There will be more changes than just a team looking to fill out a lot of positions from graduated players when Bridgeport High School takes the field this evening to start the 2016 prep football season. The Indians will also have a few changes in the form of game one opposition.

 

For the last nine years, the Indians have opened the campaign against Buckhannon-Upshur. Due to several of the Buccaneers foes dropping to Class AA, B-U was forced to change its schedule and Bridgeport was part of that collateral damage.

 

While tonight’s foe is no stranger to the Tribe, they certainly come with a different tag on them. When Lewis County invades Wayne Jamison Field the Minutemen will come into the contest sporting the mark of a Class AA foe after years of playing in Class AAA.

How that all shakes out will be determined at this evening. Kickoff for the contest is set for 7:30 p.m.

 

One thing that should be of benefit for LCHS is that even though it is like every other team in that it has a new roster to deal with, the club comes into the contest with perhaps a bitter taste of wondering what could have been. The Minutemen, who started the season 0-4 (including a 54-0 loss in Weston to BHS), finished the year 5-1. During that time, Lewis County averaged a little more than 40 points per game to go 5-5.

 

Unfortunately, the record wasn’t good enough for first-year Coach Dustin Cogar’s team to make the Class AAA postseason in his first year at the helm. What made it even harder to deal with is that Lewis County actually finished No. 17 in the WVSSAC power ratings – literally on the playoff bubble.

 

A lot of the success last year, and likely a lot of how things will transpire this year, will depend upon quarterback Thomas Hogan. Hogan not only has a strong skill set in Lewis’ wing-T attack, but he shouldn’t have trouble seeing the defense at 6’6.

 

“They’re good at what they do. They’re not the type to come into a game and run one offense and then another. They go with the wing-T and they run it extremely well,” said Nicewarner. “They have a tall, athletic quarterback that can throw it and they haven’t hidden the fact that they want to throw it. We have to ready for that.”

 

LCHS is more than just Hogan. Nicewarner said they are a veteran group and that should bode well for the Minutemen who are facing a youthful Indians squad.

 

Tonight’s game will be carried once again on WAJR 103.3 FM with the “Voice of the Indians” Travis Jones making the call and Ryan Nicewarner providing the play by play. This game will also be televised live by WVFX, which is channel 7 on Time Warner and 707 on their high definition tier.

 

“It’s going to be televised, but hopefully we’ll still have a good crowd to come out and support our kids,” said Nicewarner. “It should be a good evening of football and a chance for everyone to come and see the new turf and track and the other additions that have been made.”

 

Bridgeport comes into the contest as the three-time defending Class AA state champion. The Indians went 13-0-1 in 2015.

 

Click HERE to read a season preview on the Tribe.

 

Connect-Bridgeport will provide live, in-game tweets from the contest barring issues with internet service.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Chapin Murphy making a play in action from 2015 as Brice Haines comes into the background to assist, while Thomas Hogan is shown in last year's outing against BHS. BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner is shown below being interviewed after one of many wins last year. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.