Wildcats Finish Strong to Slip Past Panther Creek in Gritty Battle

SULPHUR SPRINGS Friday night turned into a test of toughness, and Sulphur Springs answered every challenge thrown its way. Locked in a low-scoring duel at the break, the Wildcats surged late and secured a hard-earned 20 to 13 win over Panther Creek, stretching their impressive record to 9 and 1.

Haire Sets the Standard

Sulphur Springs leaned heavily on the reliability of running back Jaxson Haire. The senior bruised his way to 114 rushing yards, repeatedly moving the chains and wearing down the Panthers’ defense. His work between the tackles allowed the Wildcats to control the tempo during a decisive second half where they held Panther Creek to only three points.

There were no fireworks from the offense, but the Wildcats mastered the little things protecting the ball, winning the field position battle, and finishing drives when it mattered.

Panthers Show Fight but Can’t Break Through

Panther Creek entered the night carrying momentum from a high-scoring performance the week before, yet found itself bottled up by a physical and disciplined Sulphur Springs unit. The defeat closed their regular season at 8 and 2, halting a four-game run.

Running back Donovan Webb provided the spark for the Panthers, powering to 85 rushing yards and a touchdown while adding 35 receiving yards. His effort kept the visitors close throughout the second half, but the offense never captured the rhythm needed to rally back.

Eyes Toward the Playoffs

The postseason arrives quickly for both squads. Sulphur Springs opens its playoff journey Thursday night against Kimball at 7 p.m. The Wildcats will face a Knights team known for piling up points, creating an intriguing test for a defense that has been the backbone of Sulphur Springs’ success.

Panther Creek gets its own fresh start Thursday against Carter. With the Cowboys struggling defensively this season, the Panthers will look to rediscover their scoring punch.

The Wildcats walked off the field without flashy stats or gaudy totals, but they walked off with proof of something more valuable. When the game tightened, they finished strong.