Bridgeport High School’s football team went into the postseason ranked fourth in the MetroNews High School Football Power Ratings. At the conclusion of the postseason, the Indians find themselves still ranked in fourth – not far from last year’s state champions Mingo Central.

 

The 11-2 Tribe finished with 219 points to earn the fourth place finish among the voters. The poll is comprised of the votes of 30 radio broadcasters and sports writers from across West Virginia.

 

Not surprisingly, the Class AA champions from Bluefield are the top-ranked team in the final standings. The Beavers finished the year at 14-0 and captured their 11^th title along the way. It was Bluefield that ended the Indians’ season in the semifinals by a 37-14 score. The Beavers received all 30 first place votes after coming into the playoffs ranked No. 2 in the MetroNews poll.

 

Fairmont Senior, who lost to Bluefield by a 29-26 score in an exciting ‘AA’ title game, finished second. It was the Polar Bears that handed the Indians their only other loss on the year by a 14-10 score at Wayne Jamison Field. FSHS finished with 270 points.

 

Mingo Central suffered its only loss of the year in the semifinals to Fairmont by a 35-6 score. However, the voters felt the Miners were the better squad as they finished with 231 points.

 

Rounding out the top five was Point Pleasant. The Big Blacks ended the year at 9-3.

 

Two other Bridgeport foes finished in the top 10. Winfield came in at No. 7 after the Generals ended the year with a 42-13 loss to Bridgeport and an 8-4 record. Keyser ended the year at No. 10 thanks to a 7-4 mark that included a season-ending first round playoff loss to Fairmont Senior by a 34-12 score.

 

Locally, Liberty Harrison finished with one of the best seasons in school history. The Mountaineers went 9-3 and lost to Mingo Central in the second round of the postseason by a 53-22 score.

 

Two other Bridgeport foes were in the “also receiving votes” of the final poll. Weir, a team the Indians beat in the postseason, and Robert C. Byrd also were among the state’s top teams.

 

Harrison County also had another team finish at No. 4. South Harrison, who went 10-2 this season, was voted into the fourth spot. The Hawks lost 39-6 in the quarterfinals to eventual state champion Wheeling Central., 

 

Click HERE for the top 10 in all three classifications.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.