Bayou Bowl article

[Bobcatfan4life]

From the Penny Record Newspapers:

Bayou Bowl VII Pits Cardinals and Bobcats

High school football action erupts in Orange County this week when the

Orangefield Bobcats and Bridge City Cardinals collide in Bayou Bowl VII.

Always a key Dist. 21-3A matchup, district contentions are paired with

Bayou Bowl bragging rights making this game the event of the season.

Stitched together by a few miles of highway on the shores of Cow Bayou,

Bridge City and Orangefield are blended communities.

Naturally, a friendly rivalry surrounds the Bayou Bowl event that began in

2000 when UIL district realignment reassigned BCISD from Class-4A to

Class-3A status. The changed pitted the Cardinals with district

repercussions against the neighboring Bobcats. The Bayou Bowl was born

with the winner receiving the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy," that remains in the

winning team's trophy case for the duration of the school year.

For the past two consecutive years the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" has adorned

the Cardinal feild house. Bridge City has claimed the prize in five of the

six matchups.

In 2004 the Rotary Club, of Bridge City-Orangefield, adopted the event to

promote good sportsmanship and to become a future fund raiser to benefit

both school districts through Rotary scholarships and youth campaigns.

That year the underdog Orangefield stunned Bridge City winning Bayou Bowl IV, 15-14, in the final seconds of the contest in F.L. McClain Stadium.

The Bobcat scoreboard remained lit all night after the emotional victory.

The next year, however, the Cardinals reclaimed the title defeating the

Bobcats 48-0 also in Orangefield. In 2005, Bridge City retained possession

of the "Buzzi Gunn Trophy," winning 28-0 at Larry Ward Stadium in Bridge

City.

Once again the Bayou Bowl returns to Orangefield this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

As always, the game is a "must win" for both teams which are more evenly matched than in the past; and in what has been called the toughest Class 3-A district in the state since 2006 district realignment last spring. Cardinal head coach Claude Tarver will field a team that is 4-2, 2-1. Bobcat head coach Blake Morrison's squad is 3-3, 1-2.

Claiming the Bayou Bowl VII championship would be a big boost to either

program at a crucial point in the season. In the first six Bayou Bowl

contests the team that has won the Bayou Bowl has also proceeded into the Class-3A playoffs.

Rotarian president Barry Murchison will officiate and will present the

trophy to the winning team's head coach at the conclusion of the game.

"The Bayou Bowl is waged in the spirit of fair play and with the intent of

promoting community involvement in local athletics and enhancing school

pride," Murchison said.

The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" memorializes local photographer Buzzie Gunn. Gunn and his father, T.L. Gunn, where pioneers in photographing the early years of Orange County football.

Buzzie eventually became the second generation owner of Gunn's Studio in Orange after shooting for various publications including Sports

Illustrated. Later his contributions to local publications would become

the only professional visual recordings of Orange County football as it

was played for over thirty years.

Today, Gunn's Studio is owned by third generation photographer Chris Gunn, Buzzie's son, who carries on the tradition of enthusiasm for local

athletics through media photography.

Announcements on the public address system at F.L. McClain Stadium at last Friday's game said that the Orangefield Bobcat Athletic Booster Club is

giving away free hot dogs before the game to anyone wearing orange against Bridge City. An additional motivator for Big Red is the chance to defeat former Cardinal assistant coach Josh Smalley, who defected to Orangefield to become Bobcat offensive coordinator.

The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" will be on display in the end zone at F.L.

McClain Stadium before the game.

[swampdude]

dang Smalley, now you are identified as a "defector"! :shock: Better keep your passport with you when you pass through BC!!! :wink: I will see you either Thursday or Friday night. Be nice to your home boys!!

[Cat22]

I don't think "defected" was the right word to use. Smalley is a great guy and has really improved this OF team this year. He deserves more respect than this.

[3ABirdMan]

Smalley IS a great guy, and I look for him to climb the ladder quickly. While I hated to see him leave BC :cry: , and will hate to see him leave Orangefield (a little less, though ) I HOPE he gets a good shot at an AD's job somewhere when the time is right. :wink:

[Guest kosmo]

Oc at OF was just the next stepping stone for his resume. Maybe BC will get lucky and he will follow Coach Tarver as the next HC/AD at BC.

[hfaninthestands]

hfan is jealous that the longhorns don't have a game like this every year....

good luck to both teams

[3ABirdMan]

Oc at OF was just the next stepping stone for his resume. Maybe BC will get lucky and he will follow Coach Tarver as the next HC/AD at BC.

That would be great for BC! When he found out he was going to be an assistant Softball coach, he made his way out to Ford Park and watched the AFA 18U Nationals. I was there 5 out of 7 days in 2005, and saw him EVERY DAY I was there. Now that's some dedication! And he did a GREAT job with the JV last year, applying what he had learned.

Now if he was willing to do that for girls HS softball, as a JV coach and assistant, just what effort would he put into an AD's job?

That's the kind of guy he is, and why I think Orangefield has had a lot of the success they have had this football season. He MAKES kids want to achieve. I like that!

[Guest kosmo]

Very true, Birdman.

[Guest Football]

I don't think "defected" was the right word to use. Smalley is a great guy and has really improved this OF team this year. He deserves more respect than this.

Respect? Defect means "to abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group. "

I don't think there is any disrespect there.

[Cat22]

I think a better word could have been used. That's just my opinion.

I won't saying anything else because I don't want this blown out of proportion.

[LuvThoseCats]

"Defect" does have negative connations, another word would have been better.

[Bobcatfan4life]

Either way we are very glad to have him here and his offensive knowledge and play calling ability has definately shown in our offensive production this year. He's a big reason we are where we are. Will be interesting Friday night for sure!!

[77]

Go cats