A few weeks ago, high school football fans from across West Virginia were pointing to tonight’s matchup between Bridgeport and Keyser as potentially the biggest Class AA matchup in the state and perhaps the biggest overall game in West Virginia. All the Indians had to do last week was beat Elkins, while the Golden Tornado only needed to dispose of winless Hampshire County to set up a battle of highly ranked unbeaten.

 

Although the Tribe took care of business in a record-setting 71-29 win over the Tigers, KHS fell to Hampshire County by a 17-14 score. Despite the setback, Bridgeport Coach Josh Nicewarner is still expecting what he said could be the best team to be at Wayne Jamison Field this year to be wearing the heavily black  accented Keyser colors.

 

“We know they’re a good team and our players know they’re a good team so we don’t think the fact that they lost last week will change our players’ mindset. The simplicity of it boils down to is this; who are we to look past anyone,” said Nicewarner.

 

Whether the Indians come to play will be determined starting tonight in Bridgeport. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

 

“We saw their game with Hampshire last week and I’ve never seen a game where every bounce went the other team’s way. If we take this team lightly, we’ll be walking off the field on the wrong side of the scoreboard,” said Nicewarner. “Keyser has more than enough quality wins this season for us to think we’re not going to get their best shot.”

 

Nicewarner also thinks the Indians will get a dose of Colten Rodeheaver, who didn’t play against HHS. Rodeheaver has speed to burn and prior to last week had carried the ball 59 times for 468 yards (7.93 yards per carry) with seven touchdowns.

 

“We’ll absolutely prepare for this game as if he’s going to be there,” said Nicewarner. “We hope he plays because when you play a team you either want to say you beat them at their best or lost to them at their best.”

 

Rodeheaver is only one problem facing the Indians. The Tribe will be facing arguably the most versatile quarterback they’ve faced all season in Brady Ours. While Ours doesn’t throw a ton – he’s 19-of-44 for 321 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions – he is a handful as a runner. He leads Keyser in rushing with 531 yards on 65 carries (8.17 yards per carry) and has five scores.

 

“Their quarterback is a one-man wrecking crew. He can beat you through the air and burn you on the ground,” said Nicewarner. “This would be a game where you’d like to see a few really long drives by our offense to keep him off the field. What’s bad is that they’ve got a lot of other weapons as well.”

 

Like Bridgeport, the Golden Tornado has three primary ball carriers. Along with Rodeheaver and Ours is Amonte Turner who has 51 carries for 460 yards (9.02 yards per carry) and two scores. Turner also leads the team in receptions with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

 

Don’t, however, feel too much pity for the Indians. Offensively, they are coming off a game where they scored the most points in school history. And the offense has been getting better each week. The scary part is that Nicewarner said the tape shows plenty of room for improvement.

 

“Six games in and having the success we’ve had, I’m not unhappy, but we’re seeing things up front we shouldn’t be seeing. There’s room for improvement there,” said Nicewarner. “Even with what both teams have on offense, this game will be decided on defense.”

 

Bridgeport’s defense is led by linebacker Mackenzie Holmes who paces the club with 30 tackles. Elijah Drummond is next with 26 tackles, while Noah Markley and Dante Bonamico are next in line with 23 and 22 stops, respectively.

 

Erik Willis leads Keyser’s defense with 37 tackles this year. Terrell Bush is next on the squad with 33 stops.

 

Those two will be tasked in leading a defense being asked to stop a Bridgeport attack that hasn’t been stopped all season. In fact, according to Ryan Nicewarner of the Indians Radio Network, said that – minus the Wheeling Park tie that was not even a quarter of action – Bridgeport is averaging 57 points per game and just a shade under 450 yards per game.

 

A big reason for that is the one-two punch of Dylan Tonkery and Bonamico. Tonkery has carried the ball 73 times for 843 yards (11.5 yards per carry) with 13 touchdowns. Bonamico has added 45 carries for 517 yards (11.5 yards per carry) and 12 scores. For good measure, quarterback Zack Spurlock has chipped in with 227 yards on 28 carries (8.1 yards per rush) and has five touchdowns.

 

Bridgeport has been its usual almost exclusive run self this year. Through six games, the Tribe has attempted 12 passes and completed eight of them for 197 yards. Holmes leads the team with three receptions for 85 yards.

 

The two teams have played four times. Keyser won the first two games – both in 2012 – by an average of 27 points, while Bridgeport has won that last two games by 33 points per game.

 

“With our history over the last three seasons, and 2012 will never leave my mind as to just how bad they beat us, there’s no reason that any of these boys should not be ready to play,” said Nicewarner. “I think it’s going to be one heckuva game.”

 

The game will be aired on 103.3 WAJR FM with Travis Jones doing the play by play and Ryan Nicewarner – who provided the statistics for this preview – doing the color commentary. The pre-game radio show begins at 7 p.m. Barring a lack of Wi-Fi service, in-game updates via Twitter – by going to @connectBP – will be posted by Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dylan Tonkery, with ball, heading down the field with teammate Dante Bonamico  looking for someone to block. Inthe second picture, J.T. Harris (15), Hunter Haddix (87) and Seth Friel (36) look to pounce on a loose ball. The third photo shows a first half battle between the two teams at Keyser, while Coach Josh Nicewarner and KHS Coach Sean Biser shake hands following last year's contest. All photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.