SOUR LAKE — Putting together a complete game, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears picked up their first win of the season after a grueling non-district slate by going on the road and downing the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks 30-18 Friday night at Hawks Stadium.

The Bears (1-4) used several big plays to turn back the Hawks (1-4).

“I’m super-proud of the kids,” said LC-M coach Randy Crouch. “We went through a very tough non-district schedule and they kept battling and never gave up and got a big win tonight. We made some big plays offensively, especially in the first half and our defense really came up with big plays when they had too to get this win.”

The Bears jumped out to a 12-0 lead and led 18-6 midway through the third quarter only to see the Hawks rally to tie it up.

However, the Bears struck for two big scores in the final minute to nab the win.

LC-M senior quarterback Adam Pope tossed a pair of touchdown passes while the Bears scored two rushing touchdowns and a big pick-six interception return by James Williams to seal it.

Pope teamed up with D.J. Williams for LC-M’s first score of the night on a 50-yard scoring strike with nine minutes left in the first quarter.

The Bears made it 12-0 when Pope connected with receiver James Williams on a 12-yard touchdown toss as LC-M took that lead into intermission.

The Hawks trimmed it to 12-6 with 10 minutes to go in the third quarter but the Bears responded in a flash when running back Kristian Ickes broke free on a 30-yard touchdown romp through the H-J defense.

The Hawks countered with a pair of nice drives that resulted in rushing TDs as they tied the game up at 18-18 with about three minutes to go but the Bears stuffed the two-point conversion try.

Pope put the Bears up to stay with just under a minute left when he plowed his way into the end zone for the score.

The Hawks, not known for a passing attack, failed at trying to get off a big play to try to tie it late when Williams stepped in front of a passed and zipped all the way to the end zone from 60 yards out to put the game on ice for the Bears.

The Bears will have their bye week next week before opening District 11-4A Division I play Oct. 12 at Orange County rival Bridge City. The Hawks, will host Tarkington in their last non-district game next week before opening District 10-4A Division II action at home against Hamshire-Fannett.