Big defensive plays and star’s 4 TDs propel Alvarado to victory in shootout — PHOTOS

Demarcus Belton accounted for four touchdowns — two rushing and two receiving — and Alvarado held on to upend Sulphur Springs 51-43 in a Class 4A Division I area playoff matchup Friday at Children’s Health Stadium.

Indians edge rusher Zyon Brown sacked Wildcats quarterback Mason Cooper on fourth down from the Alvarado 42 as time expired to preserve the victory.

“I told our guys before the game it would be a four-quarter contest,” Alvarado head coach Casey Walraven said. “I challenged them to hang in there, and they met that challenge. So very proud of these guys.”

Alvarado (11-0), No. 6 in the final Dave Campbell’s Texas Football state rankings, advances to face No. 7 Springtown (12-0) in the regional semifinal next Friday at time and location to be determined. Springtown outlasted Frisco Panther Creek 49-41 in the area round Friday.

Belton’s first-quarter TD runs — 1 and 11 yards — were set up by turnovers created by the Alvarado defense.

Schyler DeThorne came up with a fumble recovery at the Sulphur Springs 4-yard line for the first score. Devin Johnson returned an interception 57 yards to the Wildcats 13 that led to the second, which staked Alvarado to an early 14-0 lead.

Following a touchdown by No. 9 Sulphur Springs (10-2) to slice the lead to 14-7, DeThorne tackled Wildcats running back Jaxson Haire in the end zone for a safety.

“Those defensive plays early in the game were huge for us,” Walraven said. “It got us off to a good start.”

Alvarado never trailed in the shootout.

Belton had TD receptions from Kam Jenkins of 28 yards in the second quarter and a 40-yarder in the third. The standout finished with 106 rushing yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for another 74 yards.

“Demarcus is just Demarcus,” Walraven said. “He was one of those guys who really met the challenge tonight.”

DJ Clampitt had a big second half for Alvarado, rushing for all of his 89 yards on 13 carries after intermission, with TD runs of 31 and 1 yards.

“DJ really came up big for us in the second half,” Walraven said. “He was another one who met the challenge.”

Jenkins did not have one of his better statistical nights, but did finish with three TD passes — the two to Belton and a 30-yarder to Layne Woolard. Jenkins recorded 196 passing yards, completing 11 of 33, with two interceptions.

Sulphur Springs was led by Cooper, who totaled 312 passing yards and four touchdowns, completing 20 of 33 passes with one interception.

Ja’Moraion Jeffery grabbed a game-high six passes for 103 yards and three TDs covering 26, 14 and 21 yards.

The contest was a rematch of last year’s area-round cliffhanger in which Alvarado claimed a 42-39 victory.

Walraven, in his fourth season guiding the program, is now just two wins shy of 100 for his 14-year head coaching career, which includes stints at Grandview and Cleburne.

Alvarado lost 55-21 to eventual state champion Celina in the 2024 regional final, finishing 13-1, its best season since a 2011 state title game appearance.

Now the Indians will get ready for Springtown.

“Our guys are looking forward to another challenge,” Walraven said. “Springtown is a great team, well-coached, and very explosive on offense.”

One area Walraven looks to improve is reducing penalties, as the Indians were flagged 13 times for 145 yards against Sulphur Springs.

“That is something we need to cut down on next week,” Walraven said. “Just a matter of being more disciplined.”