It may not be the same team that beat Bridgeport last week, but there are more than enough similarities between this week’s Indians’ opponent and last week’s that is cause for concern for Coach John Cole. This evening, the Tribe will look to bounce back from last week’s 45-14 defeat at the hands of Fairmont Senior.

 

It won’t be easy.

 

The 3-1 and Class AA No. 10 Indians will face Harrison County and Big 10 foe Robert C. Byrd in their homecoming contest at Wayne Jamison Field. The game begins at 7 p.m.

 

The Eagles come into the game at 3-1 and ranked No. 7 in ‘AA’ in the WVSSAC standings. Like the Indians, RCB’s lone setback was a lopsided loss to the Polar Bears.

 

Based on scores alone, comparing Fairmont Senior and RCB probably isn’t appropriate. Based on how the Eagles attack, particularly on offense, there are some notable comparisons.

 

Like Fairmont, Robert C. Byrd comes into the contest with a big and experienced offensive line. And like the Bears, RCB will look to spread you out with an offense averaging 36 points per contest.

 

“It’s definitely similar. They’re big and strong, particularly along their lines and that’s where games are won and lost and they have the ability to run and pass,” said Cole. “I think they do things a little bit difference in some facets too.

 

The big difference to date is that the Eagles are more apt to run the ball as opposed to throwing even though they have weapons in both. The biggest weapons to date just happen to be in the running game.

 

“From what we’ve seen so far there’s a lot of run. Why wouldn’t you? They’ve got a big strong line and two big backs that can hurt you within their scheme,” said Cole. “It’s tough to stop.”

 

Senior Ghovan Davidson is picking up from his all-state season of 2017. The senior has 76 carries for 665 yards (8.8 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. He’s not alone in the backfield this year.

 

Freshman Jeremiah King has provided an excellent option. The first-year back has 333 yards on 30 carries (11.1 yards per carry) and has four touchdowns.

 

The run game was clicking last week when the club put 69 points up on Preston. That total was the fourth most in RCB history.

 

If the Eagles don’t run, then sophomore Xavier Lopez has shown he is more than capable of producing. Lopez has completed 26-of-46 passes for 480 yards (120 per game) with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

 

Bryson Lucas and Andrew Sponaugle are the top two targets. Lucas has 11 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while Sponaugle has eight catches for 135 yards.

 

“They can throw it and they have guys that can catch. Their QB can definitely throw it,” said Cole. When you worry about both then, yes, it’s a carbon copy from that sense to Fairmont Senior.”

 

Bridgeport, as it always does, will try to make RCB one dimensional. To date, the defense has been led by the linebacking trio of Trey Pancake, Cody Spring and Carson Winkie. Pancake leads the team with 24 stops and is followed by Spring with 20 and Winkie with 18.

 

“It’s going to be a challenge to make them one dimensional,” said Cole. “It will be huge for our defense if we can do what we always want to do.”

 

Several other BHS defenders are in double digits with tackles this year and will be assisting on trying to get the team to meet their defensive goal. The group consists of D’Andre Holloway (14), Austin Gibson (13), Elijah Smith (12) Connor Robe (11), Michael Watkins (11), Brian Henderson (10) and Jake Bowen (10).

 

For Bridgeport, there won’t be many surprises on offense. The attack has been led by senior all-stater Bowen who leads the team with 635 yards rushing on 78 carries (8.1 yards per rush) and nine touchdowns. 

 

In recent games, the Tribe has been giving more backs more carries with Pancake leading the way. He has carried the ball 27 times for 176 yards (6.5 yards per rush) with a pair of touchdowns. Henderson has 18 carries for 150 yards (8.3 yards per rush) with two touchdowns, while Holloway has 24 runs with 131 yards (5.1 yards per rush) with a pair of scores.

 

Cole is hoping to keep the offense on the field as long as possible. He said long, sustained drives will work wonders to Bridgeport’s effort to win.

 

“We would like to keep the offense out there as long as possible, but in the grand scheme we just want to improve because we haven’t really executed on either side of the ball like we want to,” said Cole. “We’ve done it at times, but it’s never been consistent. We have to improve if we want to beat Byrd.

 

“I’ve told people this is a really good Byrd team,” he continued. “If you have strength, experience and some speed you should have a good year. They’ve got that and they’re having a pretty good year.”

 

The game will be aired live on 103.3 WAJR FM with “The Voice of the Indians” Travis Jones in the booth to handle the play by play. Chris George will handle the analysis. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Ghovan Davidson battling for yardage in 2017 against BHS, while Xavier Lopez looks to hit a receiver from last year. In the third photo, Jake Bowen breaks free for a big run and at the bottom, D'Andre Hollaway shows his versatility as he lines up at receiver. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.