The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Cardinals tied it up with the #6 ranked Kirbyville Wildcats Friday night, and gave them all they wanted, plus a little extra. The score did not match the game as the Wildcats gave the Redbirds their first loss of the year with a 51-31 win. The Cardinals out gained the Wildcats in total yards, but four turnovers proved to be the difference.

Bridge City took the opening drive and marched down the field. The drive was highlighted with two passes to Jason Broussard, and a 25 yard one-handed catch by Colby Carpenter that landed the ball on the two yard line. Matt Menard barreled his way in for a two-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. Devin Bertrand’s point after made it 7-0.

Kirbyville wasted no time to get back in the game by driving down the field. They capped off the drive with a Burman Ervine nine-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats went for two, and made it, making the score 8-7. The first quarter of play ended with this score.

The Cardinals took their second drive and put three points on the board with a 28-yard field goal by Bertrand, taking a 10-8 lead. The Wildcats bounced right back with a 73-yard TD strike and an extra point to take the lead back 15-10. Kirbyville extended their lead after a pick, with an eight yard rushing TD by LeFrederick Ford, who also went over the 4,000-yard mark in his career at Kirbyville. The point after made it 22-10. With the Redbirds facing a 4th and 2, Menard’s number was called, and he raced in with a 42-yard TD run.

Bertrand’s extra point was good, pulling the Cardinals within five points, 22-17. The Cardinal defense held Kirbyville on their next possession, but they intercepted Menard on the first play, which led to a TD. The point after extended Kirbyville’s lead to 29-17. Bridge City charged back with a nice Menard to Dishon throw and catch. Dishon called a quick time out with two seconds left on the clock. Menard connected with Dishon again on a 14-yard TD pass, with a Bertrand point after, they headed for the break with a 29-24 score.

Kirbyville came out of the locker room with a little trickery from the play book. On the first play after the kickoff they executed a double pass to perfection for the only score in the third quarter, expanding their lead to 37-24. Menard threw his third interception of the game, but the Cardinals got one back. Dishon picked off the Wildcat’s pass to stop the drive and keep the Cardinals in the game.

The first play of the fourth quarter, Menard found Dishon for a 64-yard touchdown. Bertrand’s point after, pulled the Redbirds within six, 37-31. Kirbyville responded with a drive, that was capped off with a 31-yard TD run, and a two point conversion to go up 45-31, with 4:59 left on the clock. With the time running out, Bridge City had to gamble on fourth down. The drive ended on their 16-yard line. The Cardinals defense stepped up and pushed Kirbyville back to the 22-yard line, where the Cardinals took over. Carpenter came in as Quarterback for the Cardinals, but threw a pick six. The point after was no good and the final score ended up 51-31.

This was a fun game to be in the stands. It was a heavy weight bout with both teams delivering blows. Once again our band was great, the cheerleaders rocked, and how about those Strutters? Matt Menard had 20 carries for 156 yards, going 10-29 passing for 193 yards. He also had four kickoff returns for 98 yards. Hunter Clark had 14 carries for 89 yards, and two kickoff returns for 49 yards. Colby Carpenter had one run for six yards, and two catches for 30 yards. Cameron Dishon had six catches for 136 yards, and one kickoff return for 17 yards. Jason Broussard had two catches for 27 yards to go along with one punt return for eight yards. Mitchel Hubbard had one kickoff return for 23 yards.

The game was deeply saddened when the news of Reggie Garrett circled the crowed in Kirbyville.

There was very little cheering for the play on the field as everyone had WO-S and Garret on their minds.

Coach Stump said, “The team knew the news on the field; several of the players knew Reggie and recognized that this was truly a tragedy.

You don’t know what to say in a time like this.

Everyone deals with it in their own way.” Coach Stump also said he will have a talk with his team, and tell them “You never know what life will thrown your way.

When the Good LORD says it’s your time, there is nothing we can do about it.” The Cardinals will honor Garret with a sticker on their head gear.

He also said that the school district has some other thing that they will do to honor him.

At the end of the game, Kirbyville had a moment of silence in his honor.

You could have heard a pin drop. The Cardinal nation’s prayers and thoughts are with Garret’s family, friends, high school, the WO-S staff and football team.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverb 3: 5-6.