The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Bridge City Cardinals improved to 7-2 overall, 3-1 in district, and moved one step away from the playoffs with a convincing win over the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns 35-14. The Cardinals will face the Orangefield Bobcats this Friday as they play in the annual Bayou Bowl. The game will start at 7 p.m. at the Orangefield High School.

The Cardinals scored their first touchdown on a four yard run by Hunter Clark after a fumble recovery by Dylan Sams. With 9:48 to play in the first quarter, Daniel Faulk made it 7-0, with his extra point.

Clark struck again with five seconds left in the first quarter with a one yard TD run, bringing our score to 14-0 after Faulk’s PAT. On the Longhorns first drive of the second quarter Malachi Busby recovered a fumble that led to another Cardinal touchdown. Matt Menard hit Cameron Dishon on a 20 yard TD pass, and with the PAT, the score was 21-0 with 8:46 left in the half. The next five possessions for both teams would end up in punts, to go along with one turnover on downs. The Cardinals took their 21 point lead into the locker room.

The Cardinals made it 28-0 on their first dive of the second half. Hunter Clark scored his third touchdown of the night on a seven yard TD run. Tyler Roberts received an assist on the touchdown making a nice long run on the drive, breaking several tackles on his way down the seven yard line.

Faulk added the point after. Roberts would then stop Fannett’s next drive with an interception, but the Longhorns would get it back with an interception of their own. The Longhorn’s would finally get on the board with 36 seconds left in the third quarter with an eight yard TD run, cutting into the lead, 28-7.

The next two possessions would end up in scores, one for each team. Menard found Dishon again on a 20 yard TD pass, Faulk adding his point, for the last Cardinal score of the night. H-F put a 58 yard drive together ending in a 14 yard TD run, bringing our score to where it ended at 35 for the Cardinals and 14 for the Longhorns.

West Orange is sitting atop the district at 4-0. Bride City is in second at 3-1, with Orangefield and Silsbee at 2-2. Hamshire Fannett is 1-3, with Hardin Jefferson looking for their first win. Playoffs start early for the Cardinals this week with the Bayou Bowl against cross town rival, the Orangefield Bobcats.

Same thing as last year, the Bobcats will have to spot the Cardinals some points. The Mustangs are in and have clinched the division II, number one seed. The Cardinals can clinch a berth into the state playoffs with a win or a loss by less than seven points against the Bobcats. The Cardinals can also clinch with a Silsbee loss to Hamshire-Fannett.

The Bobcats can get in with a seven point, or more win against the Cardinals. They also can get in with a win against the Cardinals, and a Silsbee loss or even a loss against the Cardinals, and a loss by Silsbee by more than two points. The Bobcats won the game last year but did not advance because of the point system.

So it’s early playoffs for both team. Should be another barn burner. Let’s make it easy, just win and you are in. Speaking of winners, it was a nice senior night for all. Congratulations to all our band members, our cheerleaders, especially our seniors and how about those STRUTTERS?