Jasper blasts BC 68-3
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S ISAAC GRINDSTAFF (19) brings down Bridge City's Joe Robertson on a kickoff return in the first half of the Bulldogs 68-3 victory at the Bone Yard.

After last year's dreadful 2-8 season, Jasper needed a football laugher.

Jasper got a good laugh at the expense of a young Bridge City squad last Friday at the Bone Yard. The Bulldogs spotted Bridge City a 3-0 lead and then scored 68 unanswered points to claim a commanding 68-3 victory over the over-matched Cardinals.

"The guys just decided to play as a team and play unselfish football and that was the difference," said Jasper Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks. "On defense, a guy would make a great hit and everyone would cheer for each other. It just showed what we can do when we play unselfish football and think about the whole team."

Bridge City had a hard time stopping Jasper offense all night long. The Bulldogs out gained Bridge City 581 to 21 total offensive yards.

"I was concerned coming into the game because Bridge City moved the ball well against Silsbee and they showed they could explode at any time but I was very impressed with our defense," Brooks said.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S DOMINIQUE BAILEY breaks into the open field as Bridge City's Kris Wedekind (6) and Evan Boren (4*) give chase. Bailey finished the game with 197 yards rushing and four touchdowns including one passing to Derrick Day

Leading the offensive parade for Jasper was sophomore quarterback Dominique Bailey, who rushed for a game-high 197 yards and four touchdowns. Jasper's Malcolm Bronson rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown while Malcolm Bronson added 101 yards and two touchdowns as Jasper's speed was too much for the Cardinals to handle all night long.

"Dominique is getting more comfortable back there and even threw the ball well," Brooks said.

When the game opened, Jasper fans had visions of last year's Orangefield debacle when Bridge City's Joe Robertson took the opening kickoff and returned it 80 yards to the Jasper two-yard line. But this is not the Jasper team of last year.

This year's squad looked at this opening move as a challenge and their defensive squad rose up and met the challenge head on. Bridge City moved backwards as the Cardinals had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Carlos Ponte and a quick 3-0 lead at the 9:35 mark of the first quarter.

"Ordinarily, we would have had a letdown right there but we didn't and that got the whole team going," Brooks said. "That was a big point in the game that told everyone that we were ready to play this game.

Jasper had the Cardinals right where they wanted them.

Jasper answered Bridge City's score or at least Bailey did. Starting from their own 10-yard line, Bailey gained all the yards himself as he weaved through the Bridge City defense on three plays to give the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Bailey capped off the drive by scoring from a yard out as Jasper took a 6- 3 lead over Bridge City at the 8:37 mark of the first quarter.

Bridge City went three and out on their next possession and the game only got worse for the game Cardinal squad when Jared Raggio's punt was blocked by Jasper and recovered by Kaddarroe Rawls in the end zone for a touchdown for the Bulldogs.

While Jasper's defense was stopping any Bridge City progress, the offensive machine kept rolling along against the Cardinals.

Again, Bailey called his own number on the next drive as he scored from 29 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 20-3 lead.

Bridge City gained their initial first down on the night on their next drive but soon had to punt the ball back over to Jasper. That would just pave the way for another score.

After a Jasper penalty nullified a 70-yard scoring run by Malcolm Bronson, Jasper went on their way to score again.

This time, Malcolm Bronson capped off the four-play scoring drive by rambling in from 45-yards out as time expired on the first quarter.

When the smoke had cleared in the first quarter, Jasper held a commanding 24-3 lead over Bridge City and the rout was on.

The Bulldogs would score the first eight times they touched the ball offensively.

Defensively, the Cardinals were unable to move the ball against a quick Jasper defense.

The second quarter brought no relief for the young Cardinals as Jasper scored again the next time they touched the ball. This drive moved slowly down the field but was capped the same way most of the other first half drives were - in the end zone.

Bailey did the honor again as he scored from 11 yards out to give Jasper a 34-3 lead with 6:53 left in the second quarter.

On their next scoring drive, Jasper went through the airwaves to reach the end zone.

Bailey connected with Derrick Day for a 17-yard scoring pass with 1:55 left in the first half and 41-3 halftime lead.

Jasper added another score on their first drive of the second half.

Bailey scored his final touchdown of the night when he scored from 15 yards out to finish off a rather productive night.

With mainly subs in the contest, Jasper continued scoring against Bridge City in the second half.

Darren Bronson stepped into the star role as he scored on the next possession for the Bulldogs.

After carrying the ball down to the three, Darren Bronson finished off the drive by scoring on the next play. With David Beck's PAT, Jasper held a 54-3 lead.

Darren Bronson would add another score early in the fourth quarter when he ran away from Bridge City defenders on a 30-yard scoring scamper and a 61-3 lead.

How bad was it for Bridge City? Jasper even managed to score off their own miscue midway through the fourth quarter.

Rawls picked up a fumble by Kendrick Fowler and rambled 47-yard for a touchdown with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter.

With Zach Riggins PAT, Jasper finished off the Cardinals 68-3.

"We have said all along that we have the talent to be a good football team but you have to have the right attitude," Brooks said. "This team made a 360 degree turn in attitude from the previous week and they were having fun out there. They were doing everything they could to help the team.

"Dominique and Malcolm made some long runs but they wouldn't have made them without the other players blocking for them," Brooks said. "Now, we just have to move forward with it."