District 21-3A Toughest district in the state?
Stump facing challenge with young BC squad
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

This week: Bridge City

Bridge City new football coach Cris Stump may be facing his toughest challenge in his coaching career this year.

He takes over the reins of a football program that is thrown into arguably the toughest football district in the state with only one returning starter.

And he's looking forward to it.

"We're excited to get this started," Stump said. "I wish the season started tomorrow but we still have to wait a couple more months. It will be fun.

"We are going to be very young with a lot of juniors and sophomores playing," Stump said. "That's a lot of young kids but that can be a good thing as well."

When he took over the BC position, he was handed a roll sheet with a list of returning seniors this coming season.

"There were 12 names on it and as I started to look at it, one was a girl and three moved away so we are down to eight senior players," Stump said. "This year is going to be new to everybody but something fun is going to go on every week."

Stump, who replaced Claude Tarver, said he intends on rallying his troops in their role this year and build on that youthful energy.

BRIDGE CITY may be relying on a strong defensive effort this year to compete in District 21-3A. In last year's contest with Jasper, a trio of Cardinal defenders converge on a ball coughed up by Jasper quarterback Cameron Stubblefield. Bridge City will field a varsity squad this year with a possible eight seniors on it. Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy

"Everything will be new to them but that's okay," Stump said.

"This district looks just like everybody says it is," Stump said. "There's not an easy game in the district and every week you have to prove yourself.

"Football, like any competition, is what have you done for me lately," Stump said. "It doesn't matter who you beat when WO-S is your next opponent. In this district, something could happen to you if you don't take care of your business."

Stump worked previously for at Beaumont West Brook and Cinco Ranch as the offensive coordinator.

Last year, the Cardinals fell one game short of a playoff berth and were a threat all season long.

"They lost in district to Kirbyville, WO-S and Silsbee and those were the big three in district last year," Stump said.

Stump said last year's BC team was loaded with seniors and that leaves a void for this year's squad.

"This area has always been known for kids that play hard and compete," Stump said. "That was one of those things that attracted me to this job."

While there are many losses for the Cardinals this year, one key question that needs to be answered is who will replace starting quarterback Johnny Dishon.

Stump is looking at Dustin Breaux, a junior varsity quarterback last year, to step into the position.

"We have a couple of other young kids working in that spot as well," Stump said. "They are picking things up faster than I thought they would."

Running back and defensive back Cody Mills and offensive lineman Patrick Carlton also return for the Cardinals this year.

Stump plans on running a spread offense this year for the Cardinals and that will come as a change to the Bridge City faithful.

"Coach Tarver ran the Wing-T who ran the ball and threw it every now and then," Stump said. "We plan on spreading it out and seeing what happens. We definitely are planning to do some different stuff this year."

Stump said the youthfulness of the team might play to his advantage this year in teaching this new offense.

"The young guys haven't been running the old offense too long," Stump said.

But Stump also knows there are limitations that his team will have this season and he has to coach to those strengths and weaknesses.

"You look at your personnel and see what you can and cannot do," Stump said. "We don't have any big offensive linemen guys, like they have in Jasper and Silsbee, so what you have to do is find something that fits your personnel and spreading it out might just work.

"It will take some time but I think it will work out just fine for us," Stump said.

He said he also plans on changing up the defensive scheme for BC this year.

"Everybody in this district appears to be a run-oriented offense and we will have to adapt to that but they will also have to adapt to us," Stump said.

Stump sees Kirbyville being a favorite in the district, but he said don't overlook West Orange-Stark or Silsbee either.

"Coach (Dan) Hooks is going to say he lost everybody at WO-S." Stump said. "But I don't think you find anybody to feel sorry for him anymore.

"WO-S is going to be just as talented as anybody around," Stump said. "On paper you have to call Kirbyville the favorite but if you polled the other coaches in this district if we should go ahead and give Kirbyville the district championship, they are all going to tell you no."

And how will Bridge City fare this year?

"It's going to depend how our young guys get used to playing on Friday nights," Stump said. "That is a whole different speed and some will be coming from freshman football to varsity football.

"We'll show up every week and compete and find out," Stump said. "We will have some guys cast into leadership roles that haven't been there before."