The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Orangefield Bobcats will travel a few miles down the road to take on cross-community rival the Bridge City Cardinals in the Bayou Bowl. Traditionally-- as the game has become- it is the biggest game of the season for both teams. The Bayou Bowl will also be the final game of the 2010 regular season.

No one can forget last season’s Bayou Bowl when the Bobcats and Cardinals battled to a 31-30 overtime conclusion that eventually went to Bridge City. But that was last year.

On Monday night Bobcat senior quarterback Quinton Evans spoke before a packed house at Bridge City HS during the second annual Bayou Bowl Scholarship Banquet. “This game means a lot to all of us who have grown up with the Bayou Bowl. Now, for those of us who are seniors, this is the last time we will wear our Bobcat uniforms in a Bayou Bowl.”

“It’s the same for Bridge City,” Evans said, “We have been playing against these guys in so many different sports for so many years that we are more friends than opponents. We are a close community, there are really no losers in the Bayou Bowl but we plan to win.”

Evans has been sidelined the past two games from an injury but will be back in the lineup for the Bayou Bowl on Friday. The senior quarterback has collected 1,011 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns during the 2010 season. Backup quarterback Jacob Nunez has been at the helm scoring three touchdowns and passing for another two TDs.

As Evans watched from the sideline in F.L. McClain Stadium on Friday the Bobcats ran over Hardin-Jefferson 55-13. Nunez scored two touchdowns while teammates Rylan Cook and Jeromey Watkins also crossed the goal line twice for the Bobcats. Ty Johnson and Evan Guidry also punched in touchdowns for Orangefield.

Freshman kicker Westin Crain split the crossbars for five PATs and booted the ball deep into Hawk territory after seven Bobcat touchdowns and the game opening kick-off. Nunez put an additional two points on the board on a point after conversion.

The Bobcat defense held HJ to just 61 yards rushing but allowed 206 yards in the air. No doubt, Coach Brian Huckabay and staff are making adjustments to dismantle Bridge City’s passing game.

The Bayou Bowl is a special game. Bring the family, your friends and neighbors, and come out to support the Bobcats as they claim the Bayou Bowl Buzzie Gunn Trophy for 2010.