After several weeks neither going up or down, Bridgeport finally made a jump in the MetroNews High School Football Power Ranking. And it took a win by the Indians and a loss by a team in front of them in the standings to make it happen.

 

The Tribe moved up from No. 5 to No. 4 in the Class AA portion of the poll. The poll is voted on by 30 radio broadcasters and sports writers from across the state.

 

BHS was able to make the jump in part due to its 40-22 win against what was a 4-1 North Marion squad. The Indians led 40-0 in the game before the Huskies were able to score three late second half touchdowns.

 

Even with the win, the Indians needed help to be able to jump a spot. The Tribe got the help from Class AA No. 3 Bluefield as the Beavers topped No. 4 Point Pleasant in dominating fashion. Bluefield won at home by a 42-13 score.

 

The win did more than help Bridgeport. Bluefield impressed the voters who jumped the 7-0 Beavers over 6-1 Fairmont Senior. Bluefield also managed to earn three first place votes as Class AA’s new No. 2 squad.

 

Mingo Central remains No. 1. The defending champs are 6-0 and are coming off of a 52-0 win over Nitro. The Miners received the other 27 first place votes.

 

The Polar Bears dropped to No. 3 in the poll. Fairmont fell a spot despite a 49-20 hammering of homestanding Weir Friday.

 

Rounding out the top five is 6-1 James Monroe. JMHS defeated Westside 52-7 to move up into the top 5.

 

One of Bridgeport’s three remaining foes is ranked in the top 10. Keyser, winners of six straight games, comes in at No. 6 after blasting Man by a 32-0 score.

 

Undefeated Liberty jumped a spot in the standings as well. The Mountaineers, a 59-44 winner against Roane County, moved from No. 9 to No. 8.

 

In Class A, South Harrison remains at the No. 3 spot. The 6-0 Hawks will host Sherman this week.

 

Click HERE for all the rankings in all three classes.

 

The MetroNews poll does not figure into the postseason equation and simply is a reflection of how the statewide media views teams in all three classes. The WVSSAC poll determines the teams that make the playoffs and that updated poll comes out tomorrow at 2 p.m.

 

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