. On the producer board are Brian Cummins of Canton, president; Henry Potts of Emory, Rodney Lennon of Point, Ben Lamborn of Como, Mike Thompson of Mt. Pleasant, Grant Sadler of Alba, Greg Spigener of Omaha, Teresia McKay of Commerce, Colt Hall of Gilmer and Byron Prince of Brookston.
Agribusiness board members are Dwyatt Bell, CEO; Mario Villarino, DVM, Ph.D, Texas Agrilife; Joe Don Pogue, David Fowler, Marchall “Bo” Dunlap, David Black, DVM; Kevin Gray, DVM and Chris McClure, Chris Brown, Executive Director of ARK-TEX Council of Governments. The Academic board member is Douglas Eborn, PhD of A&M-Commerce.
Bell said the NETBIO board of directors continues to look for new ways to add value to their cattle and ways to grow the organization with increased participation from beef producers throughout Northeast Texas and in adjoining States.
The NETBIO organization holds eight pre-conditioned cattle sales a year for its members, and all the auctions are broadcast on the Internet via the www.lmaauctions.com website. The Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction accepts the bids during the auction. Internet buyers should register in advance in order to bid.
Call the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission at 903-885-2455 for consignment and sale information.
Friday is Last Day for Early Voting
Today is the last day for early voting and the polling place closes at 5 p.m. Thursday, an extended hour day for early voting, saw 581 ballots cast at the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Courtroom. Today (Friday) hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 6th. Hopkins County voters may cast ballots at any of the Vote Centers in the county. Voters will need one of seven forms of ID: Texas Driver License, Texas Personal Identification Card, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas Handgun License, United States Military Identification Card, or United States Passport (book or card). Vote Centers open November 6th include: In the city of Sulphur Springs: the Lutheran Church, 1000 Texas Street; Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Fuller Street; County Courthouse, 118 Church St; Grace Family Church, 1901 Loop 301 East; Civic Center, 1200 Houston St; League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League. Throughout the county: Saltillo ISD, 150 CR 3534, Saltillo; Cumby Municipal Building, 100 E. Main Street, Cumby, TX; Sulphur Bluff ISD, 1027 CR 3550, Sulphur Bluff; Como-Pickton school, 13017 TX Highway 11E, Como; Miller Grove ISD, 7819 FM 275 S, Cumby; and North Hopkins ISD, 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs. Hours for voting November 6th are 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Deer Season Opens: Hunters and Drivers Be Prepared
Deer season opens Saturday, November 3rd and hunters are not the only ones who need to be prepared. Texas drivers should be on high-alert for deer this month. November records more deer-related car crashes than any other month in Texas. Deer-related auto accidents are 19% of all auto accidents in Texas in November. October, 14%, and December, 12%, have the second and third most.
Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution in deer zones, be aware of high-risk times (dawn and dusk). If you do encounter deer, slow down and be aware that more are likely nearby, avoid swerving or slamming on your brakes. The average amount spent to fix a car involved in a deer strike also has increased by $200 to $4,341 per claim.
Drivers are urged to use extra caution and slow-down in known deer zones, use high beams when appropriate during dusk to dawn driving, scan the road and avoid swerving when you see a deer, always wear your seatbelt, and do not rely on deer fences and reflectors to deter deer.
Should you have an accident involving a deer, move your vehicle to a safe place off the roadway and turn on your hazard lights, take photographs of the road and your surroundings and damage to your vehicle, quickly file your insurance claim, and look for leaking fluid, loose parts, tire damage, broken lights or other hazards regarding your vehicle. Do not attempt to aid the animal. Wounded deer can use their legs and hooves to harm you. Notify the game warden through the county Sheriff’s office.
13th Annual DBA Heritage Square Car Show is Saturday Nov. 3 on Celebration Plaza
Rita Edwards of the Downtown Business Alliance of Sulphur Springs, Texas proudly announces that this weekend’s great weather should bring a record number of participants for The Car Show on Saturday November 3, 2018. She invites spectators to attend, free of charge. Although the Autumn season is packed with car shows across Texas, turnout is usually excellent here, with vehicle owners who like to bring their prize cars and trucks to Sulphur Springs and are attracted by our beautiful downtown area, our great eateries and hotels, and friendly people.
Rita expects at least 185 vehicles in the show, and won’t be surprised if the number surpasses 200 entries. It’s only $20 for a vehicle to be registered in the show, starting at 8am. Entries are limited to 1987 models and older. There will be 35 different judged categories, with prizes in each. There will also be a “People’s Choice” award, so plan to pick your favorite! All the vehicles will be parked around Celebration Plaza and side streets, so feel free to walk around and see the gleaming beauties. However, the word is “Look, but don’t touch, please”. Awards will be handed out at 3pm. Rita and Eugene Edwards are owners of Edwards Used Cars located in downtown Sulphur Springs, and have also been involved the race car circuit in Texas for most of their married life. “Our lives revolve around cars!” she admits. They are also members of the Downtown Business Alliance, which hosts the annual Heritage Square Car Show. Find out more at the website sulphurspringsdba.com.
Progress Report on Heritage Park New Multi Purpose Building Construction
“We’re in the dry now” according to Rick Wilson, one of the building consultants on the new multi-purpose construction going on inside the Hopkins County Heritage Park. Framed up in the 42′ x 39′ structure is a large open reception area which will accommodate up to 100 people, a full kitchen and two restrooms. Plans also include a spacious bride’s dressing area which can be used for the many weddings held in Heritage Park through the year. High windows on the west side will admit plenty of light for daytime events, including quilting club meetings. Walls will display artwork that reflects Hopkins County history and heritage. Ten-foot-deep covered concrete porches will be poured on the West and East sides of the building where picnic or banquet tables can be placed for large group use like family reunions or company parties. The new building will be a much-needed addition to Heritage Park, increasing it’s capability to better serve community needs.
Wilson is a member of the Hopkins County Historical Society as well as a volunteer in Heritage Park and Museum. “There’s always something to do in the Park, and volunteer helpers are always needed. Funding is needed, too”. Although a generous donation allowed the initial construction to begin, more funding is being sought for finishing and furnishing the interior. If you would like to help out, contact Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752 or the Museum number 903-885-2387. Or donations can be mailed to Hopkins County HIstorical Society, P.O. Box 1066, Sulphur Springs, Tx 75483.
And when you visit Heritage Park and Museum during “Christmas in the Park” on Saturday November 24 and Saturday December 1, 2018 you can check the building’s progress. Completion is set for Spring 2019.
