The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Bridge City celebrated homecoming on Friday night. The visiting Hardin-Jefferson Hawks celebrated their 21-7 victory which was their first win of the season by defeating the Cardinals at Larry Ward Stadium.

In a special pregame ceremony Bridge City Cardinal football legend the late Steve Worster was honored. Worster's two children Scott Worster and Erin Worster Stephens were honored with framed Cardinal jerseys with the number 30 on them. That was Worster's number when he played at Bridge City in the mid-1960s and rushed for 5,422 yards as a Cardinal. Steve Worster passed away in August of this year and was a 1967 graduate of Bridge City High School.

During halftime Paige Taylor was named the Bridge City Homecoming Queen. Paige is a senior at Bridge City.

The loss dropped Bridge City (1-7, 0-4) into sole possession of last place in District 9-4A. Hardin-Jefferson (1-7, 1-3) earned their first district win in two seasons.

The difference in Friday night's game were the big plays made by Hardin-Jefferson. Three medium length passes were broken for long gainers by the Hawks. Bridge City had more yards rushing and two more first downs, but only one big play which resulted in the Cardinals lone score on the night.

After a scoreless first quarter Hardin-Jefferson took possession early in the second period at its 24 yard line. On fourth-and-one the Hawks gambled and made the first down right at the marker.

A holding penalty moved the Hawks back to their 25, and a short pass completion got them five yards to the 30. On third-and-14 quarterback Logan Trotter passed to the left sideline to Rochard Sears who made the catch and then eluded a trio of Cardinal defenders before sprinting the last fifty yards for a 70-yard touchdown. Mason Adamic added the point-after to put Hardin-Jefferson on top 7-0 with 7:21 left in the half.

The Cardinals intercepted a Hawk pass on the first play of the game to take over in Hardin-Jefferson territory but a penalty on their first play pushed them back past the 50 yard line. Bridge City did cross mid field again until after the Hawks scored.

Quarterback Josmany Robleto who was back from an injury passed 18 yards to Noah Broussard and a roughing the passer penalty on Hardin-Jefferson added another 15 yards moving the ball to the Cardinals'45. Jemel Charles carried twice to pick up another first down to the Hawks' 42. The drive stalled, and Gavin Bodin punted the ball back to the Hawks.

The first half concluded with Hardin-Jefferson leading by seven points. The Cardinals had actually gained the most yardage 86 to 60 as a result of multiple errant snaps over Trotter's head resulting in negative yardage for the Hawks.

The second half started as if Hardin-Jefferson would pad their lead. The Hawks took the ball near midfield after a Cardinal punt. Trotter passed to Wyatt Samaha who gained 21 yards to the Bridge City 33. Trotter then hit Judah Wheaton for an 18-yard completion to the 15.

Four straight runs by Davion Levine moved the Hawks to the five. On third-and-goal Trotter passed incomplete. Adamic attempted a 22-yard field goal which had plenty of distance but was wide left keeping the score 7-0 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Robleto played one more series at quarterback for the Cardinals. Bridge City punted again.

The Cardinal defense held the Hawks and Bridge City took over at its 17 with just over a minute left in the third. Broussard was put in as the quarterback and he gained 12 yards on the first play. A holding penalty spoiled the momentum and Bodin punted again.

The Hawks needed one play a Trotter to Sears pass that went 67 yards for the score. Trotter attempted to pass for the two-point conversion which the Cardinals knocked down, but Hardin-Jefferson increased their lead to 13 points with 10:24 left in the game.

Broussard remained at quarterback and directed the Cardinals downfield. Broussard and Caden Welch helped pick up the initial first down. Broussard then passed to Bodin for a second first down to the Cardinal 42.

A long run by Broussard was partially curtailed by a holding penalty that still netted a first down to the Hawks' 30. Two runs setup a third-and-11 for the Cardinals and Broussard passed to Bodin in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown. Victor Hernandez kicked the extra point to pull Bridge City to within six points at 13-6 with 6:30 to play.

Scott Worster and Erin Worster Stephens were given framed jerseys of their father Steve Worster's uniform during a pre-game ceremony as part of homecoming at Bridge City

Just over a minute later Hardin-Jefferson answered with its third long touchdown pass. Carter Mouton whose first pass of the night on the opening play of the game was intercepted by the Cardinals' Rayburn Hebert hit Rodrick Russell with a pass on slant pattern which Russell took to the house for a 74-yard touchdown. Trotter passed to Wheaton for two points to make the final score 21-7.

Bridge City's Broussard was the leading ball carrier in the game with 70 yards on 9 carries. Jemel Charles had 12 rushes for 44 yards. Broussard completed 4 of 7 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Robleto was 6 of 18 passing for 46 yards and one interception.

Trotter for the Hawks was 13 of 20 passing for 198 yards with two touchdowns. Mouton threw two passes with one interception and one touchdown for 74 yards.

Bridge City travels to Silsbee next week to face the first place Tigers. Hardin-Jefferson plays at home against Jasper.