The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Bridge City Cardinals (5-1, 1-0) will host the Silsbee Tigers on Friday night at Larry Ward Stadium. The Tigers are undefeated in six straight games opening Dist. 21-3A with a 15-7 win over the Orangefield Bobcats. Big Red is on a four game winning streak suffering their only loss this season to the Class-4A Vidor Pirates. The Bridge City and Silsbee contest is sure to be a showdown with playoff implications on the line.

The Cardinals opened Dist.

21-3A last Friday with Homecoming blowing out the Hardin Jefferson Hawks 41-7, despite having several touchdowns called back.

The first score of the game, came after Malachi Busby recovered a fumble that led to a 10 yard TD pass from Matt Menard to Cameron Dishon.

Daniel Faulk’s extra point, with 6:02 in the first quarter, put the Cardinals up 7-0, which is how the quarter ended.

The Cardinals would only add one score in the second quarter.

Menard raced 31 yards for the score with 7:05 left in the half.

The point after was blocked.

Dishon had a 79 yard score, from the wildcat called back.

Tyler Roberts picked off a Hawk pass, and he added a nice return, which was also called back, so the Cardinals headed in for the break up 13-0.

The third quarter was downright crazy. HJ kicked the ball out of bounds twice, prompting the Cardinals to take over on their 41 yard line. On the first play Dishon sprinted 59 yards for the score, and Faulk’s PAT made our score 20-0 with only 11 ticks off of the clock. HJ punted on their first possession and the Cardinals took over on the 14 yard line. On the first play Menard hit Roberts on an 86 yard TD pass that was called back for holding. The play looked clean and the crowed went crazy. After a un-sportsmanship penalty on the Cardinals, Dishon had a 42 yard run called back for holding.

Now the crowd was really getting into the game. Ashton Hunter took the ball on the next play and made a nice, long run, but it was also called back for holding. The coaches, players, and yes the fans were getting pretty hot on the officials. After another un-sportsman like penalty, the Redbirds face a first and 59. Dishon made up most of the yardages with a big time catch, but he was flagged for clapping, bringing the ball to the Hawks 33 yard line.

After a pass play again to Dishon, another flag came out but this time it was on HJ for un-sportsmanship, bringing the ball to the four yard line.

With 6:16 left in the third quarter, Hunter Clark ended the longest and craziest 3 1/2 minutes of the game by powering in for a four yard TD run.

Faulk’s PAT extended the led to 27-0.

The defense took the field and they were pumped up.

Several big hits led by Ashton Hunter, Zach Cole and one a hair late or maybe not, by Cameron Dishon, or maybe Mitchell Hubbard.

We will let them iron that out, but Dishon was ejected from the game.

The Hawks tried to get on the scoreboard with a field goal, but the defense denied it, with a block.

There was one more long run in the quarter by Menard but it was called back for blocking below the waist.

Anyway the quarter finally ended with the Cardinals pitching a shutout 27-0.

Mitchell Hubbard set up the Redbirds next score by intercepting a pass. Menard then took the snap and darted 24 yards for the score and Faulk’s extra point made it 34-0. Daniel Faulk took over at QB for the Cardinals and handed off to Ashton Hunter who took the ball down to the eight yard line with a 51 yard run. Faulk then found Malachi Busby on an seven yard touchdown strike and after kicking the PAT our score was 41-0, with 7:31 left in the contest.

With 1:58 left in the game, the Hawks finally get on the board with a passing TD. The extra point was good. The onside kick attempt was recovered by Zach Cole. Faulk had one more nice run, 30 yards and the clock expired with the Cardinals victory of 41-7.

Menard had a nice balanced day with 117 yards rushing on 11 carries and a 9 for 17 passing performance with 118 yards. Dishon had 84 yards rushing on four carries, Hunter Clark 69 yards rushing on 13 carries, Ashton Hunter 54 yards on three carries, and Roberts had nine yards on one carry. Faulk had 30 yards rushing on one carry, to go along with his TD pass of seven yards. Cameron Dishon led in receiving yards with 89 on five catches. Roberts had 25 yards on three catches, Malachi Busby seven yards on one catch, and Hunter Uzzie had four yards on one catch.

Congratulations to Brooklyn Hogden on being the 2011 Homecoming Queen. To Kaitlyn Ezell for football Sweetheart, Eric Mummey for Cheer and Band Beau. Karli Anderson for Strutter Sweetheart, Cody Banken for Strutter Beau and Chelsea Phillips for Band Sweetheart and how about those STRUTTERS, past and present!