LITTLE CYPRESS — After taming the Bridge City Cardinals in their District 11-4A Division I opener last week, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears will look to extend their winning streak to three games Friday night when they welcome in the Splendora Wildcats, who own the best record in 11-4A, to Battlin’ Bear Stadium.

The Bears (2-4, 1-0) got off to a slow 0-4 start with a young team but have found some momentum the last two weeks behind a much-improved offense as they have nabbed wins over Hardin-Jefferson 30-18 and Bridge City 33-14.

The Wildcats (5-1, 1-0) own the district’s best record and hammered winless Livingston 87-21 last week.

LC-M senior quarterback Adam Pope has been superb the last two weeks, passing for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns.

He completed 14-of-25 tosses for 232 yards and four scores against the Cardinals last week and has some exciting receivers to get the ball to in the forms of Darien Williams, James Williams and Brendon Pollock. Darien Williams hauled in nine catches for 165 yards and three TDs alone in the win at Bridge City.

Just two weeks ago, the Bears were averaging just 94.3 yards a game against a very tough non-district schedule but they have produced 670 yards the last two games to up that number to 174.5 for the campaign.

The Bears have also kept opposing defenses honest with their running game the last couple weeks as backs Kristian Ickes and Landon Bearden have benefitted from nice blocking up front.

LC-M had its best defensive effort of the season last week, limiting the Cardinals to just 138 total yards. The Bears, who are allowing 388 yards a game for the season, will look to slow down a wide-open Wildcats’ attack.

The Wildcats were just 2-7 overall, 1-7 in district last season but have been explosive all season long thus far in averaging 478.8 yards a game, 301 on the ground and 177.8 in the air.

Quarterback Cody Thorndyke spearheads the explosive offense, completing 41-of-64 passes for 867 yards with 14 TDs on no interceptions.

Kyle Weber has been the “bellcow” at running back as he has piled up 597 yards and eight TDs on 76 carries. Jessie Paris has rumbled for 380 yards and five TDs on 53 carries. Dylan Matthews is a double threat, rushing for 343 yards and two scores on just 20 carries while also hauling in 12 receptions for 189 yards and a score. The Bears will also look to contain deep-threat receiver Tyler Gamble, who has hauled in 20 catches for 619 yards and eight TDs.

The Wildcats lone loss came at the hands of Shepherd 35-21 in Week Three.

The Bears will visit Livingston next week while Splendora returns home to face Huffman.