LITTLE CYPRESS — After absorbing a tough blow on the road at Bridge City last week, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears are looking to regroup this week as they look to turn back the Jasper Bulldogs in 10-4A Division I action Friday at Battlin’ Bear Stadium.

The Bears (3-5, 2-2) came up short at Bridge City last week 62-35. Meanwhile, the defending 10-4A champion Bulldogs (4-3, 3-0) have found their stride in 10-4A play with wins over Splendora (42-21), Cleveland (31-7) and a big one at home against Bridge City (48-47) and are rested after having their bye week last week.

LC-M moved the ball well at times against the Cardinals last week, getting 340 yards on the ground. However, the Bears coughed up the ball five times on the road.

Fullback J’Lon Douglas continues to power a superb LC-M running attack. He had 97 yards against the Cardinals and now has 830 yards for the season.

Tailback Sam King had one of the best games a Bear running back has ever had against the Cardinals. He torched Bridge City for 226 yards on just 11 carries and scored all five of LC-M’s touchdowns on runs of 61, 10, 16, 35, and 65 yards. King now has 794 yards for the season.

Add fellow tailback Chris Winters’ 538 yards and the Bears have a formidable three-headed attack.

The Bear defense will have a tall task in trying to slow down Jasper quarterback Tiger Williams. Williams, who was nursing an injury midway through non-district in which the Tigers went just 1-3, has been instrumental in Jasper’s 3-0 10-4A start.

In the Bulldogs’ big 48-47 come-from-behind win at home against Bridge City, Williams had 362 total yards. He ran for 139 yards and five scores on 25 carries and completed 11-of-19 passes for 223 yards.

The Bulldogs have several more weapons to turn too including backs Decorian Holmes and receivers Jakeithon Adams and Tyler Ruiz.

Jasper defeated the Bears 29-13 last season.Williams ran for 148 yards and passed for 41 as Jasper had 389 total yards while limiting the Bears to 224.

The Bears will have their bye week next week before closing the regular season on the road Nov. 6 at Huffman.