Class AAA No. 1 BHS Defeats RCB to Improve to 5-0
By Chris Johnson on September 27, 2024
For the fifth consecutive week to start the season, Class AAA No. 1 Bridgeport was dominant right out of the gates in all facets of the game, cruising to a 58-0 victory against Robert C. Byrd on Friday at Wayne Jamison Field.
The Indians (5-0) had built a 51-0 halftime lead and the starters were already out of the game midway through the second quarter. The second half featured a running clock and 5:00 quarters..jpg)
The total yardage advantage was again lopsided in the Tribe’s favor, 317-16. BHS entered Friday’s game having allowed only 93 yards on the ground all year. In the first half, the Eagles were held to -16 but they did pick up 32 in the shortened second half to finish with 16.
“We take a lot of pride in our ability to stop the run and our ability to run the ball,” BHS coach Tyler Phares said. “The kids buy into it, they want to fly around and make tackles and that’s happening.”
Along with the victory, the Indians extended one of the state’s most impressive records – consecutive years without a losing season to 57.
“It’s scary,” Phares said of that streak. “It’s actually a little bit of pressure because you don’t want to ever be the team that loses that. It’s something we think about every offseason when we come in and we want to get as good as we can so we can keep that streak alive.”
The Indians scored touchdowns on the first play of each of their first two possessions. Cam Martin connected with Donovan Williams for a 58-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage.
Following a blocked punt by Bridgeport’s Donte Pierre, BHS took over on the RCB 16 and Josh Love promptly scored from there for his ninth touchdown of the season.
Williams’ TD reception gave him nine for his career, and after setting the all-time school record for TD catches in the modern era last week against Linsly, he is now believed to the all-time record, surpassing Chris Kerr, who had eight, all prior to the modern era record book that dates backs to 1997.
Following a 37-yard touchdown run from Love, Williams reeled in another one, this one covering 31 yards from Jack Spatafore. He finished with two catches for 89 yards.
Spatafore got into the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown run with 10:58 left in the second quarter to extend Bridgeport’s lead to 37-0.
Love scored his third touchdown of the first half with 7:34 left in the second quarter on a 32-yard run, making it 44-0.
“All the credit goes to the linemen,” Love said. “They are the heart and soul of this team. I think them opening holes and moving people all across the field is what gives us backs those seams to make plays and break tackles.”
Love finished with 102 yards on just five carries and the three touchdowns.
On the next series for BHS, the back-ups at the skill position spots started working their way into the lineup and Gabe Martin capped a five-play drive with a touchdown run of 5 yards to make it 51-0 with 3:34 still left to play in the second quarter.
Graham Vincent added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second half for the Indians. For Martin and Vincent, it was the first trip to the end zone this year for each and the Indians have now had 13 different players score a touchdown.
The Indians have 39 possessions in five games that have ended with a touchdown. Of those 39 possessions, 35 have been drives that lasted five plays or less and 12 have been one-play drives. They have now outscored their five opponnent by a combined score of 288-8.
As explosive as the offense continues to be, the fact the run defense is giving up about 21 yards per game may be at the top of a big list of things the 2024 Indians excel at.
“It’s going to take some gifted runners and some gifted linemen,” said Love when asked what is it going to take for a team to find success running the ball against BHS. “With the guys we have up front and our linebackers and safeties and corners running down hill, we’ve got a great run defense."
Next week the Indians will be at home again as Brooke visits Wayne Jamison Field.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Love (14) looking to break loose from the RCB defense. Middle photo is of Donovan Williams (4) on the way to the end zone and bottom photo shows the BHS defense awaiting the snap. Photos by Joe LaRocca.
