Bridge City High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Bridge City, TX)

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Card Advance to Play-off GARY CLARK and DAN DEARING C721 take a West Orange Chief for a ride in third quarter action. Diminutive Chief Stadium in West Orange was overflowing by game-time in expectation of the most dramatic football encounter in Orange County history. Rivals for more than a decade, Bridge City's Cardinals and the West Orange Chiefs were to meet in a contest to de- cide the district champion, as both teams had identical 5-0 records in district play. After a turbulent but uneventful first half, Bridge City clung to a 7-O le,ad. The score remained the same until late in the third quarter, when the Chiefs scored and tacked on two extra points to lead 8-7 . The Chiefs scored again, soon afterwards via a Card fumble, but missed the PAT, leaving the score at 14-7. Then just as things were settling dowl in the West Orange stands, Card freshman Mike McElhaney took the kickoff and scampered 90 yards for a T.D. The extra point try was good, knotting the score up at 14-14. B.C. again re- gained possession ofthe ball and quickly scored with Steve Worster slamming over for the T.D. The PAT failed, leaving the score 20-14. After a kickoff return into Card territory, West Orange methodically .punched away at the B.C. defense until thev hit pay dirt, tying the score at 20-20. Then came the big moment. Everyone in both stands stood breathlessly as the Chiefs set up for the extra point try which, if good, would bring them the championship. But at the snap .of the ball. Card linebacker Gary Clark slashed through the W.O. line, and several startled Chiefs watched in amazement and disbelief as Clark leapt high in the air and batted down the rising football. With only a minute remaining, B.C. ran out the clock to win the game and the district championship on penetrations, 7-3 . w y 'N C .f ,- z f TT - fy' gr- . - as QLJ GARY CLARK blocks the Chief's PAT t1y to pre- ers QRBQ and by the jubilant champions on the bus serve a B.C. win. QR- TJ Victory is evident as pro- going home. claimed by a triumphant coach on his players' should- 95

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When Vidor triple-teamed Card Defen- sive guard DAVID SARTIN 1761, DAVID ERWIN and ROBERT PLAGENS take up the slack as they stop a Pirate back after short yardage as DOUG SCHELL and GARY CLARK 1813 show pursuit. Fleet CHARLES JOHANNSON f21j bursts through a gaping hole in the Vidor de- fensive line as DARRELL SEGURA f22j takes out a Pirate defender with a well- timed block. STEVE WORSTER C303 and REX MORGAN CMJ surround a Vidor ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage as DONALD HEBERT 1231 and DAVID SARTIN come up to help. Bridge City's championship-bound Card1 nals visited Vidor's Pirate Stadium for their last district game before their showdown with West Orange for district laurels. The Cards completely dominated play in this contest, with the Blue team logging much ofthe playing time. Even under the ad- verse weather conditions Big Red turned in an impressive performance, ironing out fi- nal wrinkles in their game plans before the West Orange tilt while winning over Vidor 22 - 12 . Cards Clouf Vidor 22-12 94

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Cards Crown Conroe 52-8 am Q f ft, ,, 1, , Conroe's playoff-wise Tigers were shocked by fledgling competi- tor Bridge City as the Cards trounced the Tigers handily 52-8. In fact, the outcome was never in question as the Cards led '7-O before any time had elapsed in the first quarter fthanks to a kickoff recovery in the Tiger end zone by Mike McElhaneyJ. B.C. 's front line forces gave way to the Blue team early in the game and the reserves ran rings around their dazed Conroe opponents, opening up- a lead of 21-0 before seven minutes had ticked off in the initial stanza. The contest continued at this frantic pace through the second half, with the final score ending up 52-8, And, with a, biedistrict championship safely tucked away, the Cardinals looked for a much harder test the next week in the quarter finals against mighty Bay City . JOHNNY MILLER sets sail around right end on a keeper for 40 yards and the Redbirds third T.D. in the first quarter. 96 MIKE MCELHANEY f20j adds three more points for the Cards on a 25 r yard field goal to raise the fourth y quarter score to 45-8. With most of the Blue team block- ing for him, JOHNNY MILLER has enough time to spot an opening in the Conroe line.