Cat22
10-18-2006, 02:04 PM
Bayou Bowl VII Pits Cardinals and Bobcats
High school football action erupts in Orange County this week when the
Orangefield Bobcats and Bridge City Cardinals collide in Bayou Bowl VII.
Always a key Dist. 21-3A matchup, district contentions are paired with
Bayou Bowl bragging rights making this game the event of the season.
Stitched together by a few miles of highway on the shores of Cow Bayou,
Bridge City and Orangefield are blended communities.
Naturally, a friendly rivalry surrounds the Bayou Bowl event that began in
2000 when UIL district realignment reassigned BCISD from Class-4A to
Class-3A status. The changed pitted the Cardinals with district
repercussions against the neighboring Bobcats. The Bayou Bowl was born
with the winner receiving the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy," that remains in the
winning team's trophy case for the duration of the school year.
For the past two consecutive years the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" has adorned
the Cardinal feild house. Bridge City has claimed the prize in five of the
six matchups.
In 2004 the Rotary Club, of Bridge City-Orangefield, adopted the event to
promote good sportsmanship and to become a future fund raiser to benefit
both school districts through Rotary scholarships and youth campaigns.
That year the underdog Orangefield stunned Bridge City winning Bayou Bowl IV, 15-14, in the final seconds of the contest in F.L. McClain Stadium.
The Bobcat scoreboard remained lit all night after the emotional victory.
The next year, however, the Cardinals reclaimed the title defeating the
Bobcats 48-0 also in Orangefield. In 2005, Bridge City retained possession
of the "Buzzi Gunn Trophy," winning 28-0 at Larry Ward Stadium in Bridge
City.
Once again the Bayou Bowl returns to Orangefield this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
As always, the game is a "must win" for both teams which are more evenly matched than in the past; and in what has been called the toughest Class 3-A district in the state since 2006 district realignment last spring. Cardinal head coach Claude Tarver will field a team that is 4-2, 2-1. Bobcat head coach Blake Morrison's squad is 3-3, 1-2.
Claiming the Bayou Bowl VII championship would be a big boost to either
program at a crucial point in the season. In the first six Bayou Bowl
contests the team that has won the Bayou Bowl has also proceeded into the Class-3A playoffs.
Rotarian president Barry Murchison will officiate and will present the
trophy to the winning team's head coach at the conclusion of the game.
"The Bayou Bowl is waged in the spirit of fair play and with the intent of
promoting community involvement in local athletics and enhancing school
pride," Murchison said.
The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" memorializes local photographer Buzzie Gunn. Gunn and his father, T.L. Gunn, where pioneers in photographing the early years of Orange County football.
Buzzie eventually became the second generation owner of Gunn's Studio in Orange after shooting for various publications including Sports
Illustrated. Later his contributions to local publications would become
the only professional visual recordings of Orange County football as it
was played for over thirty years.
Today, Gunn's Studio is owned by third generation photographer Chris Gunn, Buzzie's son, who carries on the tradition of enthusiasm for local
athletics through media photography.
Announcements on the public address system at F.L. McClain Stadium at last Friday's game said that the Orangefield Bobcat Athletic Booster Club is
giving away free hot dogs before the game to anyone wearing orange against Bridge City. An additional motivator for Big Red is the chance to defeat former Cardinal assistant coach Josh Smalley, who defected to Orangefield to become Bobcat offensive coordinator.
The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" will be on display in the end zone at F.L.
McClain Stadium before the game.
High school football action erupts in Orange County this week when the
Orangefield Bobcats and Bridge City Cardinals collide in Bayou Bowl VII.
Always a key Dist. 21-3A matchup, district contentions are paired with
Bayou Bowl bragging rights making this game the event of the season.
Stitched together by a few miles of highway on the shores of Cow Bayou,
Bridge City and Orangefield are blended communities.
Naturally, a friendly rivalry surrounds the Bayou Bowl event that began in
2000 when UIL district realignment reassigned BCISD from Class-4A to
Class-3A status. The changed pitted the Cardinals with district
repercussions against the neighboring Bobcats. The Bayou Bowl was born
with the winner receiving the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy," that remains in the
winning team's trophy case for the duration of the school year.
For the past two consecutive years the "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" has adorned
the Cardinal feild house. Bridge City has claimed the prize in five of the
six matchups.
In 2004 the Rotary Club, of Bridge City-Orangefield, adopted the event to
promote good sportsmanship and to become a future fund raiser to benefit
both school districts through Rotary scholarships and youth campaigns.
That year the underdog Orangefield stunned Bridge City winning Bayou Bowl IV, 15-14, in the final seconds of the contest in F.L. McClain Stadium.
The Bobcat scoreboard remained lit all night after the emotional victory.
The next year, however, the Cardinals reclaimed the title defeating the
Bobcats 48-0 also in Orangefield. In 2005, Bridge City retained possession
of the "Buzzi Gunn Trophy," winning 28-0 at Larry Ward Stadium in Bridge
City.
Once again the Bayou Bowl returns to Orangefield this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
As always, the game is a "must win" for both teams which are more evenly matched than in the past; and in what has been called the toughest Class 3-A district in the state since 2006 district realignment last spring. Cardinal head coach Claude Tarver will field a team that is 4-2, 2-1. Bobcat head coach Blake Morrison's squad is 3-3, 1-2.
Claiming the Bayou Bowl VII championship would be a big boost to either
program at a crucial point in the season. In the first six Bayou Bowl
contests the team that has won the Bayou Bowl has also proceeded into the Class-3A playoffs.
Rotarian president Barry Murchison will officiate and will present the
trophy to the winning team's head coach at the conclusion of the game.
"The Bayou Bowl is waged in the spirit of fair play and with the intent of
promoting community involvement in local athletics and enhancing school
pride," Murchison said.
The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" memorializes local photographer Buzzie Gunn. Gunn and his father, T.L. Gunn, where pioneers in photographing the early years of Orange County football.
Buzzie eventually became the second generation owner of Gunn's Studio in Orange after shooting for various publications including Sports
Illustrated. Later his contributions to local publications would become
the only professional visual recordings of Orange County football as it
was played for over thirty years.
Today, Gunn's Studio is owned by third generation photographer Chris Gunn, Buzzie's son, who carries on the tradition of enthusiasm for local
athletics through media photography.
Announcements on the public address system at F.L. McClain Stadium at last Friday's game said that the Orangefield Bobcat Athletic Booster Club is
giving away free hot dogs before the game to anyone wearing orange against Bridge City. An additional motivator for Big Red is the chance to defeat former Cardinal assistant coach Josh Smalley, who defected to Orangefield to become Bobcat offensive coordinator.
The "Buzzie Gunn Trophy" will be on display in the end zone at F.L.
McClain Stadium before the game.