Last year was a real bummer for Bridge City. Injuries depleted the Cardinals of many of their top starters and the result was predictable with just one victory on the season.
New Head Coach Allen DeShazo served as the defensive coordinator last year after two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals. This year DeShazo will have some key players back on the offense for Bridge City starting with fullback Andy Lara. He was a starter last year as a sophomore and a huge contribution is expected from him.
Moving from the offensive line to tight end is Adam Snyder and will be a big help to the Cardinals’ offense. Rylan Ply is back at tailback, and Jay Potter will backup Lara again at fullback. Center Jacob Cunningham returns for another year in the trenches at Bridge City and anchors the offensive line.
DeShazo will have a few more holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. Only three starters return on defense. The two outside linebackers Jackson Tims and Rylan Ply started as sophomores and should have huge years. “Ethan Morgan in the secondary returns from last year,” DeShazo said.
There are some Cardinals who Coach DeShazo sees moving into starting roles for Bridge City. Blake Moore and Austin Richardson are two sophomores that should get substantial time in the Cardinals’ secondary.
Case Skinner is not new to the Bridge City varsity, but he will be in a new position this season as the starting quarterback for the Cardinals. He will have a very young offensive line in front of him. DeShazo believes, “Manuel Gomez, Kevin Ross, Jose Torrez, Michael Pierce will step in and do really well for us.”
Practices and a couple of scrimmages will give DeShazo and the coaching staff the opportunities to evaluate and answer questions about which players will start for the Cardinals. The biggest question marks will be finding starters in the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to those previously mentioned as seeing time, the coaches will rotate a ton of kids in to see who can get it done according to DeShazo.
The hope is the Cardinals can avoid the injury bug that bit them last year. Their non-district schedule is as brutal as any team’s and should prepare Bridge City for the new district.
The district has been re-aligned and Coach DeShazo sees it being as competitive as it has been every season with Bridge City right in the midst of the playoff hunt. He is excited about getting to play new teams in the district with Lumberton dropping down and Splendora and Livingston moving back into the district.
The tough non-district opponents should prepare the Cardinals for the district foes. “Everybody’s going to be in the mix and every week’s going to count,” DeShazo predicts.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media