The Sulphur Springs Wildcats will challenge the Kimball Knights at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Sulphur Springs comes in on four and Kimball on three.
Sulphur Springs gave up the first points on Friday, but they didn't let that get them down. They came out on top against Panther Creek by a score of 20-13. The score was all tied up 10-10 at the break, but the Wildcats were the (much) better team in the second half.
Sulphur Springs' win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Jaxson Haire, who rushed for 114 yards.
Meanwhile, Kimball got themselves on the board against North Dallas on Thursday, but North Dallas never followed suit. They breezed past the Bulldogs to the tune of 52-0. Given the Knights' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 424th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 901st) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Kimball's win came from a few key players Sulphur Springs will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Charles McCuin, who rushed for 140 yards and three TDs on only ten carries. Kimball is 6-1 when McCuin posts 80 or more rushing yards, but 1-2 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Deonte Washington, who threw for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 15 passes.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Kimball was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 247 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since the start of last season.
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Kimball's defense and their five sacks. In that department, Quintraylon Johnson was the leader with two. He is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made seven or more in each of the last four games he's played.
Sulphur Springs' record now sits at 9-1. As for Kimball, their record is now 7-3.
Thursday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Sulphur Springs has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 153.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Kimball struggles in that department as they've been averaging 157.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.