It’s not as if Bridgeport hasn’t faced unique and talented quarterbacks through the first four games of the 2016 high school football season. In fact, two of the four preferred to air it out and one of those two – Wheeling Park’s Cross Wilkinson – has actually been getting Division I looks.

 

Although both Wheeling Park and Lewis County were able to get over the top of the Indians’ vaunted defense for scores, outside of the long pass plays (including 80-yard scoring passes by both Wilkinson and Lewis’ Thomas Hogan) success through the air has been limited.

 

Tonight, though, they’ll be facing a team riding high with a vaunted passing attack that has posted some big numbers. In fact, when the Indians visit Stydahar Stadium in Shinnston tonight for the first battle with the Cougars since 2009, they’ll be facing a team with a potent combination of quarterback and skill players.

 

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. The 4-0 and Class AA top-ranked Indians will look to remain perfect against the 3-1 and No. 12-ranked Cougars.

 

“There’s been a lot of talk about them in the preseason and they returned a lot of guys. Their quarterback, the Carpenter kid, is a pretty good athlete,” said Bridgeport Coach Josh Nicewarner. “They’ve got plenty of solid names like (Chase) Riley and (Anthony) Kellar.”

 

Lincoln is coming off of a 48-0 hammering of East Fairmont. In that contest, Kobie Carpenter had another big outing at quarterback that improved his already solid numbers on the campaign. Carpenter has completed 63-of-100 passes (63 percent) for 1053 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions as he easily leads the area in passing yardage.

 

Chase Riley is the top target of Carpenter. Riley has hauled in 26 catches for 490 yards and three scores. Carpenter will also go to Dustin Marks who has managed to grab 13 catches for 303 yards with four touchdowns.

 

The Indians, though, are no slouches in covering the pass. The defensive secondary of Gordon Swiger, J.T. Harris, John Merica and Brent Sinsel have held opposing teams in check this year. The defense has allowed 102.5 yards per game, which includes giving up the two 80-yard scores and also a 66-yard pass play against the Minutemen. That means of the 410 yards allowed that more than half – 226 – came on three plays.

 

Lincoln will also run the ball. The team is led by Hunter Moore, who has 56 carries for 288 yards with four touchdowns.

 

Teams have not fared well running the ball against Bridgeport’s defense. Incredibly, in last week’s 41-7 win against Robert C. Byrd, the Eagles managed just 75 yard rushing. What makes the number even more impressive is that in 46 games since the start of the 2013 season, BHS has held its foe under 100 yards rushing 27 times. That number would likely be higher if the Indians’ reserve defenses didn’t closeout several of those contests.

 

Stuffing the run and leading the defense has been the one-two punch of Seth Friel and Brice Haines. Friel leads the team with 17 tackles, while Haines is right behind with 16. Merica and Mackenzie Holmes both had 13 stops on the year, John Thomas and Andrew Barker have both collected 12 tackles, while Zach Osborn and Swiger have 10 tackles.

 

Offensively, the Indians are pretty standard with what they do. The Tribe is led by Harris with 73 rushes for 496 yards (6.8 per carry) and six touchdowns. Swiger is next with 302 yards on 55 runs (5.5 yards per carry and five scores.

 

While the Indians have only attempted 13 passes all season, they’ve been effective when going to the air. In fact, BHS has completed seven of those passes with four of them going for touchdowns. Three of the four scoring strikes have been to Friel out of the backfield.

 

As for this being the first meeting in seven seasons, Nicewarner said it doesn’t change the strategy by Bridgeport. Instead, it will be business as usual.

 

“Whether we played the last year or 20 years ago, we’ll prepare the same way. We’ll come up with a game plan and go out and hope to execute it,” said Nicewarner.

 

Bridgeport is currently 28-3 against Lincoln, with BHS winning the last meeting in 2009 by a 42-0 score at Wayne Jamison Field. All three losses in the series have come in Shinnston with the last in 2004 by a 22-21 score.

 

Tonight’s game will be carried once again on WAJR 103.3 FM with the “Voice of the Indians” Travis Jones making the call and Ryan Nicewarner providing the play by play.

 

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