LITTLE CYPRESS — Quite a shootout could be expected come Thursday night when the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears battle the Kilgore Bulldogs in Class 4A Division I bidistrict playoff action at Abe Martin Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Both the Bears (4-4), the third-place team out of 10-4A, and the Bulldogs (7-3), runnerups out of 9-4A, have been explosive on the offensive side of the ball.

The Bears will check in averaging 31.3 points a game while the Bulldogs have averaged 40.2 points a contest.

Both have allowed plenty of points as well as LC-M has allowed 33.3 points a game while Kilgore gives up 32.9 a game.

There is no doubt, both teams have dynamic weapons.

The Bears come in a little more balanced with a solid passing game while the Bulldogs like to run it through opposing defenses.

The Bulldogs are churning out nearly 400 yards a game while LC-M averaged 431.6 yards a game in their five 10-4A contests.

Senior quarterback Patrick Jackson makes the Bulldogs go for sure.

He has rushed for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 82 carries and has completed 40-of-79 passes for 707 yards with 10 TDs and just two interceptions.

The Bulldogs have a pair of complete backs as well.

Briant Mumphrey surpassed the 1,000-yard mark with a four-touchdown performance in a 56-25 win against Bullard last week. He has zipped for 1,058 yards and 17 TDs on 101 carries. His backfield mate Javorie Hamilton is almost as potent as he has piled up 856 yards and nine TDs on 112 totes.

Receiver Jonathan Shepherd, a Oklahoma State commit, has 17 catches for 446 yards and six TDs.

LC-M sophomore quarterback Ethan McCollum went over the 1000-yard passing mark last week in the Bears’ tough 40-30 loss to Navasota after he completed 14-of-24 passes for 185 yards. He has passed for 1,035 yards for the season and has rushed for 663 more.

LC-M tailback Chris Winters has nearly 700 yards rushing and fullback J’Lon Douglas has close to 500.

McCollum also has some dangerous receivers to get the ball to in Dameon Morris, Katon Brown, Mark Netherly and Ty’Reke Brown.

The LC-M-Kilgore winner will face either 12-4A champion El Campo (7-2) or Houston Kashmere (3-5), fourth out of 11-4A, in the area round next week.