By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

BRIDGE CITY—The Bridge City Cardinals toppled the Livingston Lions 28-7 at Larry Ward Stadium in Bridge City to nab their first District 11-4A Division I win of the season. The final home game of the season for the Cardinals was one to be proud of.

The running game for Bridge City (2-7, 1-3) was solid, going for 249 on the night, which was what put them over the winless Lions (0-9, 0-4) ultimately. The ability to drain the clock on long drives benefited Bridge City throughout the night.

The Cardinals finished with 288 total yards and the Big Red defense held Livingston to just 126 total yards.

Bridge City opened up this week’s game with a pro-style offense instead of the split-t style, and it paid in points early. Cardinal running back Rylan Ply, who had a huge night with 141 yards on 18 carries, ran for a 23-yard gain to start the drive and two plays later Ethan Oceguera punched with a nice 26-yard gallop , with great blocking on the outside. After the PAT the Cardinals were sitting pretty at 7-0 with just over 6 minutes left in the first quarter. Oceguera finished with 79 yards on 10 carries.

In this new offensive style, Cardinal fullback Andy Lara played the perfect old school bruiser, clearing the way for the quicker Ply to blow past. This time Ply ran for a long 46 yards for a score, in big part to a great cut block from Lara on the end. After the PAT the Cardinals suddenly have a commanding 14-0 lead over the Lions.

The Lions responded mid-way through the second quarter with their first points of the game, closing the early gap. Jared Seagroves, the Lions’ quarterback, took over in the passing and running games. Seagroves had a long 29-yard run to set up a long pass to Chris Washington for 29 yards, that went all the way to the Cardinal 1. Seagroves punched it in with a QB sneak. After the PAT the Lions were only down seven, 14-7,with 7:30 left in the first half. Seagroves completed 5-of-13 passes for 92 yards and rushed for 37 yards.

The Cardinals get their two-score lead back with a nice pass from quarterback Cace Skinner to receiver Jackson Tims, from 20 yards out. Oceguara took over on this drive, with multiple runs for 10 yards or more. Skinner would run a play action bootleg and fiound Jackson Tims around the ten yard line. Tims would break a couple tackles and run all the way in for the 20-yard score. After the PAT the Cardinals took a comfortable 21-7 lead just before halftime.

Neither team would score during the third quarter. The Lions’ defense was able to make some halftime adjustments to stall the Cardinal offense, but their offense wasn’t able to take advantage during the third quarter.

The Cardinal defense was able to keep the Lions down on the offensive side, like they had most of the game.

The fourth quarter was much of the same, as both defenses buckled down, but neither offense was able to score and reward the good defensive plays late.

The Cardinals would put the final dagger in with a nine-yard touchdown bolt from Lara. Bridge City started the drive with just a few minutes left in the game. The score sealed the deal with just 1:13 remaining.

The Cardinals will wrap up their season next week on the road at first-place Splendora (8-1, 4-0), which defeated Lumberton (5-4, 3-1) 24-20 Friday while Livingston hosts Huffman (4-5, 2-2), a 26-12 winner over LC-M (3-6, 2-2).