By Caleb Adams

Orange  Leader

 

BRIDGE CITY – In a year filled with disappointment and one that was injury-riddled from the start in 2017, the Bridge City Cardinals plan this year is to take a big step forward and claim a district title, something they accomplished as recent as 2016. Last season the Cardinals finished a rough 1-7 and missed the playoffs in District 10-4A Division 1. After a new district realignment, the Cardinals’ new district is District 11-4A Division 1, including Huffman Hargrave, Livingston, Lumberton, LCM and Splendora.

Gone out of the district are the likes of Silsbee, Navasota and Cleveland.

The district isn’t the only new thing for Bridge City, as the new head coach Allen DeShazo takes the reigns over from Dwayne Dubois, who is the new head coach at Hardin-Jefferson. Along with a few new faces on the coaching staff and in the locker room, it is a season of changes for the Cardinals, and the team seems to be embracing that from the get go.

Senior and new quarterback, Cace Skinner, says the first step back is “To get to know everybody and learn to work and play together, said Skinner. “We need to put last season behind us quick and get ready for the new season.”

That’s easier said than done, with just a few weeks to prepare for the season but Skinner said the Cardinals have been working extremely hard since way back in the offseason and the summer workouts were excellent as well.

Another senior, Adam Snyder, who will play tight end and linebacker, says the changes for the season are already taking effect.

“We are going from longer practices to shorter and just going harder, not wasting time or dragging it out,” said Snyder.

The Cardinals plan to have a more intense approach to the game and not change much, but there will be a few tweaks of course.

“Our scheme on offense isn’t changing much, but you will see more throwing attempts during games, nothing like a spread offense, but more throwing,” said Skinner.

In a season when the defense gave up 303 points, it may be too early for the Cardinals to answer just yet but will the defense take a step forward this year?

Snyder thinks the addition of young faces will help.

“There’s a lot of new faces this year, coaches and players, and our scheme isn’t changing much,” said Snyder. “I think, after a couple of weeks of learning, we will take big steps forward on that side of the ball.”

Snyder mentioned young talent for the team coming this season on the defensive side.

“Blake Moore, sophomore, at safety and Jake Potter, junior, are going to really help this team,” said Snyder. “There are a couple athletes that are freshman, but we’re just waiting for them to show us what they can do.”

When it comes to the district realignment, both Skinner and Snyder have a specific team in mind they want to face.

“Definitely, definitely Lumberton, everyone is hyping them up this year, but I think we are better,” said Skinner. “And of course LC-M, it’s such a great rivalry game that not only the players get into but the fans and communities of both teams too. That’s always fun.”

The new attitude and approach from the Cardinals could be just what they needed after falling off last season. Bridge City starts off their non-district play with Diboll, and that’ll be the first chance for them to show everyone the new attitude of the Cardinals.