HJ 7 6 7 0- 20
LC-M 14 7 6 13- 40
The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears chalked one up in the win column Friday night. Switching back to the run oriented Spread Offense that was successful for them in previous seasons, the Bears doubled up the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks 40-20 at Battlin’ Bear Stadium.
Rushing for 344 yards LC-M (1-2) dominated in time of possession against the Hawks. The Bears garnered 22 first downs in the game surrendering just eight to Hardin-Jefferson.
The Bears’ quarterback Beau Bickham had an efficient night passing the ball too. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
The dynamic duo of Christopher Winters and J’Lon Douglas combined for over 300 yards on the ground. Winters had three touchdowns to go with his game high 172 yards on 26 carries. Douglas only carried the ball in the second half, but still gained 139 yards on 10 totes of the football. His 38-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was a beauty and gave LC-M a two score lead with just over five minutes to play in the game.
The first two touchdowns by the Bears were set up by their defense taking the ball away from Hardin-Jefferson. On the second play of the game Osiel Ibarra intercepted a Hawks’ pass giving LC-M the ball at the H-J 45. Bickham completed a third down pass to Keegan Sonnier for a first at the 31. On another third down Bickham hit Katon Brown in the end zone for the touchdown from 29 yards out. John Gonzalez added the kick for a 7-0 lead.
After Alex Reed recovered a Hawks’ fumble the Bears needed to go just 44 yards in four plays for their next score. Sonnier got the touchdown after taking a short pass from Bickham, the play covered 42 yards. LC-M led 14-0 with 5:12 to play in the first quarter.
Hardin-Jefferson (1-1) responded on its next possession. The Bears were somewhat their own worst enemy being flagged twice for personal foul penalties. Cole Priddy scored on a 14-yard run for the Hawks to make it 14-7 with less than three minutes to play in the initial stanza.
A turnover gave the Hawks excellent field position late in the second quarter. Greyson Kash intercepted Bickham and returned it to the one-yard line. The Bears’ defense actually stopped three straight running plays for a net of minus one yard. On fourth-and-goal from the two Talon Tilley busted over right guard for the six points. The kick was missed after a low snap to keep the score 14-13 with under three minutes left in the half.
Winters put on an exhibition on the closing drive of the half. He carried the ball four times for 57 yards. Kayne Williams tacked on 13 yards with two carries. Winters got the touchdown around right end from the six with exactly 60 seconds left before half. With the kick from Gonzalez, Little Cypress-Mauriceville went to the locker room up 21-13.
Following a short punt by Hardin-Jefferson the Bears retook their two score advantage. Bickham and Brown connected again this time for 33 yards to the Hawks’ 7-yard line. Two plays later Winters made the score 27-13.
It took the Hawks one play to cut the lead back to seven. Kelechi Nwachuku ran an end around the left side and tight roped down the LC-M sideline for a 73-yard touchdown. Some of the Bears’ coaches appeared to think Nwachuku maybe stepped on the sideline, but the trailing official did not see it that way.
Defensively the Bears got tough after that. They were burned on a pass from the Hawks’ own two-yard line which went for 49 yards, but that was the last first down given up by a pretty stingy LC-M defense. The Bears’ offense showed its appreciation by scoring on two late possessions with Douglas and Winters doing the honors.
Next Friday is homecoming for Little Cypress-Mauriceville. The Bears will entertain the Orangefield Bobcats. Hardin-Jefferson plays the Beaumont Kelly Bulldogs at Sour Lake next week.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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