Silsbee | 22 | 13 | 0 | 27 | 62 | |
BC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
In discussions of the best quarterbacks in District 10-4A the names of Tiger Williams for Jasper, Cody Gaitan at Huffman, and Silsbee’s Dontre’ Thomas will get lots of consideration. After Friday night there is no one doubting Thomas could be at the top of that list. The Tigers’ quarterback accounted for five touchdowns as Silsbee went into Bridge City’s Larry B. Ward Stadium and handed the Cardinals a 62-42 thumping.
The victory has Silsbee (7-2, 4-1) playing at home next week for the district championship against the Jasper Bulldogs who defeated Huffman also Friday night to remain undefeated in district. Bridge City (6-3, 3-2) suffered its only decisive loss of the season thus far and cost them any chance the Cardinals had of the district championship.
After throwing an interception on the first play of the game which led to a quick Bridge City touchdown, Thomas completed 12 of his next 22 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Dontre’ ran the ball 21 times for 168 yards with three touchdowns.
Despite taking the early lead on a 9-yard run by Cayce Draper, Bridge City would mount only one serious drive in the first half. The Cardinals used 13 plays to drive 84 yards. They converted a fourth-and-three when Camden DuBois passed to a wide open Colt Poole following a fake handoff for a 27-yard touchdown with 7:10 to play in the second quarter to get Bridge City back to a one score deficit of 22-14.
Silsbee which had scored 22 unanswered points to end the first quarter, responded with two late touchdowns before half on a touchdown pass from Thomas to Kalon Barnes, his second score of the game, and a 6-yard run by Dontre’. The Tigers went to the locker room enjoying a 35-14 advantage.
The second half started well for Bridge City which needed only three plays to score. Hunter Denton broke loose for 23 yards before Draper scored his second touchdown of the game on a 7-yard carry. The Cardinals defense then showed some toughness holding the Tigers to just one first down the next two times Silsbee had the football. The third quarter ended with Bridge City trailing 35-21.
Things got a little crazy in the fourth quarter as the two teams combined for 48 points. Adonis Thomas, no relation to Dontre’, had touchdown runs of 8 and 37 yards. He finished the night with 153 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cardinals had long scoring runs from Hunter Denton of 71 yards and Byron Trahan for 77 yards sandwiched around a quarterback sneak from DuBois to account for their 21 points. Bridge City got over 100 yards rushing from both Draper and Denton in the loss.
With about six minutes to play after the DuBois touchdown the Cardinals had cut the lead to 41-35, and Silsbee faced a third-and-9 at its 24. A stop by the Bridge City defense would have got the Cardinals the ball with time to drive for the possible winning score. The two Tiger Thomases turned a short toss into a 13-yard gain and a timely first down that eventually resulted in Adonis’ 37-yard touchdown.
In the garbage time that followed Silsbee recovered a snap that went over DuBois’ head and rolled into the end zone for a Tigers’ touchdown and Thomas culminated his sensational evening with a marvelous 52-yard ramble that saw him elude probably a half dozen tacklers along the way.
The District 10-4A Division I championship will be on the line next Friday night when the Silsbee Tigers play their longtime rival the Jasper Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium. Bridge City travels to Splendora to play the Wildcats who have not won a game in district this season. A Cardinal victory would secure third place in the district for Bridge City.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media