Wildcats Go 2-0 In District
With 40-27 Victory In Lindale

 

by: Bobby McDonald

Photos by Vanessa Moreau-Sipiere

 

Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Greg Owens traveled to his former "stomping grounds" on Friday night and secured a meaningful victory, when the Sulphur Springs Wildcats defeated the Lindale Eagles 40-27. In what Owens termed a "team effort," with both the offense and defense contributing heavily to the victory and managing some outstanding statistics during the game, as they forced turnovers and delivered solid play.

 

 

The Cats seemed to struggle during their first possession of the ball, but soon scored with 7:51 remaining on the clock during the first period, when quaterback Tyrick Rollinson connected with Chris Thompson for a 37 yard pass and he managed to boot across the goal line. Oscar Marroquin's extra point was good and the Wildcats led 7-0.

 

 

On a late first quarter scoring drive, the Wildcats increased their lead, when they completed a 60 yard drive, that ended with Brittan Diamond diving across the goal on a one-yard carry. The two-point conversion was foiled by Lindale, and the Wildcats led the match-up 13-0, at the end of the first quarter.

 

 

 

The Wildcats scored again, during the second quarter, when Rollinson connected with Jeff Beck for an outstanding 70 yard pass, that increased the tempo of the team.  Rollinson then scampered across the goal, on a two-point conversion and the Wildcats led 21-0.

 

 

Lindale managed a scored following a successful drive midway through the second quarter, and scored when quarterback Simmons ran across the goal. The PAT was good and Lindale marked the scoreboard with 7 points of their own.

Late in the second quarter, the Wildcats began a scoring drive that was highlighted by a 34 yard contribution by Chris Thompson and a miraculous catch by Jeff Beck. Marroquin's PAT was good and the Wildcats led 28-7, at halftime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the third quarter, the Wildcats executed a successful march to the goal, as Rollinson connected with Thompson again, for a 44 yard touchdown pass. The two-point attempt was stopped by the Eagles and the score reflected a 34-7 lead for the Wildcats. Near the end of the quarter, on an impressive drive that was begun by the Wildcat defense, the Cats neared the goal line, but was forced to settle for a field goal by Marroquin. The Cats led the match-up 37-7, ending the third quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

The fourth quarter of play saw Lindale adding their own contribution to the game, as they first added 6 points to their score, on a running play, but the Cats blocked a two-point attempt. The Wildcats answered back with another field goal by Marroquin, that went straight through the uprights from 32 yards out. The score was 40-13.

 

 

 

Then, with less than 2 minutes on the clock, the Lindale Eagles managed a connection between Simmons and Clemmons for a 26 yard pass that added six more points to their standing. The PAT was good and the clock ran down with a Wildcat victory of 40-27.

 

 

 

Wildcat Quarterback Ty Rollinson finished the night with 457 yards of passing and the running game netted 60 yards for the Cats. The Wildcat Defense force five turnovers during the game, two attributed to Shane McQueen and one each credited to Dillon Verner and Johnny McSheffery. The fifth was a fumble recovery by Anthony Mills.

 

 

 

The Wildcats have a perfect district record, as they look forward to hosting Paris, Friday night in Prim Stadium. Paris (0-2) in district play, was defeated by "cross-town" rival North Lamar, Friday night, and will be looking for a victory. The Wildcats play T-High on November 2nd.

 

 

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