LITTLE CYPRESS — Nothing like a good old-fashioned rivalry to start Week Two of the District 10-4A Division I season when the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears welcome in the Bridge City Cardinals Friday night.

Some rivalries are tight and none more than this one.

The two teams have hooked up 38 times, both winning 19, so one team will certainly have some bragging rights for sure after Friday’s affair.

The Cardinals (3-2, 1-0) showed little rust in their 10-4A opener against Cleveland last week as the Redbirds steamrolled the Cleveland Indians 42-3.

Bridge City had two straight bye weeks as they healed up and lined things out.

Meanwhile, the Battlin’ Bears (2-4, 0-1) will be looking to end a two-game skid after falling to Silsbee 35-20 in their 10-4A opener.

The Bears have been stunned by two potent offenses the last two weeks.

LC-M allowed 649 yards to TAPPS powerhouse St. Pius in a 62-24 road loss and allowed 497 against Silsbee last week as Tiger back Calvin Tyler rumbled for 324 yards on 18 carries.

The Bears will look to slow down a veteran Bridge City offensive unit that runs the Slot-T and Wing-T extremely well.

Against Cleveland, the Cardinals piled up 417 total yards, 380 via the ground game.

Backs Patrick Morris and Cayce Draper teamed up for 27 carries for 216 yards and quarterback Byron Trahan bolted into the end zone for four touchdowns.

The Cardinals are churning out 348 yards per contest.

 

Draper has darted for 457 yards thus far this season while Morris has piled up more than 350 yards.

Bridge City will face a Bear defense that is allowing 362.8 yards a game.

The Bears moved the ball well against Silsbee, mixing the pass and the run and will look to do the same against the Cardinals.

LC-M is averaging 287.5 yards a game.

Tailback Chris Winters leads the Bear ground arsenal with 540 yards on 105 carries.

Quarterback Beau Bickham has completed 50-of-97 passes for 693 yards. His favorite targets have been Ronald Guillory and Katon Brown.

The Bears will face a Cardinal defense that is allowing 277.4 yards a game. Bridge City held Cleveland to 231 yards last week in the romp.

The Cardinals won last year’s meeting at home in a 62-35 offensive showcase.

In other 10-4A action this Friday, Silsbee (3-3, 1-0) will play host to Navasota (1-5, 1-0). Navasota snared its first win of the year in a 28-21 victory over Huffman. Huffman (3-3, 0-1) will venture to Cleveland (3-3, 0-1) as both teams will be seeking their first district win.

The Bears will hit the road next week when they visit Huffman while the Cardinals will return home to host Silsbee.

Series history

1970: BC 47, LC-M 14

1971: BC, 36, LC-M 8

1972: LC-M 28, BC 7

1973: BC 28, LC-M 0

1974: BC, 28, LC-M 7

1975: BC 33, LC-M 0

1977: BC 40, LC-M 0

1978: BC 13, LC-M 7

1979: BC 12, LC-M 7

1980: LC-M 7, BC 6

1981: LC-M 48, BC 0

1982: LC-M 31, BC 14

1983: LC-M 35, BC 8

1984: BC 35, LC-M 28

1985: BC, 24, LC-M 7

1986: LC-M 38, BC 16

1987: BC 17, LC-M 0

1988: BC 16, LC-M 7

1989: LC-M 21, BC 0

1990: LC-M 27, BC 21

1991: LC-M 3, BC 0

1992: LC-M 10, BC 0

1993: LC-M 10, BC 6

1994: LC-M 38, BC 0

1995: LC-M 45, BC 26

1996: LC-M 37, BC 10

1997: LC-M 26, BC 10

1998: BC 38, LC-M 18

1999: LC-M 24, BC 13

2000: BC 9, LC-M 7

2001: BC 14, LC-M 7

2002: BC 27, LC-M 7

2003: LC-M 28, BC 6

2004: BC 28, LC-M 21

2005: BC 31, LC-M 14

2009: LC-M 16, BC 0

2014: LC-M 34, BC 7

2015: BC 62, LC-M 35