A lot at stake for Bears against Jags

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A lot at stake for Bears against Jags

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

LITTLE CYPRESS — This is what the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears have been waiting for.

The start of District 22-4A play and the chance to make some noise in the standings.

Tonight’s game at Battlin’ Bear Stadium against the Beaumont Central Jaguars gets no bigger.

The Bears are 1-2 heading into tonight’s game with a win over Houston Kashmere and losses to Conroe Caney Creek and West Orange-Stark.

Central has won two of its first three games with wins over Baytown Lee (20-14) and Houston Sterling (21-6) while losing to Beaumont West Brook.

Central leads the series 4-1 and has outscored LC-M by a 20-12.8 scoring average.

Both LC-M and Central had the week off last week and prepared for the district march.

LC-M Coach Todd Moody said the Bears tended to several injuries. Moody said running back Kendrex Salter is ready to return full speed while Chuck Mullins is also expected to play.

The Bears are now staring down the Jaguars who will be a stern test and a nice measuring stick when it comes to the district loop.

“They are very talented and athletic,†Moody said. “That No. 1, (Derrick) Hall is extremely talented. They also have a great set of receivers and the quarterback is getting better at throwing the football.â€

Hall has rushed for 218 yards on 37 carries with one touchdown. Quarterback Patrick Fobbs has thrown for 439 yards on 29-of-57 passing with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Defensively they are very quick and aggressive,†Moody said. “They certainly come and get you. The thing about an aggressive defense is they make get you twice and then you get them twice. If you break their defense, they have the ability to chase you down in a hurry.â€

LC-M’s offense has put up 310 yards a contest in three games by rushing for 581 yards a game and quarterback President Driver has 349 yards on 18-of-38 passing with two interceptions and two touchdowns.

Kendrex Salter leads the team with 256 yards rushing and two touchdowns and Chris Guy has 136 yards on 33 carries.

James Miller is the leading receiver with eight receptions for 106 yards and a score. Miller has been limited this week with an injury.

Both Moody and Central Coach Donald Stowers are looking for their teams to limit turnovers which have hurt both squads.

Four fumbles kept the Houston Kashmere Rams in the game two weeks ago and the week before that two turnovers cost the Bears a chance to win against WO-S.

“If we limit our turnovers and play well on defense then we have a chance to win the football game,†Moody said. “We have to make them drive the ball and not hit the early homeruns. You cannot lose the turnover battle and expect to win a game. There are no secrets to winning.â€

Stowers echoed Moody’s words on the turnover front.

The Jaguars committed five turnovers in the win against Houston Sterling.

“I feel real good where we are right now,†Stowers said. “Teams who have ball control have the best chance of winning the game. We want them (Bears) off the field so we can make opportunities to score.â€

Moody knows the Jaguars are a great first district opponent and will go a long way in proving whether the Bears can stay in the playoff hunt.

“The tradition has been if we beat those guys or play with them it says good things about us getting in the playoffs,†Moody added. “We have played three teams already with speed. Now we have to try to limit our mistakes. Fumbling is not just on the running backs. It could have been we didn’t block well and the runner got hit hard in the backfield.â€

Stowers is also preaching the fumble issue

“The first three games we have turned the ball over quite a bit,†Stowers said. “We take care of that we will be in good shape.â€

So hold on to the ball and the winner tonight will take the first step in achieving postseason goals.