With a week still left before the playoffs begin, Hallsville finds itself in a bit of a different situation than most teams around the state.

"The playoffs have started for us," said Hallsville head coach David Plunk. "As long as we win, we keep playing. If we lose, we're out. It starts this week."

The Bobcats (3-6, 2-3) will host defending state champion Sulphur Springs (6-3, 2-3) tonight with fourth place in District 13-4A on the line.

That means the winner will claim the district's final post season spot. And the loser will go home.

The Bobcats will hope to used a balanced offensive game and to also limit the Wildcats passing attack in order to punch their first playoff ticket in two seasons.

"The main thing is our offensive line is going to have to play well and protect the quarterback," Plunk said. "They will have to give him a chance to throw the football. This is a game where we're going to have to do both (run and pass) if we want to be successful."

Hallsville quarterback Brandon Denton has passed for 514 yards and five touchdowns since being inserted into the starting lineup midway through the season.

The 'Cats offense revolves around junior running back Quantrail Johnson, though, who has churned out 816 yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries.

Sulphur Springs, on the other hand, prefers to pass first and run later.

Using a no-huddle, speed-based offense, Wildcats' quarterback Colton Lee has passed for a district-leading 1,483 yards and four touchdowns.

"They're going to throw the football," Plunk said. "Offensively, they've moved the ball against everybody they've played. They're really big up front. They have good runners and skill kids. They're the defending state champion team and they're not going to be easy to beat."

Plunk said it will be important for his team to force Lee to use his feet and not give him time to throw while set in the pocket.

"We're going to have to get pressure on the quarterback," the coach said. "If you let him sit back there and wait, he's tough to stop. We have to make him move and disrupt him a little bit."

Also working in Hallsville's favor, Plunk hopes, is momentum.

Although the Bobcats dropped a 12-10 decision to Texas High last week, they held a lead with two minutes left and stayed with the playoff-bound Tigers the entire night. Sulphur Springs, meanwhile, is coming off a 48-13 loss to Marshall during which they failed to stay competitive for most of the game.

"We played really well (last week)," Plunk said. "They (Texas High) made the plays down the stretch. It can help us this week and hopefully we can take that and build on it."

The Bobcats will also have the advantage of home field.

"Hopefully our fans will take advantage of it and come out and watch a great game," Plunk said. "They'll be ready to play and we'll be ready to play. It will come down to whoever can finish it off."