The first week of the season went as the Bridge City Cardinals hoped it would with a decisive victory and no serious injuries. The competition should get tougher this week though against the North Forest Bulldogs out of the Houston Independent School District.
Cardinals’ Coach Dwayne DuBois says the Bulldogs were a playoff team last season and have several talented skilled players on offense. North Forest uses multiple sets although it primarily shows a Spread offense. The Bulldogs like to run the zone read, throw quick screens and bubble screens.
Quarterback Rashand Jones is very fast. Antonio Davis at running back is probably the best player on the Bulldogs’ side of the ball. DuBois emphasizes the Cardinals must gang tackle because either Davis or Jones can break a tackle and go to the house with it.
DuBois adds that the North Forest 50 defense is full of athletic players that swarm the ball carrier. Their defensive line has mostly players which wear low uniform numbers normally reserved for skill position players. The coach indicates this shows the athleticism of the Bulldogs. The North Forest linebackers are quick and agile. They may not be as big as the Cardinals, but DuBois points out the Bulldogs run to the ball very well.
The goal Friday for Bridge City is to improve on the performance from Week 1, and Coach DuBois provides the details of what is needed. Improvement week to week is the goal. One thing that DuBois reminds is finishing the play on defense recalling one of the touchdowns allowed last week when it appeared the Longhorns’ ball carrier was down and the Cardinals stopped, allowing him to score. Silly penalties like jumping offside and two men in motion were because of first game jitters or lack of focus, which DuBois takes the blame for, and need to be avoided this week.
The Cardinals may need to play their best game of the season to earn a win against a quality team like North Forest. Coach DuBois predicts, “We’re looking forward to it, should be a very good game.”
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