LITTLE CYPRESS — After a struggle the first two weeks to start their season, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears will look to snare their first win of the season at home Friday night when they welcome in the Jasper Bulldogs.

The extremely young and inexperienced Bears (0-2) have struggled mightily in trying to get a young team going, both offensively and defensively after suffering losses to Woodville (40-8) and West Orange-Stark (47-0) to start the season.

Turnover hampered the Bears early in the loss to WO-S last week and they only mustered 78 yards of total offense.

LC-M rushed for 58 yards on 26 carries against a stiff WO-S defense last week while passing for 20.

The Bear offensive front will look to protect quarterback Ethan McCollum and the Bear backs more this week. McCollum rushed for just 22 yards on 16 carries against WO-S. Landon Bearden is LC-M’s leading rusher on the season with 27 yards on 12 carries as LC-M is averaging just 33.5 yards in their first two contests.

LC-M will look to continue to shore up their defense after allowing 520.5 yards a game in the first two contests, 396.5 coming on the ground.

Jasper, meanwhile, has rolled up big numbers in their first two weeks of action as they will face their third straight 11-4A Division I non-district opponent in the Bears.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 45-7 strumming at home over the Bridge City Cardinals after snaring a 31-14 road win against Lumberton in their opener.

Last week, the Bulldogs jumped on Bridge City 28-0 in the first quarter, thanks to their Multiple Wing-T attack, led by flashy tailback Montavien Hunt.

Hunt shredded the Cardinal defense for three long touchdown runs and finished with 220 yards on just six carries.

Hunt is not the only weapon in the Bulldog arsenal as fellow backs Deandre Limbrick, Laverik Middleton and Reggie Shaw are all dangerous and quarterback Colton Womack has a good arm and likes getting the ball to receivers Terrin Collins and Bryce Barbay.

The Bulldog defense is anchored by all-district lineman Trent Bryant and all-district defensive back Charlie Burnett.

The Bears will remain at home for the third straight week next week when they welcome the Vidor Pirates to Battlin’ Bear Stadium.