What started as a season with as many questions as starting positions to fill, it ended with another banner season for the Bridgeport High School football team and the respect of the statewide media.

 

The Indians once again managed to have a top five finish in the final MetroNews High School Football Power Rankings. Bridgeport ended up finishing as the third-ranked team in Class AA.

 

Not surprisingly, the Indians trailed top-ranked and state champion Fairmont Senior who – again not surprisingly – received all 19 first place votes. Runner-up Bluefield was second in the poll voted on by radio broadcasters and sports writers statewide.

 

The Indians finished the season 11-2. It should be noted that both losses came to the two teams ahead of them in the standings in Fairmont Senior and Bluefield. The Polar Bears handed the Tribe a regular season setback, while it was the Beavers ending the Tribe’s season in the semifinals at Mitchell Stadium by a 35-14 score.

 

This marked the third straight year Bridgeport finished at No. 3 in the standings. The previous three years prior to that the Indians finished first thanks to a three-peat of state championships.

 

Two additional Bridgeport foes also finished in the top 10. Keyser, who finished 9-3, ended up ranked No. 7. Robert C. Byrd, who the Indians toppled in the quarterfinal round, also ended the year 9-3 and ranked No. 8.

 

No other local teams were in the top 10 or in the “also receiving votes” portion of the poll.

 

In Class A, Doddridge County finished in the No. 3 spot as well. The Bulldogs finished the year 12-1 with their only loss a semifinal setback to eventual state champion Wheeling Central.

 

Click HERE for the final top 10 standings in all three classifications.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com.