The Bridge City Cardinals lost to the pre-district favorite Lumberton last week. Coach Allen DeShazo added the Cardinals may have lost the services of one of their sophomores. Austin Richardson has a possible ankle sprain.
Young players are seeing a lot of playing time for Bridge City. In the game with Lumberton seven Cardinal freshmen saw action. DeShazo observed, “We’re very, very young, we’re getting a lot of valuable experience that will help them in the long run.”
This week Bridge City returns home to entertain Livingston. DeShazo sees a lot of similarities between the Cardinals and the Lions on offense. They have been doing a lot of what Bridge City has been experimenting with the last few weeks. The Lions are showing two backs, a little I-Formation, and have even gone to the Spread at times. “They kind of remind us a lot of ourselves,” DeShazo said.
Doing a good job handling the Livingston offense is quarterback Jared Seagroves a senior. At running back is junior Debrian Rains. He is dangerous and can break long runs with his speed according to DeShazo. The Lions also have a go to receiver in Chris Washington with speed and moves that make him elusive in the secondary when he catches the football.
The Cardinals look to take advantage of a Lions’ defense which has sometimes been porous. Coach DeShazo analyzed the defense of Livingston. The Lions use a four-man front. He compared them favorably to the Cardinals. DeShazo indicated, “The look of them and kind of the way they run around.”
Last week against Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Seagroves played linebacker and had a really good game. Washington is a leader in the Lions’ secondary. He was all over the field against the Bears. At defensive end is Craig Martin who penetrates the backfield and disrupts plays well for Livingston.
Friday night is Senior Night at Bridge City. DeShazo is hoping his senior Cardinals can gain a victory in their final game before the hometown fans on Friday.
Both the Cardinals and the Lions are looking for their first victories in district this season. The coach emphasized Bridge City needs to take care of the football and continue to kick it well. Several young Cardinals are getting a chance to play on the varsity and that should bid well for next year. “We’re going to do whatever we can to send our seniors out on a high note,” DeShazo concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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