SARCOXIE BEARS
Aug. 24 // AWAY
LAST YEAR vs. HHS: Did not play.
• Sarcoxie is joining the new Southwest Conference this year and moved up from Class 1 to Class 2.
• The Bears will lean on their offensive line, led by first-team all-conference selection Landon Malotte.
• Christian Garrison will be the top threat in Sarcoxie’s triple option offense.
CUBA WILDCATS
Aug. 31 // HOME
LAST YEAR vs. HHS: Did not play.
• Cuba renews its series with Houston for the first time since 2013. The teams played six consecutive years beginning in 2008. Both teams won three times.
• The Wildcats were moved out of Houston’s district to Class 2 District 4.
• The program’s last winning season was 2010 when Cuba went 6-4.
SALEM TIGERS
Sept. 7 // AWAY
LAST YEAR vs. HHS: Won 34-7 at Houston.
• The Tigers won six straight games and played in the district title game in 2017 as part of an 8-4 record –– the team’s best since 2012.
• The team’s leading rusher, Chandler Gray, moves from running back to quarterback. He had 610 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
• Sam Ball, a first team all-SCA linebacker, is one of five returning defensive starters.
CABOOL BULLDOGS
Sept. 14 // HOME
LAST YEAR vs. HHS: Lost 31-15 at home.
• Former HHS assistant coach Vince McCrosky has returned as head coach at Cabool, where he previously led the program for nearly a decade.
• Offensive lineman Spencer Christeson is the lone returning all-conference pick for the Bulldogs. He was honorable mention.
• The Bulldogs’ opening opponent, Doniphan, will be playing its first-ever varsity game.
THAYER BOBCATS
Sept. 21 // HOME
LAST YEAR vs. HHS: Won 34-0 at home.
• The Bobcats won their third straight district championship in 2017.
• Thayer returns five offensive starters, led by quarterback Ayden Stone. The team also brings back five defensive starters from a unit that had four shutouts in 2017.
• At 6-foot-4, Dylan Spencer is a big tight end target for Stone. He also starts at linebacker.