BRIDGE CITY — After clicking on all cylinders on both sides of the ball in their 56-15 season-opening win against the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns, the Bridge City Cardinals will look to take down a formidable opponent Friday in their home opener.
The Cardinals (1-0) will entertain the Houston North Forest Bulldogs (0-1) in the friendly confines of Larry Ward Stadium as the two teams will battle for the first time ever.
The Cardinals punishing running game, led by a host of backs and dominating line play, piled up 482 yards of total offense in the rout of the Longhorns.
Senior back Cayce Draper scored nearly every time he touched the leather against H-F as he found the end zone four times and finished with 191 yards on just five carries.
Running backs Max Baker, Patrick Morris, Ethan Hamm and quarterback Byron Trahan also shined in the act as the Cardinals cruised out to a 49-15 edge at the half.
Cardinal speedster Hunter Denton certainly got the season off on the right track as he took the opening kickoff 103 yards to paydirt to put the Cardinals up and they never looked back.
The Cardinal defense played well against the Longhorns, giving up just one really big play, a 76-yard TD run by back Tyrese White, who finished with 184 yards and two TDs on 20 carries. The Longhorns finished with 277 total yards.
The Bulldogs dropped down a classification after Realignment in February, going from Class 5A to 4A Division I.
North Forest, led by coach Mike Ferrell, went 10-2 in 5A last year and went a perfect 7-0 to win their district.
The Bulldogs defeated powerhouse Brenham 41-35 in bidistrict playoff action before bowing out to College Station 52-7.
North Forest dropped their season opener to Stafford 33-13 last week. Stafford was 11-1 last year and reached the area round.
The Bulldogs return five starters on offense and seven on defense.
North Forest is led offensively by quarterback Rashand Jones and back Antonio Davis.
The Bulldog defense is paced by All-District defensive lineman Caleb Bledsoe, linebacker Trevon Tillman and defensive back Cameron Smith.
The Cardinals will once again be home next week when they welcome West Orange-Stark to Ward Stadium.