The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Bridge City Cardinals had a much needed week of rest, along with two weeks to prepare for their district opener on the road against the Hardin Jefferson-Hawks (1-4).

The Cardinals posted a 4-1 non-district record, with their only blemish of their record coming from the hands of the state ranked Kirbyville Wildcats.

The Cardinals are over-achievers here are the results of their first five games:

Shepherd 50-0

Vidor 31-13

Kelly 41-13

Kirbyville 31-51

Stafford 36-0

Matt Menard led the Redbirds under center with 531 yards passing. Menard has sixty-nine pass attempts, completing thirty-one of them. He threw for six touchdowns and three interceptions. Colby Carpenter has four attempts with three completions for thirty-five yards.

The Cardinals have racked up 1358 yards on the ground, led by Hunter Clark. Clark who has seventy-nine carries for 580 yards. Menard has seventy-five carries for 577 yards.

Other Cardinals with rushes:

Cameron Dishon 9 carries 166 yards

Carpenter 8 carries 16 yards

Tyler Roberts 3 carries 15 yards

Mitchel Hubbard 1-carry 7 yards

The Redbirds have had 566 yards through the air, led by Dishon with sixteen receptions for 304 yards. Other Cardinals with receptions:

Jason Broussard 8 receptions 89 yards

Hubbard 2 receptions 64 yards

Carpenter 3 receptions 53 yards

Roberts 4 receptions 44 yards

Slate Arnold 1-reception 12 yards

The Cardinal’s defense has really stepped it up this year, with one of the key members being Josh Ozio. Ozio has return two interceptions for touchdowns, and Carpenter has two interceptions as well. Broussard, Dishon, Big Cameron Coulter, Zach Cole, Hubbard and Roberts each have one interception apiece. Dillon Trahan led the Cards in sacks with three, while Cole, Dylan Sams, Adam Prosperie, Shane Stankus and Dishon have contributed with one apiece. The Cardinal’s leading tackler is Hubbard with twenty-six, close behind is Ozio and Trahan with twenty-four. The rest of the Cardinal’s leading tacklers are:

Justin Martin 23 tackles

Cole 19 tackles

Dishon 17 tackles

Roberts 16 tackles

Adrian Shubarth 12 tackles

Stankus 11 tackles

Carpenter 11 tackles

All three phases on the Cardinal’s team have been putting up good numbers, and playing well.

The special teams have been a big part of the Cardinal’s success so far, led by kicker Devin Bertrand.

Bertrand has kicked twenty-three extra points, and two field goals.

His best kick so far was the one he missed, a 51-yard attempt that hit the up-right post.

Bertrand’s kick-offs have been high and consistently around the goal line.

He has recorded five touch-backs.

Menard has been handling the punting duties with six punts for an average of 36.67 yards.

Menard, Clark, Hubbard, Dishon, and Broussard all have returned kick-offs for the Cards.

Menard with seven returns, and a long of forty-five yards.

Clark had three returns, with a long of thirty-nine yards, and Hubbard three returns with a long of twenty-three yards.

Dishon had one return for seventeen yards, and Broussard one for twelve yards.

Dishon has returned three punts, with a long of forty-eight yards.

Carpenter has one for nineteen yards, and Broussard one for eight yards.

In the scoring department, Menard leads the way with eleven touchdowns for sixty-six points.

Dishon 6 touchdowns 36 points

Clark 5 touchdowns 30 points

Bertrand 23 extra points

2 field goals 29 points

Ozio 2 touchdowns 12 points

Carpenter 1 touchdown

2 point conversion 8 points

Hubbard 1 touchdown 6 points

The Cardinals are raring to go after a week off. They will travel to Hardin Jefferson Friday night to open up district play. Let’s head to Sour Lake to support the team, band, cheerleader and how about those Strutters? See you at the game.