Bridgeport Visits Grafton for 1st Time Since 2010
By Michael Minnich on October 23, 2026
Hard to believe in a series that's about to see its 80th meeting dating back to 1926, but it's been 16 years since the Bridgeport Indians visited the Grafton Bearcats.
The series, which resumed after a 14-year hiatus with a 49-0 Tribe home win last year, shifts a short distance down Route 50 to McKinney Field on Friday at 7 p.m. in a matchup that has major implications for both in the Class AAA playoff race.
Bridgeport (6-2), which moved up two spots from No. 4 to No. 2 in the latest WVSSAC ratings after a 63-14 pasting of Preston on Senior Night last week, likely will need to win out and get some help to stay in those precious top two seeds, which allow teams to host first-round, quarterfinal and semifinal games should they continue to win ahead of the state championships in Charleston.
Grafton, meanwhile, is just hoping to be in the postseason at all, currently sitting in 17th as the last team out.
The Bearcats are much-improved from last year's 1-9 campaign, entering with a 3-4 record that could just as easily be 6-1.
Grafton lost its opener at rival Philip Barbour by one point, 30-29, then rolled through East Fairmont (37-13), Lincoln (35-14) and Hampshire (39-12) before a surprising 27-26 road loss to Berkeley Springs
Elkins, by a 49-21 final, is the only team to decisively defeat Grafton as the Bearcats had the lead at Robert C. Byrd last week before the Flying Eagles rallied for a 31-21 result.
The Bearcats last made the postseason in 2021, losing to North Marion, and have made just one other trip, a first-round exit in 2011, since their magical run to a state title in 2008.
Last year, the Tribe held the Bearcats to 4 first downs, just 1 rushing, and Gavin Williams ran 7 times for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns. while Eli Knight had 40 rushing yards and caught a 20-yard TD pass from Williams.
Bridgeport is looking for its 50th win in the series, entering with a 49-27-3 record.
Grafton's last victory was 24-17 in 2006.
Editor's Note: Photo of the Bridgeport backfield against Preston by Joe LaRocca.
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