Cards get emotional 28-16 win over Red Devils

[Bobcatfan4life]

Cards get emotional 28-16 win over Red Devils

Jim Walden

The Orange Leader

HUNTINGTON — Hundreds of high school football games are played every year in Texas. But still, this was a huge deal.

Their thoughts had to be miles away. After all, Hurricane Ike delivered a devastating blow to their hometown three weeks ago.

However, on Friday night and even though some of their teammates are still unavailable because they can not return to their homes, the Bridge City Cardinals played a football game for the first time since Sept. 5

And, it was an exciting night for the Cardinals. Bridge City posted a 28-16 victory over the Huntington Red Devils in a non-district game.

“This is a big win for us,†said Bridge City coach Cris Stump. “It meant a lot to us. Some of the guys had tears in their eyes when they were playing the national anthem.â€

In a drive that started in the third quarter and ended in the fourth, Bridge City moved 81-yards for a TD. Joe Robertson pushed it in the end zone from the 4. Devin Bertrand made his first of four extra points. The Red Devils only points of the second half came on a safety.

After a scoreless first quarter, things heated up in the second. Bridge City scored first on a 5-yard run by quarterback Josh Lemoine, who passed for 274 Yards, with 7:01 to go in half. Lemoine hit two long passes of 33 and 26 yards on the drive. The Cardinals had an earlier chance to score but missed connected on a field-goal attempt.

Huntington took the lead with 4:30 to play in the half. Michael Martinez scored on an 18-yard run then quarterback Taylor Rosson ran for two to give the Red Devils a brief lead.

The Cardinals put up two more touchdown before the half. Lemoine’s 1-yard run capped a 69-yard drive with 2:05 on the clock. A 67-yard pass to Jerry Landry and a 23-yard run by Joe Robertson put the Cardinals within reach of the end zone.

After stopping the Red Devils with 25 ticks in the half, the Cardinals scored again. Lemoine zipped a 32-yard TD pass to Cory Moseley. Matt Menard had two key runs of 18 and 13 yards to set up Lemoine.

The win was big for Bridge City. But, playing again was even bigger.

“It feels great,†Lemoine said. “It feels great to be back on the field and win too.â€

Bridge City returns to action Friday to start District 21-3A in Sour Lake against the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks. The Hawks lost 46-28 to the Newton Eagles.