Considering the fact Bridgeport High School rolled through the field on its way to this year’s Class AA football championship, it should come as no surprise that the Indians dominated the ‘AA’ all state team that was released today. The Indians had five players selected to the first team, including the defensive captain, while two other players were named to the second team.
“To have five players selected is really just huge for the program,” said BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner. “Certainly, we felt we’d get at least three and an outside chance at four, which I believe is the most we’ve ever had on the first team. To see five speaks highly of what the writers and the other coaches felt about our program.”
The Indians had three members on the first team defense in defensive lineman Michael Gray (52), linebacker Mitchell Winkie (35) and defensive back Dante Bonamico (21). On offense, the Indians had offensive lineman Connor Nelson (77) and running back Dylan Tonkery (10). For good measure, defensive lineman Noah Markley and kicker Nick Strogen were both named to the second team.
The teams, chosen by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association using their own ballots and those of the coaches, singled out Bonamico for special recognition. Bonamico, just a junior, was named the captain of the defensive unit.
“He’s just such an emotional kid. As great of players as we’ve had come through Bridgeport and even statistically speaking with what Dylan did this year, it might be easy to overlook a kid like Dante,” said Nicewarner. “To look at his numbers on defense doesn’t tell the story, and the same holds true on offense. This kid, quite frankly, is as nasty on defense as anyone I’ve seen. There aren’t many coaches out there who would tell you they wouldn’t like to have 11 Dante Bonamicos on the field.”
Bonamico finished the year with 32 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. He also broke up three passes from the secondary, where many teams didn’t even look in his direction.
“He’s very talented as a running back, but does such a better job up front blocking and he loves to block. Then, you go defensively and you see him in the secondary, running up to the line of scrimmage, filling gaps and, basically just flying around and to the ball,” Nicewarner said. “He’s a true player inevery sense of the word.”
Joining Bonamico on the defensive unit is Winkie. Winkie finished the year as the leading tackler on the most dominant defensive team in Class AA if not the state. Winkie had 62 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, was tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks and recovered a fumble.
Gray is the last first team defensive selection. The former running back made the move the defensive line as the Indians had depth in the offensive backfield, but needed help up front. The move proved to be beneficial beyond what anyone could have imagined. He finished the year with 57 tackles, a team-high 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovered.
Nelson, like Gray, also made a position switch that proved vital to Bridgeport. The senior spent most of his career as an end on offense, but with the Tribe having a position of need on offense he moved to the line of scrimmage. And he was brutal on the opposition. He helped lead an offensive ground game that amassed 4,556 yards rushing or an average of 325.4 per game.
If Tonkery was on the edge of becoming all state before the postseason began, he was a lock after it ended. Tonkery ended a regular season where he missed more than one game due to injury with 112 carries for 708 yards rushing and six touchdowns. He ended the postseason with a combined total on the year of 183 carries for 1,557 yards and 17 touchdowns. Incredibly, Tonkery had 71 carries for 849 yards (11.96 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns in four postseason games – including three straight against foes considered among the best in West Virginia.
On the second team, Noah Markley was another team opposing offenses more than had their hands full in dealing with. Markley was tied as the club’s second leading tackler and finished with 58 stops on the year. His totals included 10 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble
Once again, the Indians managed to get a soccer player to handle the kicking duties for them. And once again Nick Strogen made that pay off in spades. Strogen finished with 58 points on the year and was nearly automatic on point-after kicks as he connected on 40-of-43. He also was 6-for-8 on field goals and managed a Class AA playoff record 48-yard kick against Liberty Raleigh in the first round.
Bridgeport defensive back John Wilfong, who also returned kicks and punts this year, was named to the special honorable mention list. Defensive lineman Brandon Hartz and linebacker/end Zack Bombardiere were named to the honorable mention list. All three players were seniors.
Class AA All-State Football Team
As Selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association
1st Team
Offense
QB – Gage Shaffer, Frankfort, 6-7, 205, sr.
RB – Ben D’Annunzio, Robert C. Byrd, 6-1, 195, sr.
RB – Shaun Dotson, Herbert Hoover, 5-9, 185,sr.
RB – Dylan Tonkery, Bridgeport, 6-0, 165, jr.
OL – Steve Cook, Wyoming East, 5-11, 240, sr.
OL – Kyle Hickman, Ravenswood, 5-11, 315, sr.
OL – Trenton Mahan, Herbert Hoover, 6-1, 270, sr.
OL – Zach Holt, Mingo Central, 6-3, 190, sr.
OL – Connor Nelson, Bridgeport, 6-3, 235, sr.
WR – Nick Davisson, Fairmont Senior, 5-10, 150, jr.
Let's see...Bridgeport's Dylan Tonkery first team all-state and recognized by MetroNews as One of Top 5 Football Players in the State, but not good enough to be first team all big-10! Big-10 coaches are a joke! North Marion won one game and had 2 players on the Offensive first team, East Fairmont has more players on the first and second offensive teams than Bridgeport and Lincoln had a down year and had 3 players on Offensive first team .Bridgeport wins the state championship and has one? Dylan Tonkery is one of Top 5 Football Players in the State , but only good enough to make second team all Big-10. LOL!
Posted by KEVIN CARBACIO Dec. 11, 2014 at 10:53 AM EST
Let's see...Bridgeport's Dylan Tonkery first team all-state and recognized by MetroNews as One of Top 5 Football Players in the State, but not good enough to be first team all big-10! Big-10 coaches are a joke! North Marion won one game and had 2 players on the Offensive first team, East Fairmont has more players on the first and second offensive teams than Bridgeport and Lincoln had a down year and had 3 players on Offensive first team .Bridgeport wins the state championship and has one? Dylan Tonkery is one of Top 5 Football Players in the State , but only good enough to make second team all Big-10. LOL!
Posted by KEVIN CARBACIO
Dec. 11, 2014 at 10:53 AM EST
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