Sulphur Springs Pulls Away Late to Edge Panther Creek
SULPHUR SPRINGS — What began as a tug-of-war turned into another chapter in Sulphur Springs’ storybook season. The Wildcats battled through a halftime deadlock to grind out a 20-13 victory over Panther Creek on Friday night, extending their win streak to four straight and improving to 9-1 on the year.
Haire Powers the Offense
Running back Jaxson Haire set the tone for the Wildcats, cutting through the Panthers’ defense for 114 rushing yards and several key first downs that kept the offense on schedule. His steady production helped Sulphur Springs control the pace in the second half, where they outscored Panther Creek 10-3 to seal the win.
While the Wildcats didn’t light up the scoreboard, their ability to grind out yards and protect the ball down the stretch proved to be the difference.
Panther Creek Fights but Falls Short
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Panther Creek, dropping them to 8-2. A week after scoring 52 points, the Panthers found themselves stymied by a physical Sulphur Springs defense that made every yard hard to earn.
Running back Donovan Webb was the bright spot, rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown while also adding 35 receiving yards. His versatility kept Panther Creek within striking distance, but the offense couldn’t find enough rhythm to reclaim the lead after halftime.
Postseason on Deck
Both teams now turn their focus toward playoff football. Sulphur Springs will open postseason play Thursday night against Kimball at 7:00 p.m., a matchup that could test the Wildcats’ defense against a Knights team averaging over 30 points per game.
Panther Creek will look to bounce back when they face Carter on Thursday. The Panthers will aim to take advantage of a Cowboys defense that has struggled to keep teams out of the end zone.
For Sulphur Springs, Friday’s win wasn’t flashy, but it was a statement: this team knows how to close.
