The Bridge City Cardinals used a total team effort through every phase of the game to claim its first district victory of the season as the Cards beat Hardin-Jefferson, 51-26, Friday night in Sour Lake.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard first as quarterback Hutch Bearden scored on a 3-yard run late in the first quarter to cap a 68-yard drive and give BC a 7-0 lead. The Cardinals defense held the Hawks to a three-and-out and then Abraham Mungia fielded the punt and raced around the right side for a 55-yard touchdown giving the Cards a 14-0 less than a minute later.
Just when it looked as if Bridge City might run away with the game, the Hawks responded on the next possession as Hardin-Jefferson moved the ball 60 yards in five plays. Running back Judah Wheaton electrified the fans as he took the handoff and ran left, then cutback against the grain to his right and outraced the Cardinals defense for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score, 14-7 Bridge City.
The Cardinals defense and special teams struck again as defender Ayden Richardson blocked the Hawks punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety to extend the BC lead to 16-7. The Cards added a touchdown after receiving the free kick. Bearden marched the Cardinals offense downfield on a 55-yard drive, but it was running back Merik Aras who punched it in from the one yard line for another touchdown and then added the two point conversion as Bridge City went ahead 24-7 with only 1:28 left in the second quarter.
The Hawks showed some razzle dazzle and needed just one play to get back in the game as Hardin-Jefferson ran a double-reverse flea flicker with quarterback Bryndyn Lee connecting on a 60-yard scoring strike to Wyatt Samaha. BC led 24-13 at this point.
Instead of running out the clock, the Cardinals offense became aggressive and and needed only four plays to add more points on the scoreboard. Bearden found receiver Gavin Bodin for a 25-yard touchdown and gave Bridge City the lead at the half, 31-13,
To start the second half, the Hawks took advantage of great field position and scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Bearden to Wheaton cutting into the Cardinals lead, 31-19.
The Hawks forced the Cardinals to turn the ball over on downs the next possession, but the Cardinals defense responded as the unit caused a fumble. Junior defender Jagger Carlin scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 25 yards for the touchdown and a 38-19 Cardinals lead.
The excitement didn’t stop there as Hardin-Jefferson’s Samuel Jones showcased his speed and agility as he roared through the Bridge City kickoff unit for a 72-yard kickoff return touchdown to cut the BC lead down to 38-26.
Midway through the third-quarter the game was stopped for about 15-minutes as receiver Gavin Bodin was injured after he collided with the play clock in the back of the end zone following an incomple pass. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and was taken by ambulance to a local medical facility.
Once play resumed, the Cardinals took control and added two fourth quarter touchdowns to put the game away. D’Corian Warren scored on a 25-yard run and Aras added another 1-yard run for the final score, 51-26.
Bearden completed 10 of 16 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions to guide the Cardinals victory. He also had 29 rushing yards on 13 carries. Cardinals running back Aras led all rushers with 137 yards on 16 carries for Bridge City as the Cardinals gained 373 total yards of offense.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals defense allowed 322 total yards for the game. Although the defense held the Hardin-Jefferson ground game to just 60 yards rushing, Hawks quarterback Bryndyn Lee passed 262 yards while completing 12 of 28 attempts with one interception and two touchdowns.
Bridge City (3-5, 1-3) returns home next Friday to face the No. 2 state-ranked Silsbee Tigers (8-0, 4-0). Silsbee beat No. 7 state-ranked Hamshire-Fannett (8-1, 4-1) 39-21 on Friday.
Hardin Jefferson (0-8, 0-4) travels to Jasper to face the Bulldogs next Friday. Jasper (5-3, 3-1) beat West Orange-Stark (4-5, 2-3) on Friday 41-38.
-Tommy Mann, KOGT-
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