Published: September 11, 2009 11:58 pm      

LC-M ends skid; downs Bridge City, 16-0

BRIDGE CITY — Congratulations Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears, the 16-game losing streak is over.

The Bears put one in the win column for the first time since a 23-13 win over Houston Kashmere in 2007.

LC-M (1-1) did it Friday night with a 16-0 shutout over the Bridge City Cardinals who fall to 2-1 on the season. The win tied the overall series between the two schools, 18-18.

“This feels amazing,” LC-M quarterback Hunter Gonzales said. “This is what we have all worked so hard for and it finally paid off. The atmosphere this year has been amazing with the packed houses and the whole community is behind us. That makes it so much easier for us because it helps to know they care and it just makes it feel right.”

Gonzales and the Bears’ offense did not have to do much Friday as the Bears’ defense was the story of the game.

LC-M limited Bridge City to 130 yards of offense, 46 rushing and 84 passing.

“Bridge City with Matt Menard (Josh) Lemoine and (Cameron) Dishon gives you so many problems,” LC-M coach Randy Crouch said. “Offensively they have so many weapons and I am proud of the way our kids played on defense tonight. There are three aspects of the game and I know for sure we won two of them tonight.”

The Bears’ players showered Crouch with an ice-cold water bath after the game in honor of the coach’s first victory at LC-M.

“I am proud of this community and happy for this school,” Crouch said. “This is not about me tonight. It has been a long drive for these players and they deserve it. Nobody wanted to win more than our players, I promise you that. They have done everything we have ever asked them to do.”

The Bears forced Bridge City into a passing offense in the second half and it did not help the Cardinals much when Menard was forced to the sideline with a reported mild concussion.

Bridge City quarterback Josh Lemoine finished 12-for-31 passing with three interceptions, his first three picks of the season.

The Cardinals also fumbled the football away once. Bridge City was yet to have a turnover on the season coming into Friday night’s game.

LC-M junior running back Tevvin Jones had a monster night for the Bears on the ground with 107 yards on 22 carries.

Jones scored the Bears first touchdown of the night, a 27-yard scamper to make it 6-0.

Gahrett Bonneaux made it 7-0 with an extra point with 6:03 left in the first half.

The Bears started the scoring drive from their own 40-yard line.

Gonzales rushed for four yards before hitting Zack Sonnier for a 9-yard reception.

Jones soon turned on the jets and found the corner of the endzone.

The Bears then turned up the defense on the Cardinals as Bridge City took over on their own 35.

After a one yard pass and an incompletion, Lemoine was sacked for a 13-yard loss.

The snap for the punt went over Devin Bertrand’s head and he was tackled in the endzone by Jeremy Chauvin for a safety to make it 9-0 with 5:05 left in the first half.

The Cardinals had 90 yards at the half while LC-M had 126.

There were 15 total first downs in the first half. That is important because of what was to come in the second half.

The third quarter was gone without a single first down put up by either team.

LC-M picked up its first, first down of the second half with 8:42 left in the fourth when Jones ran for an 11-yard gain.

The Bears punted and Bridge City was able to gain the needed 10 yards when Lemoine found Jason Broussard for 22 yards.

The Bridge City drive came to a halt when Zack Blanchard intercepted a Lemoine pass. It was the second interception of the night for Blanchard.

Aldric Jones had the first LC-M interception of the night in the third quarter.

The turnover led to the Bears’ final score of the game.

Jones and Gonzales chewed up the 30 yards, all on the ground. Gonzales capped it with a 15-yard touchdown run.

Bonneaux’s final extra point of the night made the final score, 16-0.

“LC-M was a very physical team,” Bridge City coach Cris Stump said. “We had opportunities early and did not take advantage. They (Bears) were good enough to put some points on the board. We left some points on the field tonight.”

Blake Perry then ended the Cardinals last drive of the night when he scooped up a Cardinals’ fumble.

LC-M was then able to run out the clock.

“You really can’t imagine how this feels,” Crouch said. “We know have a tough, four-game stretch. Our next four games are on the road and are all tough.”

The Bears travel to Cleveland before opening District 20-4A, at PN-G; at Beaumont Central; at Nederland.

The Cardinals finish their non-district season with a trip to Buna next week before playing host to Beaumont Kelly on Sept. 25. Bridge City then has a bye before opening District 21-3A play at home against Hardin-Jefferson on Oct. 9.

Gonzales finished with 36 yards on the ground while Zack Sonnier finished with four receptions for 32 yards to lead LC-M.

Menard finished with 18 yards on seven carries while Cale Hyde led the Cardinals with three catches for 16 yards.

Bridge City only had two penalties for 25 yards while LC-M finished with seven penalties for 60 yards.





LC-M 16

Bridge City 0





LC-M 0 9 0 7 — 16

BC 0 0 0 0 — 0

Scoring summary

LC-M — Tevvin Jones 27 run. Garhett Bonneaux kick.

LC-M — Safety.

LC-M — Hunter Gonzales 15 run. Bonneaux kick.







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LC-M BC

First downs 12 9

Rushes-yards 38-160 22-46

Passing 59 84

Comp-Att-Int 8-18-2 12-31-3

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-60 2-25



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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—LC-M, Tevvin Jones 22-107, Hunter Gonzales 13-36, Casey Burleigh 3-17. Bridge City, Matt Menard 7-18, Cale Hyde 5-15, Josh Lemoine 9-14, Jason Broussard 1-(-1).

PASSING— LC-M, Gonzales 8-18-2 59. Bridge City, Lemoine 12-31-3 84.

RECEIVING—LC-M, Zack Sonnier 4-32, Johnny Epps 2-19, Aldric Jones 1-8, Preston Armstong 1-0. Bridge City, Player, Hyde 3-16, Luke Rhodes 3-3, Broussard 2-23, Devin Oceguera 2-20, Tyler Roberts 1-12, Cameron Dishon 1-10.