BHS football Coach Josh Nicewarner has been around long enough as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach to know that players, fans and even coaches pay attention to the various preseason and regular season polls. He’s also been around long enough to know that only one poll actually matters, and that’s the WVSSAC power rankings that don’t come out until after the first few weeks of the season.

 

The first of those preseason polls is out. Yesterday, the Charleston Daily Mail released its 2014 poll and Bridgeport did quite well in Class AA.

 

The Indians are ranked number two in the initial Class AA poll that includes ballots from nine members of the sports media voting on the state’s top teams in each classification. BHS received two first place votes in the poll.

 

“Quite frankly I don’t put any stock into those polls,” said Nicewarner. “We know they’re there, but they don’t mean anything to our final goal.”

 

Wayne, which returns a boatload of starters from last year’s team that fell to BHS by a 14-13 score at Wheeling Island Stadium, is ranked number one. The Pioneers had five first place votes.

 

In third place is a familiar foe – Robert C. Byrd. The Eagles have plenty of talent back from last year’s team that made it to the Class AA semifinals before falling to Wayne. The Eagles also received one first place vote.

 

Bluefield, ranked number four, also received a first place vote. The Beavers fell to the Indians in last year’s semifinals, which means 2013’s Class AA semifinalists comprise this year’s top four teams.

 

Two other Bridgeport opponents are ranked in the top 10. Keyser comes in at number seven, while Fairmont Senior is ranked in the number 10 position.

 

“I’m sure winning the state championship is the reason we’re ranked so high,” said Nicewarner.

 

The Indians also have one other opponent ranked. Wheeling Park, the Tribe’s foe in week two, is ranked number six in Class AAA.

 

While this poll – as well as the Associated Press Poll – continues throughout the year, the WVSSAC power ratings determine where teams are ranked once the postseason arrives. While Nicewarner admits that is the poll that matters, he also said nothing matters if you don’t get the job done on the field.

 

“If history has taught anyone that’s followed football anything is that you truly have to take it one game at a time. I’ve seen teams that felt all they needed to do was show up and someone showed them otherwise,” said Nicewarner. “It’s a long season and you start talking injuries and thing like that and suddenly a number one or a number two team in the poll that matters at the end becomes the number 15 of 16 team by week 11. That’s why you worry about your games and not the polls.”

 

Click HERE to see the Daily Mail polls for all three classes. 

 

Click HERE to read a story on what offense Nicewarner plans to use in 2014 and his thoughts on who is leading the race to fill the spot of quarterback.

 

Editor's Note: Photo of Noah Markley, above, and Dante Bonamico, below, two juniors that will be counted on heavily this year, by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.