By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

NEWTON — Fresh off a big loss versus the West Orange-Stark Mustangs, the Bridge City Cardinals looked to bounce back big against the Newton Eagles.

The Eagles had other plans going up 24-0 early in the second quarter against the Cardinals.

Newton running back JD Spikes would carry the load for the team with 15 rushes and nearly 100 yards. Along with quarterback Brock Barbay passing for 91 yards, the Eagles pulled in the non-district win over the Cards 38-16.

Newton has the first scoring drive of the game starting at their own 39. Behind the running of JD Spikes who gained a total of 23 yards on the drive and a touchdown for the Eagles. The Eagles went for two and converted to make the score 8-0 early in the first quarter.

After an interception by the Eagles defense, Newton takes over on the Cardinal 40. The drive was capped off with a Brock Barbay touchdown pass to DJ Seastrunk from 12 yards out. The Eagles convert another two point try, making the score 16-0 late in the first quarter.

The Eagles mount another touchdown drive, this time from the Cardinal 11. Darwin Barlow ran it in for eight yards and a touchdown. Newton converted yet another two-point conversion making the score 24-0 Newton early in the second quarter.

Bridge City finally found the end zone in the final minute of the second half.

The drive started on the 50 with a Max Baker pass to Kelton Brooks for 35 yards. Cayce Draper would finish the drive with a strong seven-yard run and a touchdown. Quarterback Byron Trahan picked up a bad snap and pushed it in for a two-point conversion to make it 24-8 at the end of the first half.

Newton opened the second half with a fumble recovery to take over at the Cardinal 28. JD Spike ran for all 28 yards of it in three carries and a touchdown for the Eagles. After the PAT was converted it made the score 31-8 for the Eagles early in the third quarter.

The Cardinals defense forced a fumble deep in the Eagles territory to set the Cardinal offense up at the Newton 16. Baker and Trahan would share six carries on the drive and Trahan capped it off with a three- yard touchdown run. Trahan picked up a bad snap to convert the two point conversion to make it 31-16 Newton towards the end of the third quarter.

Newton would put the game away on the very next drive with quarterback Barblay throwing three times for 49 yards and ending the drive with a touchdown pass to Seastrunk for eight yards, the PAT was good to make it 38-16 Eagles. The Cardinals would mount a couple of promising drives, but never turned any of them into points.

The Cardinals finished with 194 yards of total offense, 159 on the ground. Draper led the way with 56 yards on nine carries. Patrick Morris finished with 45 yards on seven totes.

The Eagles had 295 total yards. Spikes finished with 97 yards on 15 carries while Seastrunk had four catches for 52 yards.

The Cardinals will be off for two weeks before they start seeking their second straight playoff berth as they will open up District 10-4A Divison I play at home Oct. 7 against Cleveland for Homecoming.