The players said there were no magic words at halftime. The coach confirmed it.

 

Yet, the difference between the first half of this afternoon’s Bridgeport and Robert C. Byrd and the second half was night and day. And when the second half was over, the Eagles’ season was cloaked in darkness.

 

Bridgeport scored 21 unanswered points behind a revived ground game, a punishing defense and a few key adjustments that broke open a tight game and allowed the hosts to roll to a 41-13 win over the Eagles at Wayne Jamison Field.

 

The Indians move to 11-0-1 with the win, while RCB closes the year at 8-4. Bridgeport will continue the season next week by hosting Fairmont Senior in the Class AA semifinals at a time yet to be announced.

 

Despite the final score, it appeared that the game had all the earmarks of a down-to-the-wire slugfest. With the Indians holding a 20-13 lead at the intermission and with the Eagles in possession of the momentum and the second half kickoff, it certainly seemed possible.

 

That would change. And it would change quickly.

 

Bridgeport forced a quick three-and-out by the Eagles on the first possession of the third period and then went to work in lightning fashion.

 

After J.T. Harris set up the Indians with good field position – which would be a recurring theme throughout – on a punt return, Bridgeport was in business at its own 42. Three players later, on what would be Dante Bonamico’s third run of the game, the senior busted loose for a 53-yard score.

 

“(That was big). The first half was kind of blurry; just the way things went down,” said BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner. “ … (Robert C. Byrd) brought it. That was as aggressive as I’ve seen them play defensively all year.”

 

Nicewarner wasn’t even aware that Bonamico had carried the ball just one time in the first half. Of course, BHS only managed 18 plays in the opening two periods so the opportunities were limited.

 

“I didn’t have any idea how many had. We couldn’t get into a rhythm. They stacked the box with nine and 10 guys and that makes it difficult,” said Nicewarner. “ … With the outcome of the game, I’m sure Dante’s perfectly fine with how things went.”

 

And he was. Bonamico finished as the game’s leading rusher. He carried the ball just eight times, but had 108 yards and two touchdowns.

 

“That’s how the game goes sometimes. You don’t get the ball and has nothing to do with favoritism,” said Bonamico talking about his lack of first half carries and his first touchdown run. “ … (On that run) Seth Friel and Elijah Drummond made good blocks and the right side of the line opened it up. That was something I didn’t see the whole game and the line opened up a huge hole. That was just our line sticking to it, and our fullback and upback sticking to it and they made a great play for me.

 

“(The score) was huge and coach talked about going out on our first possession on defense and wanted us to turn (a defensive stand) into points of on offense,” he continued. “ … Getting a stop and turning right around and getting a play. That was where the momentum turned and it went that way the rest of the game.”

 

Bonamico’s first scoring run was big for multiple reasons. Not only did it give the Indians some breathing room at 27-13 following one of five successful Koby Kiefer point-after kicks, but it gave the Indians a reason to believe they could move the ball against an RCB defense that was stifling in the first two periods.

 

If the quick score wasn’t bad enough, things would continue to go south and it was thanks to Southern – Luke Southern – on Byrd’s next possession. Southern snagged his second interception of the game and Bridgeport was back in business at the RCB 45.

 

This time it would take five plays to score with Bonamico capping the surge with a two-yard run off right tackle. Bonamico set the Tribe up for the score with a 31-yard run on a third-and-four play that put BHS in a first-and-goal position. The score left the Indians ahead 34-13 with 5:35 showing in the third period.

 

The game would remain the same until the final period of play when Harris helped put Bridgeport in position to win it with a 43-yard punt return off of a short punt. Harris’ effort gave the hosts the ball at the 13-yard line of the Eagles and two plays later Zack Spurlock busted in from eight yards out for this third score of the game and the final touchdown of the contest. Kiefer’s point after would be the final scoring and it came at the 7:10 mark of the third period.

 

While there were many standout players in the contest, it was Harris that completely dominated the special teams and continually gave BHS a short field to work with. Along with a kickoff return for a touchdown, Harris returned three kickoffs and four punts for a combined total of 244 yards.

 

“He’s another guy you’ve got to keep an eye on,” said Nicewarner. “Special teams is a big part of this game and we stress that throughout the week … J.T. had some big plays for us.”

 

Bonamico echoed those comments.

 

“J.T. is just unbelievable,” said Bonamico. “You give him the ball and he’s going to make things happen. He’s an electrifying player.”

 

Harris would prove that point early on after the Indians came out flat and punted away to the Eagles. On its first drive of the game, Robert C. Byrd made things look easy after Bridgeport appeared to be ready to force a three-and-out with the Eagles facing a third-and-11 deep in its own territory, Julian Marino had plenty of time in the pocket and found his receiver – and first cousin – Tre Junkins wide open down the middle of the field for what would end up being a 63-yard pass play.

 

With the Eagles at the Bridgeport 17, it took just two plays to find the end zone. And it was Juwan Jones-Wright that did the honors from six yards out on a run to the left. The point-after kick by Andrew LeMasters made it 7-0 with 7:07 to go.

 

It was the first time this season the Indians trailed. And Harris made sure it didn’t stay that way long.

 

On the ensuing kickoff, Harris hauled in the ball at the nine-yard line along the RCB sideline and then cut to the middle. As a wall of blockers formed to the right, Harris found them and raced untouched 91 yards for the game-tying touchdown. After Kiefer’s point-after kick, Bridgeport was all even 14 seconds later as 6:53 showed on the first period clock.

 

“I was patient. I just waited on it a little bit,” said Harris. “I trusted Dante. Dante was blocking someone down and that was the hole opened up for me.”

 

The score would remain the same until a disastrous end to the first period and an equally disastrous start to the second period. The Eagles started their third possession deep in Bridgeport territory – at the 39 – before misfortune struck for the first time in the form of Southern.

 

Southern stepped in front of an Eagles’ pass on third down and returned it 25 yards to the RCB 46-yard line. Bridgeport started the second period with momentum and the ball in Eagle territory and it wouldn’t take long for Bridgeport to capitalize.

 

On the first play of the second quarter, Spurlock ran a quarterback counter to perfection. After some contact at the line of scrimmage, the BHS QB found the second level and daylight and eventually the end zone with a 46-yard run.

 

Ironically, the touchdown and point-after by Kiefer did more than just put the Tribe up 14-7 with 11:51 to play. The play also gave Bridgeport its initial first down of the contest.

 

Bridgeport would add to its lead after forcing a three-and-out and Harris again struck on special teams. This time, Harris returned a punt 39 yards to give BHS the ball at the Eagles’ 11-yard line. Three plays later Spurlock kept it again on a quarterback counter for six. Following a bad snap on the point-after try, Bridgeport was up 20-7 with 9:16 to play.

 

The game seemed to be in Bridgeport’s favor when the Tribe began to do something it uncharacteristically did last week – and that was turn the ball over. Unlike last week, the Eagles took advantage of it.

 

Bridgeport was in position to put the game away or at least put serious doubt in the minds of RCB when the fumble bug that bit them last week came back once again. This time, on the first play following a punt with less than five minutes to play in the half gave the Eagles the at the Tribe 37-yard line.

 

Two plays later, RCB made the Indians pay scoring points on a Bridgeport turnover for the first time this season. Marino again found Junkins down the sidelines, but this time put the ball into his arms despite tight coverage by Harris.

 

“I don’t know (J.T.) could have played it any different. It was a great ball and a great catch,” said Nicewarner.

 

RCB managed to do something that no other team has done this season. And that was score points following a Bridgeport turnover.

 

Bridgeport salvaged a little bit from the miscue by blocking the point-after kick. Mackenzie Holmes got his mitt on the ball to make it 20-13 with 3:58 to play in the first half.

 

On Bridgeport’s next possession – and again on the first play of the possession – it fumbled. This time, the Indians’ defense was up to the challenge and forced the Eagles to punt and the half ended with the Indians coming up short on a fourth down play and the visitors taking a knee just before the half.

 

The Eagles stuffed the Bridgeport offense in the first half. The Indians had just 18 plays ad managed just 95 yards – all of it on the ground. Spurlock led the way with nine carries for 63 yards.

 

Bridgeport did manage to keep the vaunted RCB ground game in check. Thanks to a few sacks, the Eagles had just 20 yards on 17 carries.

 

As much as the Indians took advantage of yardage on special teams, the Eagles took advantage of things through the air. Marino finished 5-of-12 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Junkins’ led the way with two catches for 99 yards in the first two periods.

 

Robert C. Byrd ended up with more offense by game’s end. The Eagles had 301 yards on 58 plays, but didn’t benefit throughout from great field position. And has been the case much of the year the Indians’ defense bent, but it didn’t break.

 

“Our defense was the winner of this ball game,” said Nicewarner.

 

Most of the offense game by way of the Eagles’ passing game. Marino finished with 221 yards on 11-of-17 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions. Junkins had three catches for 145 yards.

 

BHS did manage to contain Wright, who has absolutely wasted teams down the stretch and manhandled the Indians earlier this year in the regular season affair in Clarksburg.

 

“I don’t want to say (our defense) took it personally, but we were excited for the opportunity to face him again. I’ve said all along you get spoiled here and don’t have backs do to you what he did to us,” said Nicewarner. “Make no mistake about it with the outcome of today’s game and without knowing his stats, that’s one of the best backs I’ve seen in my career.”

 

Wright finished with 81 yard on 22 carries. He also scored the game’s first touchdown.

 

BHS also got two picks from Southern. The defensive back that occasionally was targeted in previous years is making teams pay as a senior.

 

“Luke played like a veteran tonight. That’s important for us,” said Nicewarner. “ … Luke has come up big for us throughout the year and today the picks came at the right time.”

 

Bridgeport forced three turnovers – two interceptions and a late fumble. BHS fumbled the ball twice.

 

The Indians finished the game with 264 yards of offense on 41 plays. The Tribe got all of their yards on the ground on 39 carries. Spurlock added 83 yards on 14 runs, while Tonkery seeing his first action in three games finished with 64 yards on 12 carries.

 

“A lot of people fail to realize this may be a second round game, but this is a stop five team. I don’t’ care what anyone tells me. That’s a good football team …. And a tough second round draw for us,” said Nicewarner, who also praised RCB defensive coordinator Josh Gorrell’s scheme for the game.

 

Bridgeport toppled Fairmont Senior earlier this year by a 35-0 score. The Polar Bears, however, feature one of the most potent passing attacks in the state and showed that last night in a 58-42 win over Keyser.

 

Fairmont Senior will choose the time of this coming week’s game tomorrow in Parkersburg. The Polar Bears can play at 1:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. on either Friday or Saturday.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dante Bonamico getting warmed up in the second half, while J.T. Harris returns a punt early in the game in the second photo, while Dylan Tonkery battles for tough first half yardage in the third. Coach Josh Nicewarner talks with an official in the fourth picture, while the next photo shows the Tribe's defense swarming to the ball. In the sixth photo, Luke Southern hauls in his second interception, while Zack Spurlock breaks free on the first of his three touchdown runs in the next photo. In the third photo from the bottom, RCB's Julian Marino looks for a receiver, while Tonkery and Seth Friel (36) look to contain Juwan Jones-Wright in the next to last picture. In the final photo, Jones-Wright and Bonamcio - two of the area's most physical players - congratulate one another after the game. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.