Bridgeport’s football team fared well in the All-Big 10 Conference football teams that were recently selected with senior Mackenzie Holmes walking away with one on the top honors. The awards, which include selections for the second year in the “Larger” and “Smaller” division schools, are selected by the conference coaches.

 

Holmes earned the nod as the defensive player of the year in the Larger Division. Bridgeport, Buckhannon-Upshur, Elklins, Fairmont Senior, Lewis County, North Marion and Preston comprise the big school division.

 

The four-year starter and three-time state champion led a talented BHS defense that helped the club to a 12-1 record and a fourth straight Class AA state semifinal appearance. Holmes led the club in tackles this season from his linebacker spot. The Indians eventually fell 22-21 in double overtime to Fairmont Senior.

 

Bridgeport saw several selections on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive tackle Jimmy Allison earned a nod as did running back J.T. Harris.

 

Defensively, the Indians had defensive tackle John Thomas chosen to the first team, while defensive end Chapin Murphy also earned a nod. Linebacker Seth Friel earned a spot, while defensive backs Gordon Swiger and John Merica collected first-team nods. Koby Kiefer was named the first team kicker.

 

Other large division individual honorees include Fairmont Senior taking home the big honor as the Big 10 Conference Player of the Year. Other honorees include North Marion Coach Daran Hays as coach of the year, while offensive player of the year was North Marion’s Kyle Elliott. Fairmont Senior’s Darius Stills was named lineman of the year.

 

Large Division selections include the following:

Offensive line selections include Fairmont Senior’s Zach Frazier, North Marion’s Charles Barta and Owen Tulanowski, Elkins’ Zach Shreve, Buckhannon-Upshur’s Dalton Marple and Christian Boggs, Bridgeport’s Allison, and Preston’s Trevett Summers.

 

Running backs selected include Fairmont Senior’s Bryson Gilbert, Buckhannon-Upshur’s Cameron Payne, and the Indians’ Harris, while the quarterback is Lewis County’s Thomas Hogan and the utility pick is Buckhannon-Upshur’s Nate Tolliver.

 

The wide receivers on the first team include Fairmont Senior’s Talon Miller, Lewis County’s Nate Frazier, North Marion’s Brett Mays and Zach McIntire.

 

Defensive line selections include Lewis County’s Andrew Potter, Buckhannon-Upshur’s Cody Helm, Elkins’ Sam Nestor, Bridgeport’s Thomas. The defensive ends selected include Fairmont Senior’s Dante Stills, Bridgeport’s Chapin Murphy and Lewis County’s Kaleb Gannon.

 

At linebacker, Fairmont Senior’s Michael Toothman, BHS’s Friel, Preston’s Blake Miller, North Marion’s Brendan Megna were chosen. The defensive backs selected include Elkins’ Jarrette Zopp, the Indians’ Swiger and Merica, North Marion’s Tanner King, and Buckhannon-Upshur’s Jack Garcia.

 

The utility player is Elkins’ Luke Petrice. BHS’s Kiefer was chosen as the kicker, while Elkins’ George Triplett is the punter.

 

There were also several award winners in the Smaller Division. The division is made up of East Fairmont, Grafton, Liberty, Lincoln, Philip Barbour and Robert C. Byrd.

 

The Cougars’ Kobie Carpenter was named the league’s player of the year. Carpenter was the quarterback for the 9-3 Lincoln squad. Liberty’s A.J. Harman was named coach of the year. Liberty also landed the offensive player of the year in Broderick Lantz, and Robert C. Byrd’s Gino Messenger was chosen as the defensive player of the year. Lincoln’s Hunter McGary was selected by the coaches as lineman of the year.

 

On the first team offensive line the selections include East Fairmont’s Drew Garrett, Grafton’s Sam Murray, Liberty’s Skyler Eastman and Chandler Gibson, Lincoln’s Jordon Gump and Zach Robey, Philip Barbour’s Zach Roy, and Robert C. Byrd’s Jaden Marino.

 

At the skill spots, the running backs include East Fairmont’s Dylan Kincell, Liberty’s Dalton Westfall, and Lincoln’s Hunter Moore, while the wide receivers are Lincoln’s Chase Riley, Anthony Keller and Dustin Marks, and Robert C. Byrd’s Brice Roseborough. At quarterback, RCB’s Tre Junkins earned the spot with Liberty’s Tommy Surock getting the utility pick on offense.

 

On defense, starting with the defensive line, are Grafton’s Garrett Ware, Liberty’s Jaden Rollyson, Lincoln’s Bubba Ellis and Nathan Oliverio, and Robert C. Byrd’s Robert Arnold. At defensive end are Liberty’s Jeremiah Reed, Lincoln’s Kyle Owens, and Robert C. Byrd’s Gage Jackson.

 

At the linebacker spots are East Fairmont’s Keller Jenkins, Grafton’s Trevor Clayton, Lincoln’s Justin Hughes, Philip Barbour’s Hunter Mason, and Robert C. Byrd’s Ghovan Davidson. In the defensive backfield, the group includes East Fairmont’s Ross Ridgway, Grafton’s Dominic Lough, and Lincoln’s Brandon Weaver and Jonathan Leep.

 

The kicker is Andrew Slusser of East Fairmont and Grafton’s Cameron Forte.

 

Editor's Note: Photo by www.benqueenphotography.com.