After back-to-back 10-win seasons, the Sulphur Springs Wildcats have established themselves as one of Northeast Texas' football programs worth watching.
Now comes a different kind of test.
Sulphur Springs enters the 2026 season with a substantially rebuilt roster and an almost entirely new district following UIL realignment. But Wildcats radio voice Dr. John Mark Dempsey says expectations remain high for a program that has gone 35-12 in four seasons under head coach Brandon Faircloth.
“I think that they've established themselves as at least a regional power, and really, I think, a state power,” Dempsey said during an interview with KETR's The Lede.
The Wildcats finished 10-3 in 2024 and 10-2 last season. Both playoff runs ended against Alvarado, including a 51-43 loss in the area round last year.
Sulphur Springs accomplished that 2025 run despite losing one of its biggest offensive weapons almost as soon as district play began.
Timmons returns after injury-shortened season
Senior quarterback Deuce Timmons was injured on the first play from scrimmage against Celina and missed the remainder of the season.
Before the injury, Dempsey said Timmons had accumulated about 1,300 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns while throwing for more than 900 yards and 13 scores. He completed more than 80 percent of his passes.
“He is a remarkable talent,” Dempsey said. “Deuce is a special talent. And with him, just who knows how far they can go.”
Timmons also competed on Sulphur Springs' regional championship relay teams and advanced to the state track meet in the spring.
The Wildcats have another potential difference-maker in junior receiver Jaxon Virgel, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound target who Dempsey said has drawn recruiting interest from several Division I programs.
Those returning playmakers could help steady an offense replacing significant experience elsewhere, particularly along the offensive line.
There are even more new faces on defense.
Sulphur Springs sent 13 members of last year's team on to college football programs, according to Dempsey. That makes the Wildcats' depth and player development particularly important this season.
One encouraging sign comes from below the varsity level: Sulphur Springs' junior varsity went 10-0 last season.
The coaching staff also returns intact.
“All of their coaches are back from last year,” Dempsey said. “So I think that speaks well of him and the program.”
Realignment creates a very different district race
UIL realignment removed most of the familiar opponents from Sulphur Springs' district.
The Wildcats now share District 7-4A Division I with Paris, Caddo Mills, Kaufman, Ferris, Mabank and Life Waxahachie. Paris is the only other member carried over from the previous district.
Most notably, Celina is gone.
Dempsey considers Sulphur Springs the favorite in its new district, although he expects Paris to provide a significant challenge.
“Paris is always tough for Sulphur Springs,” he said. “That's a great rivalry, and that game is always a competitive game.”
The new alignment also changes the challenge for Faircloth and his staff. If the Wildcats are as strong relative to their new district as expected, Dempsey said the coaching staff may have to keep a talented team from looking ahead toward postseason play.
“They're perhaps not going to be seriously challenged in district unless it's by Paris,” he said. “So they're going to have a tendency to be looking forward to the playoffs all year.”
Tough tests arrive before district play
Sulphur Springs should get an early indication of what it has before the district race begins.
The Wildcats' nondistrict schedule includes Mount Pleasant, Pleasant Grove, Whitehouse and Gilmer.
Dempsey particularly has his eye on home dates against Pleasant Grove and Gilmer, two traditionally strong Class 4A programs.
“Those will be the toughest games they have in the regular season, I don't think there's any doubt,” he said.
Sulphur Springs opens the season Aug. 28 against Mount Pleasant.
For a team replacing so much experience, Dempsey isn't setting a state championship-or-bust standard. A district championship followed by several weeks of postseason football would constitute a successful year.
But he isn't putting a ceiling on this group, either.
“If you win three [playoff games], especially with a relatively young team this year, then you'd have to say it's a successful season,” Dempsey said. “But I put nothing beyond their grasp here.”
The uncertainty may be part of what makes Sulphur Springs particularly interesting in 2026. The Wildcats have a proven coaching staff, an experienced and explosive quarterback and a program that has learned how to win.
Now they'll find out whether the next group is ready to keep it going.
“It's going to be a fun year,” Dempsey said. “Folks in Sulphur Springs turn out in big numbers, home and away. So there'll be a lot of enthusiasm going into this season.”
Dr. John Mark Dempsey is the radio voice of Sulphur Springs Wildcats athletics and a former KETR broadcaster and East Texas A&M University faculty member. His full conversation with The Lede is available with this story.
