Silsbee Tigers and Bridge City Cardinals clash in preseason football test

BRIDGE CITY, Texas — Scrimmage season is officially under way, meaning the 2025 high school football regular season is just two weeks away.

The Silsbee Tigers hit the road to Larry Ward Stadium to take on the Bridge City Cardinals to get in-game looks before Friday night lights. 

The Tigers entered 2024 with the buzz that the season could be a down year for Silsbee. 

With that replaying in the minds of the players on the field, the Tigers did what the program has consistently done in the eight years under head coach Randy Smith. 

Silsbee was a thorn in the side of every district opponent they faced on their way to their 16th straight playoff berth. 

Now walking into 2025, coach Smith knows that the team can only go as far as the defense will take them. 

“We’ve got a really good front seven on defense, but they’re going to have to keep carrying us throughout the season,” Smith said Thursday night after his squad’s performance. “I really believe defense wins championships.”

Their first test of the year was two, full 12-minute quarters of football against the Bridge City Cardinals.

Big Red had its own impressive campaign as they marched to an 8-3 record under their first year with Josh Smalley, who had spent the previous 11 seasons with the Orangefield Bobcats. 

Like Silsbee, the Cardinals will have to adjust to a new face at the quarterback position, but the defense shined on the gridiron helping slow down what can be a fast-paced Tigers offense. 

“I thought defensively we were fresh, flying around, and offensively we’ll be okay,” coach Smalley said talking about the effort from his players during their first outing of the year. “We just got to get those guys {the offensive line} some experience.” 

The Cardinals open year two under Smally on the road against the Buna Cougars on August 29 while Silsbee will look to make it 17 straight playoff appearances with their first game going up against the Vidor Pirates on the road.