Bridgeport Coach John Cole has been around long enough to know that you never look past an opponent and this week’s foe, Keyser, is definitely one you can’t afford to skip over. He’s also been around long enough to know that by week nine a team in postseason position needs to know full well the ramifications of the last few contests of the season.

 

“This is the time, at game nine, where you want to start thinking about where we can end up and that doesn’t mean you’re looking past an opponent. What it means is you better know how important it is to play your best against the opponent in front of you,” said Cole. “I hope this kids know the advantage of playing a home playoff game and to try and get as many as you can.”

 

Another step for the Indians to enhance what almost certainly looks like another postseason visit is tonight at Alumni Stadium in Keyser. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

 

The game should be a battle from start to finish – at least based on the numbers. The Indians come in 7-1 and ranked No. 4 in Class AA. Keyser sports a 6-1 record and are currently ranked No. 7.

 

There’s a reason for the solid mark of the Golden Tornado – talent. Cole says KHS isn’t lacking in that department.

 

“Their linemen have good size and there are three or four starters back from last year so they’re going to be better up front, which is a concern,” said Cole. “Plus, they’ve got speed guys and a whole lot of guys that can run the football with the quarterback being as dangerous as anyone on the field. He’s not a big guy, he just does big things with great vision and ability.”

 

The athlete in question is senior Ryan Shoemaker. He leads what is essentially a double wing offense that has similarities to what Lewis County showed the Indians in week one. Shoemaker makes it all work.

 

“He runs the read sweep that we ran a lot in previous years, but he runs up inside the tackles really well,” said Cole. “The goal is to try you on the edges with the read sweep, the jet sweep and force you into assignment football and open field tackling. We’ve had issues with that on more than one occasion this year. To make it more difficult, it’s not sideline running. They’ll cut it back on you and have blocking schemes to make it effective and a number of players that make it effective.”

                                                      

Cole isn’t lying about several players that can run it. The Golden Tornado have five players with more than 345 yards rushing this year with Brady Clay the leader at 693 yards on 73 carries (9.5 yards per carry) with nine touchdowns.

 

Dare Allen and Caden Biser both have more than 400 yards on the season. Allen has 491 yards on 63 runs (7.8 yard per carry) while Biser is at 410 yards on 64 runs (6.4 yards per carry). Shoemaker is next with 396 yards on 52 carries (7.6) and Samuel Perry has carried the ball 32 times for 346 yards (10.8 yards per carry).

 

If needed, Shoemaker can also throw the ball. He has completed 23 of 45 passes for 325 yards. The passing may be limited, but it’s deadly. Shoemaker has nine touchdowns against just two interceptions. Reggie Redman is the main target. He caught 16 passes for 223 yards with eight touchdowns.

 

“They can score points and they’ve gotten so much better since they played Robert C. Byrd (a 20-14 setback). Here’s team I think that was down 40-14 in the second half at Weir and came back and won 41-40,” said Cole. “You don’t do that unless you’re good and play hard and that shows on film. That game gave them more than a win. It gave them confidence. We’ve got to match that because this is a tough place to play.”

 

Bridgeport will turn to some familiar names to stop the Keyser attack. Carson Winkie leads the club with 39 tackles, while Try Pancake and Austin Sponaugle are right behind with 37 stops each. Elijah Smith has 35 tackles, while Austin Gibson has 32. Despite missing a few games, Cody Spring is among the leaders with 29 tackles on the year.

 

While Bridgeport will try to run the ball in a manner similar to Keyser, it doesn’t have the spread out statistics of the Golden Tornado. In fact, only two runners have more than 300 yards rushing this year.

 

The workhorse for Bridgeport is senior all-stater Jake Bowen. Bowen leads the team with 1,352 yards on 178 carries (7.6 per rush). He also has a team-high 23 touchdowns. Fullback Trey Pancake is the second leading threat with 392 yards on 60 rushes of the ball (6.5 yards per carry) and has six touchdowns.

 

The Indians pass the ball with about the same frequency as Keyser. Devin Vandergrift has completed 22-of-42 passes for 341 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. D’Andre Hollaway is his main weapon and he has caught 15 passes for 198 yards.

 

“This is always an important game. We know if we can win our last two games then maybe we can play, if we win, two home playoff games. The thing is, they’re in the same situation,” said Cole. “That’s what is in front of us. It’s going to be a battle, but it’s up to the kids. What we need is there on the table for us.”