BRIDGE CITY — Despite having such a tough season that’s featured so many tough injuries, especially on the offensive side of the leather, the Bridge City Cardinals can still push themselves into the Class 4A Division I playoffs for the third straight season if they can come up with a huge home win against the Huffman Falcons Friday night at Ward Stadium.

The winner will get the fourth playoff seed and would take on Class 4A state-ranked No. 1 Carthage in the bidistrict round of the playoffs.

The Cardinals (1-6, 1-3) are coming off a tough long road trip in which they fell to the Navasota Rattlers 33-6.

The Redbirds have been beset with injuries throughout a tough campaign, especially to their backfield, which was going to be loaded with talent.

However, the Cardinals lost tailback Hunter Denton for the season in the early going, tailback Max Baker due to a concussion, and bruising sophomore fullback Alex Lara. Baker and Lara are expected to play against the Falcons.

The Cardinals have received a maximum effort from young guys like Rylan Play, Logan Hamm and Roman Carpenter.

The Redbirds do have a tremendous leader in senior quarterback Caleb DuBois, who has had plenty of nice moments in some tough losses.

The Falcons (3-4, 1-3) come in reeling as well, dropping three of their last four games, including a 61-30 drubbing at the hands of Silsbee last week.

Huffman has one big 10-4A win, a 27-20 road victory at Little Cypress-Mauriceville a couple weeks ago.

Huffman has a solid throwing quarterback in Justin Shively, who had pair of big touchdown passes against LC-M. He has some go-to receivers in Cason Rice and Noah Thomas and a pair of backs in Blake Boss and Aaron Johnson, who both can be elusive.

Huffman can get in the playoffs if the Falcons defeat Bridge City and Cleveland falls to Silsbee.