Sometimes even the worst of situations produce the best of results. A case in point may very well be the ongoing injury dilemma Bridgeport High School’s football team faced with standout running back Dante Bonamico and Dylan Tonkery each missing significant amount of games due to various ailments.

 

While BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner said he would have preferred to have both healthy the entire season, he said it’s actually worked out to the team’s advantage.

 

“The word I’d definitely use with how their injuries impacted this team is beneficial,” said Nicewarner. “I know that sounds odd. We were going into the season with the mindset that it would be almost exclusively Dylan and Dante and almost from the first game on we never were able to get that to develop due to the injuries. Because of that, we had to develop others and that’s worked out better than we ever hoped.”

 

The Indians relied on Mitchell Winkie, a proven commodity when needed. However, it was the play of Elijah Drummond that really created the depth.

 

“We knew what we had with Mitchell, but the development of Elijah Drummond has put us in a situation where we have four quality running backs and only three that can play,” said Nicewarner. “That’s a problem, but it’s one I’ll take every year.”

 

For many teams, not getting enough carries would be an issue. For the Indians, it’s not even discussed despite the fact that for the first time in his five years as head coach, Nicewarner is well into the postseason without a 1,000 yard rusher on the roster.

 

Bonamico could eclipse the mark with a solid outing Saturday against Robert C. Byrd in the Class AA quarterfinal playoff game at Wayne Jamison Field set for 1:30 p.m. Bonamico has 906 yards on 129 carries. Tonkery is the club’s next leading rusher with 791 yards on 116 carries. Bonamico has15 touchdowns, while Tonkery has seven.

 

Despite rushing attempts that are well off the pace of those in past years, Nicewarner said it not only is a non-issue, it’s never even mentioned. That, he said, is a big reason the team is 10-1 and ranked No. 1 in Class AA in a year many felt would be successful, but also more of a rebuilding mode after winning the state title last year.

 

“Absolutely, we’ve got a lot of unselfish kids on the team and when you see players as talented as Dylan and Dante totally fine with how things are going, it spreads. I haven’t seen pouting or heard bickering or guys taking plays off because they don’t get carries,” said Nicewarner. “From a coaching standpoint, that’s what you want.”

 

One thing that has helped spread the wealth is the Indians’ second variation to their offense in as many years. Last year, the Tribe used similar blocking schemes from their decades-old stick-I attack, but did it from the power pistol formation. While much of that has remained the same, the modification into a diamond formation offensively allows for more backs to carry the ball.

 

“Without that formation, Mitchell or Elijah may get one or two carries a game,” said Nicewarner. “Now they get four or five and are happy with their roles. Plus, the guys don’t mind when they come out if we’re winning big. I think we ran 12 or 13 backs last week.”

 

Although quarterback Zack Spurlock is the club’s third leading rusher, Drummond has carried the ball 51 times for 262 yards and scored twice. Winkie, with less carries, has more touchdowns. Winkie has run the ball 30 times for 189 yards and six scores.

 

“We’ve seen, particularly with Dante and Dylan, is that last year you could kind of run the same plays for all the backs whether it was Anthony (Bonamico) or A.C. (Caldera) and get the same results,” said Nicewarner. “With Dante and Dylan, they each have their strengths and it allows us to use those strengths at any position we put them in on offense. It’s odd to think that injuries have helped us, but quite frankly that’s the case. We just don’t want anyone injured the rest of the way out.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dylan Tonkery (10) getting congratulations from teammate Dante Bonamico, while both players are shown in action in the bottom two photos. All photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.