County teams looking good as home stretch approaches

Only four weeks remain in the regular season for our high school football teams and all have the opportunity to secure playoff spots, and four of those teams have a shot at the district title. Here is what happened this past Friday night.

Bobcats defeat Trojans

The Orangefield Bobcats trailed at the half, but the defense stiffened in the second-half and helped Orangefield grab a hard-fought 28-26 win over Coldspring-Oakhurst.

Bobcats quarterback Carson Gonzalez threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Zach Morrow on the first series for a quick 7-0 lead, which was followed by running back Mason Manning's first rushing touchdown early in the second quarter to extend the Bobcats lead, 14-6.

Orangefield and Coldspring traded scores in the quarter. After the Trojans took the lead, 20-14, on a 55-yard touchdown pass, the Bobcats answered with a nice drive and 20-yard Gonzalez run for a score. Coldspring would score before halftime to lead 26-21 at the break.

The Bobcats defense stiffened in the second-half and kept the Trojans from scoring another touchdown, while also forcing three takeaways and two turnovers-on-downs. Manning scored on a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which proved to be enough for the victory.

Orangefield (5-2, 3-0) currently sits in first place in District 10-3A Division 1 with three games to play. The Bobcats will travel to Kirbyville this Friday to face the Wildcats (3-3, 0-2).

Mustangs come from behind for the win

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs trailed the Jasper Bulldogs for the majority of the game, but the Mustangs pulled out the last second victory to defeat Jasper, 39-36, for its first district win in District 9-4A Division 2.

The Mustangs and Bulldogs traded scores in the first quarter, but it was Jasper in the lead 21-13 at the end of the quarter and 29-19 at halftime.

It looked as if Jasper would runaway with the game as the Bulldogs scored a 62-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter for a 36-19 lead, but that is when WO-S decided to take control and responded on its next drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass by Marcus Turner Jr. Jasper had a touchdown called back for a holding penalty late in the third quarter and failed to capitalize but still leading 36-25 at the end three quarters.

The Mustangs added a 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to make it 36-31 Jasper, and looked to take the lead a short time later but the throw by Turner was intercepted in the end zone.

The Mustangs defense forced Jasper to punt on the ensuing drive, but the ball went over the punter's head and WO-S recovered at the Bulldogs 24-yard line. A short time later Turner found a receiver in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown and a 39-36 lead over Jasper following the two point conversion with only 1:17 left in the game. The Mustangs intercepted the Jasper quarterback at the WO-S 5-yard line for the win.

WO-S (5-1, 1-0) returns home to Dan R. Hooks Stadium in West Orange next Friday to take on the Shepherd Pirates (3-3, 1-0).

Bears tame Lions

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin' Bears used a big surge in the second-half to take care of the Livingston Lions, 35-16, this past Friday night in Livingston.

The Lions found the scoreboard first on a 2-yard touchdown run and an 8-0 advantage following the two point conversion. The Bears answered a short time later as quarterback Braylen Lewis scored on a 5-yard run and were trailing 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Lewis added a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put the Bears ahead, 14-8. Livingston's game plan was to use as much play clock as possible and keep the LC-M offense off the field, and it seemed to work in the first-half. The Lions would retake the lead on an 11-yard touchdown pass and would go into halftime leading the Bears, 16-14, following another successful two point conversion.

The Bears took control in the second-half and never looked back. In the third quarter, Evan Worster scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and Jonah Fuller added an 18-yard scamper for a score. Fuller would add another touchdown in the fourth quarter, this a 2-yard run, to give LC-M the 35-16 victory.

LC-M (4-2, 3-0) travels to Liberty (1-5, 1-2) this Friday to take on the Panthers in another important District 10-4A Division 1 matchup.

Cardinals stop H-J

Bridge City had to scrap for every point this past Friday night and it came down to a defensive stand to secure a 28-24 victory over the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks in Sour Lake.

The Cardinals were clinging to a 13-12 lead at halftime and were leading 28-24 late in the fourth quarter, but the Hawks were moving the ball steadily down the field late and looking to take the lead and the win. However, the Cardinals defense stood tall and forced a turnover in the red zone to preserve the victory.

Cardinals running back Ashton Sumrall continues to be a force against opposing defense as he rushed for more than 160 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawks.

Bridge City (6-0, 3-0) returns home to Larry Ward Stadium this Friday and will host the Livingston Lions (0-6, 0-3) for homecoming. Bridge City, LC-M and Huffman-Hargrave are currently all tied for first place in District 10-4A Division 1.

Falcons fly by Pirates

For the second consecutive week, the Vidor Pirates offense was plagued by multiple fumbles and, for the second consecutive week, the Pirates were pummeled by a district opponent.

The Huffman-Hargrave (6-0, 3-0) Falcons crushed the Pirates, 65-38, this past Friday night at Pirates Stadium in Vidor.

Trailing 31-16 at halftime, the Pirates made the switch from Jett Brucia to previous starter Daigan Venable at quarterback in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Pirates continued to suffer from turnovers and a defense that could not contain the Falcons high-scoring offense, which churned up 550 yards for the game.

Vidor (1-5, 0-3) travels to Lumberton this Friday to take on the Raiders, (1-5, 1-2), which collected its first win of the season this past week over Liberty.