by Doug Comer

 

Coaches preach defense to their players on a daily basis.  It’s posted on the walls in the locker room and you can always find a momentum swing in a game when a big hit has been applied on the opposition.

 

 But, when your team performs like a junior high student playing his dad in Madden 15 on X-box, you have to give props to the offense and the points they put on the board. Bridgeport was just that kid as the class AA No. 3 ranked Indians posted 57 first half points and finished with a 71-29 win over Elkins Friday night at Wayne Jamison field.

The points scored by the Indians breaks a 44-year scoring record held by the 1971 team that posted 68 in a lopsided win over Lewis County. And almost all scores against the Tigers came on big plays. Head coach Josh Nicewarner knows that his offensive scheme allows for opportunities to score no matter where the ball is.

“In our sets we always have a chance to break the big play,” said Nicewarner. “If we can solidify things upfront, then that opens up things to get those plays. We keep it simple and keep things in perspective and the boys react to that with confidence.”

 

Bridgeport, who won the toss and elected to take the ball first, needed just 17 ticks to hit pay dirt as JT Harris, the speedy junior kick returner, took the opening kickoff to the house for a 90-yard score. And the point after by Koby Kiefer gave the Indians a 7-0 lead.

 

On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers’ Keenen Bowers took the ball 79 yards to the Indian 13. But, they were unable to capitalize on the red zone field position and missed a 28-yard field goal attempt.

 

With the ball on the 20, the Indians took a little over two minutes to score at the 7:21 mark when halfback Dylan Tonkery scored on a 53-yard run. Tonkery took all the snaps during the 5-play drive. 

 

Elkins crossed into Indian ground once again as Bowery ran the kickoff across the 50.  But, again, the Indian defense forced a 3-and-out and forced a punt. Nicewarner addressed the special teams and the gaps that needed filled.

 

“We definitely need to work on our special teams.  It hurt us last week, and it caught us off early in this game.  But, our adjustments paid off as we were able to a couple fumbles in later kick offs.”

 

After an Elkins 3-and-out, the hosts needed just two plays to open up a 21-0 advantage.  Dante Bonamico took the second play from scrimmaged and got outside and crossed the goal from 74 yards out.  The series took 45 seconds off the clock.

 

Taking advice from his coach, Kiefer shortened his kickoffs and it paid off for the Indians as it took away the scoring threat from the deep receivers. And on the kickoff, Harris was able to grab the ball after the first bounce giving the Indians the ball on the Tigers’ 31-yard line.

 

Tonkery rushed to the six, and, on the next play, quarterback Zack Spurlock scored on an option-read play.  A muffed point-after turned out to be a successful two-point conversion and a 29-0 advantage.

 

Spurlock would take part in the scoring again on the second play of the second quarter when Mackenzie Holmes caught a pass in the flat and kept balance to trot in with a 27-yard TD reception.

 

The Indians again took advantage of smart kickoff and recovered another fumble, this time on the Elkins 27.  And a BHS penalty, Tonkery scored from 37 yards out.  This opened up a 43-0 advantage for the Indians.

 

Bonamico and Spurlock each tagged on a score to round out the scoring for the starters.  Elkins did score on the last series of the half as Cory Gillespie scored on an 11-yard run with 45 seconds left. He finished with two scores on the night.

 

In the second half, Bridgeport went to the bench as the starters took the rest of the night off.  Elkins, who kept the starters in the game, took advantage of the younger Tribe players scoring 22 second-half points.

 

Running backs Chapin Murphy and Haden Miller took over the offensive duties for the Indians as each player scored in the second half.  Miller scored first on a 7-yard run on fourth down while Murphy’s score at the 4:51 mark of the final quarter broke the school scoring record.

 

Statistically, the Indians racked up 537 total yards to Elkins, who amassed 261.  Note that most of the yards came in the second half for the Tigers. Tonkery led all rushers with 168 yards. Bonamico needed just four carries to total 142 yards. Thomas Talkington and Gillespie, who rushed for 107 and 75 yards, respectively, paced Elkins. 

 

The Indians, now 5-0-1, host Keyser next Friday while Elkins drops to 2-3 on the year.