There were plenty of opportunities for Bridgeport and Lincoln when the two teams squared off for the first time in eight years on the football field this evening. The difference was the Indians took advantage of their opportunities and the Cougars did not.

 

The Tribe got just enough offense and the defense was stout throughout most of the game and particularly in the last three quarters to get a 24-0 win at Joe Stydahar Field.  With the victory, Class AA top-ranked Bridgeport moves to 5-0 on the year. Lincoln, ranked No. 12, falls to 3-2.

 

Along with securing another non-losing season – a state-record streak that dates back to 1967 – the Indians secured the win without leading rusher J.T. Harris playing on offense or special teams and top offensive lineman Jimmy Allison missing most of the game. Harris did play defense and Allison returned for some snaps in the second half.

 

For Lincoln, the opportunities were early. In fact, the Cougars twice came within a few feet of putting points on the board. When those chances went by the wayside, Bridgeport’s defense does what it’s done all season long and that’s close the door.

 

Not only did the Tribe’s defense pitch a shutout, but they managed to make the Cougars almost completely one dimensional. After allowing a few big pass plays early, Bridgeport yielded just 160 yards passing to standout quarterback Kobie Carpenter on 12-of-31 passing, including three interceptions.

 

Of course, when you can’t run the ball throwing becomes even more predictable. By game’s end, Lincoln had just 38 yards rushing on 18 carries.

 

“To hold that team to no score (after we) gave them a few plays in the first half; but to see our defense come back and keep them out of the end  zone was just phenomenal,” said Nicewarner.

 

The defense harrassed the Cougar passing game all night with pressuring coming from the ends and also from blitzes and even the tackles. Bridgeport's Chapin Murphy, Seth Friel, Andrew Barker and John Thomas all had sacks on the evening.

 

Shutting down the Cougar offense, let alone a shutout, didn’t seem likely early on. In fact, the start of the game was anything but want the Indians wanted heading into a hostile environment where the foe was looking for a signature win. Not only did Lincoln’s defense hold the Tribe to just nine first period yards, but moved the ball effectively on two of their early first half drives.

 

The good news for Bridgeport was that the hosts had nothing to show for it.

 

Lincoln took its second possession of the first period from its own 29-yard line and marched all the way to the BHS four – with the big play being a Carpenter 36-yard pass to Chase Riley – when the drive stalled. After a five-yard penalty, the Cougars called on Bubba Ellis to attempt a 26-yard field goal, but the kick was off the mark.

 

After Bridgeport was forced to a three-and-out on its next drive, the Cougars went to work again. This time, the hosts made it to the BHS 30 when they faced a fourth down play with four yards to go. Carpenter and the Cougars went for broke and it nearly paid off, but a pass that was hauled in and brought down was unfortunately brought down out of bounds.

 

This left the game in a stalemate. And it also gave the ball back to an Indians team still looking to find any type of momentum on offense.

 

Once Bridgeport got the ball back, it finally got things going. Even worse, what was to follow would put a damper on a rowdy and loud Cougar crowd. After netting less than 10 yards in the first period of play, Bridgeport finally found its offense on its first drive of the second quarter.

 

Bridgeport started on the LHS 30-yard line after the Cougars’ failed fourth down play and went to work. And they went to work in an old-school style of play using quick hitters to take advantage of the Cougars aggressive style.

 

Utilizing fullback Mackenzie Holmes, the Indians went on a 13-play, 70-yard drive that not only featured plenty of clock being ate up,  but saw Holmes run the ball seven times in the series. It also featured a huge fourth down conversion at the Lincoln 37-yard line where Brice Haines hit a small hole hard enough to get the two yards needed to keep the drive alive.

 

The drive was capped by Gordon Swiger who kept the ball from his quarterback spot on a third-and-one play from the Cougar five for a 6-0 advantage with 4:03 to go before halftime. The first of two successful point-after kicks in the period by Koby Kiefer made it 7-0 Tribe.

 

“I told (Mackenzie) probably after the third series, once we got a good handle of what they doing defensively, that we needed the quick hitters since we couldn’t get to the edge like we were needing to … I told him to suck it up that we needed him to carry it.”

 

Considering Bridgeport’s trouble to produce big plays, Lincoln’s ability to move the ball and roughly four minutes left to play in the first half, it seemed that a one touchdown advantage would be in order for the Indians at the half. Swiger had other ideas.

 

Carpenter, who had big success early, finally made a mistake and Swiger pounced on it. The BHS defensive back stepped in front of a Carpenter pass and returned it to the Lincoln 25 with plenty of time left on the clock.

 

Three plays later, Bridgeport was back in the end zone. Holmes, who had been the workhorse on the previous drive, got the dividend on this one when he plunged in from one yard out to give BHS what turned into a 14-0 lead with 1:52 showing.

 

Bridgeport actually had another crack at scoring after a quick three and out that led to a Cougar punt following a Chapin Murphy sack got the Tribe the ball back. However, a Kiefer 49-yard field goal attempt had plenty of leg, but not enough accuracy as the kick went left to secure a 14-0 lead at the intermission.

 

Bridgeport had 111 yards of offense – all on the ground with the bulk of that coming in the second period. Holmes established a career high in carries and yardage in the opening two periods with 10 runs for 60 yards.

 

Carpenter was 5-of-12 for Lincoln with 84 yards. Riley was the top target with three receptions for 76 yards in the first half.

 

Disaster struck about as early as possible in the second half. On the very first play from scrimmage, Holmes stepped up defensively and picked off a Carpenter pass. Although BHS couldn’t get a touchdown after being set up in excellent field position, Kiefer did come through with a 23-yard field goal to make it 17-0 early in the third.

 

BHS would add another score in the fourth quarter. A fake punt was the highlight of the drive that was capped with a fourth-and-goal score from one yard out by Chapin Murphy. Kiefer’s point-after made it 24-0 with 7:17 to go and that would prove to be the game’s final points.

 

“That’s a good football team,” said Nicewarner. “I didn’t expect a dominating performance offensively. I didn’t expect to dominating performance defensively. They’ve got a lot of weapons.

 

“We were able to power the ball in there offensively and finally got to them,” Nicewarner continued. “I had to be patient calling plays and they had to be patient with the play calling … Not having J.T. hurt us on the edge.”

 

With Harris out, the Cougars loaded the box. While the strategy held the Indians without a 100-yard rusher for a second straight week after going 19 straight games with at least one player hitting the century mark, in the end it didn’t matter.

 

“I thought our blocking was good against a nine man box,” said Nicewarner.

 

Bridgeport finished with 201 yards of offense, including 187 yards on the ground. Holmes finished with 11 carries for 60 yards. Swiger, who had two interceptions in the contest, finished with 59 yards on 15 carries. Swiger took himself out of the game in the fourth period after he banged up his shoulder.

 

Riley led the Cougars receiving attack. He finished with five catches for 105 yards.

 

Bridgeport returns to Wayne Jamison Field next week to host East Fairmont. The Bees were idle this week and will face the Tribe in the BHS homecoming contest.

 

Kickoff at Wayne Jamison Field will be 7:30 p.m.

 

Click HERE for Ben Queen's photo gallery.

 

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