There’s a new look Bridgeport High School football team taking the field tomorrow night for their season-opening game with Lewis County. It’s lacking most of the big names – and for that matter most of the starters – that helped lead the Indians to their third straight Class AA state championship last year.

 

Familiar monikers such as Bonamico, Tonkery, Drummond, Markley, Haddix, Southern, Dillon and so many more that were on all or one of the all-state, all-Harrison County, or all-Big 10 teams in 2015 have since graduated. All told, 18 of the original starters at 22 positions are not on this year’s roster.

 

For many, the thought might be that expectations would be lowered. After all, so many familiar multi-year starters that play major or minor roles in the three state titles are gone. For those thinking that way the thinking would be wrong.

 

“The expectations are there and they’re always going to be there,” said BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner. “The thing is that what we’ve done the last three years has zero to do with our expectations. We go into every year with the same goal in mind. Whether our fans have different expectations based on our players or success, I don’t know. I know what the coaching staff’s expectation is. I know what the players’ expectations are. They’re the same as they’ve been for as long as my family has been involved.”

 

Even if the team’s expectations are where they’re always at, will the opposition take their foot off the pedal for the Tribe? It is doubtful teams will do that because it’s still the red and white of the Tribe and they bring more than just three state titles to defend into each contest this year.

 

Bridgeport will be protecting the state’s longest postseason appearance streak – making the playoffs every year since 1993. And not to mention the Indians haven’t had a losing season since 1967 when the team went 3-7.

 

If those streaks are to continue and another state title is to be within striking distance, Bridgeport will have to lean heavily on what – on paper – looks to be a talented backfield.

 

“The biggest thing with the group back there is potential because they’ve got talent. Can we put it together? Our line is capable, but can they do enough to allow the backfield to do what it can do? If we put everything together we can,” said Nicewarner. “It’s just an ‘if’ at this point.”

 

Bridgeport’s backfield, which has ran almost exclusively out of the power pistol set the past three years, looks to line up in that formation again. However, Nicewarner said you could also see some of the vintage stick-I attack as well.

 

Bridgeport’s backfield will start out with senior J.T. Harris (5’8, 165) at tailback, senior four-year standout Mackenzie Holmes (6’1, 235) at fullback and senior Seth Friel (5’11, 185) at the upback or h-back position. At quarterback, senior Gordon Swiger (5’11, 175) will get the nod after serving as Zack Spurlock’s backup last season.

 

Nicewarner said the aforementioned players can also switch around as needed. The backups that he said will see playing time include junior Brice Haines (5’9, 180), junior Chapin Murphy (5’10, 190) and sophomore Jake Bowen (6’0, 190).

 

“This isn’t taking away anything from those guys, but they’re going to have do more for a while and make some plays and carry the line along until it develops,” said Nicewarner. “We think we have a good line, but the experience – the type of experience where the game is on the line – isn’t all that deep.”

 

The one player that has it is junior left tackle Jimmy Allison. Allison (6’3, 285) came into the starting lineup midway through the year when senior starter Jake Griffith was lost for the year due to a knee injury. He more than held his own as a sophomore.

 

“Jimmy is one of the guys that can be one of the best linemen I’ve ever coached when he wants to be. Right now, he’s battling injury and hasn’t practiced in a week so that will bring his conditioning into question,” said Nicewarner. “When it comes to experience on our line, there is no question. He’s it, and his experience is significant. The other four guys are taking their first truly critical varsity snaps Thursday.”

 

Junior Noah Drummond (6’0, 245) will take over at the center spot. At the other tackle spot, look for the combination of seniors Jacob Goldizen (6’3, 285) and Zak Kimble (6’0, 225) to handle the duties.

 

At one guard position, Cole Amos (5’11, 195) will return after coming back into the area for his senior year. Amos played as a freshman at BHS, but due to the family moving for work-related purposes, he’s played the last two years in Pennsylvania. At the other guard, junior Christian Olivio (5’10, 195) and fellow junior Michael Minor (5’8, 205) will be handling the chores.

 

Handling the tight end or split end spot will be junior Brent Sinsel (5’10, 175). At the wideout positions, look for junior Sebastian Meade (5’10, 175) to get the nod.

 

“When you look at the offensive side of the ball you don’t see a lot of names people have heard of outside of J.T. and Mackenzie, but that’s fine with us. You don’t win by way of a name,” said Nicewarner.

 

The defense will feature one area that should be strong and somewhat experienced. The Tribe’s linebacking group will be led by all-state performer Holmes, who led the team in tackles a year ago with 81 stops.

 

“Mackenzie has always been that role player for us in the sense that even when he was producing big numbers he didn’t have to be spectacular. This year, he has to step up and have the numbers, QB the defense and he has to be the one to step up and fill the gap when someone else doesn’t step up,” said Nicewarner. “He knows that’s what’s expected of him and he has to want to do that. We can’t coach him into doing that, but we think he’s up to it.”

 

Friel is the other linebacker that returns for the Tribe. He found his way into the lineup last year and didn’t come out. He ended up being fourth on the club with 64 stops.

 

“We expect a big year from Seth, but he’s been forcing too much and not letting the game come to him. Part of the problem, I think is that we just don’t put a lot of preparation into scrimmage games that we would a regular season game where we break down a team more,” said Nicewarner. “When that happens, we expect Seth to be back to where he was last year when he got an opportunity and ran with it.”

 

Rounding out the starting linebackers will be Haines. Filling in, and likely to see action, will be Murphy and Meade as needed.

 

In the defensive backfield, Harris returns after a spectacular first year in the program. He had one interception, five pass breakups and forced three fumbles last year – along with getting 38 tackles.

 

“He’s a natural athlete with confidence. We’re going to put him on the opposing team’s best receiver,” said Nicewarner.

 

Also in the secondary, part-time starter Swiger is back, while Sinsel is getting the look at strong safety. Rounding out things could be any one of the following: junior Caleb Strakal (6’1, 175), junior Josh Osborn (5’11, 155), and junior John Merica (5’11, 155). Nicewarner said Merica is coming off of an injury, but hopes that he’ll be a contributor.

 

While the defensive line doesn’t have any full-time starters back, they do have one that started not only in a few playoff games, but got the starting nod in the Indians’ state title game win last year against Tolsia. Murphy will be looking to make an impact at defensive end for the Tribe and hasn’t disappointed in the early going.

 

(Chapin) is the guy that has had the hot hand through camp,” said Nicewarner.

 

Senior Andrew Barker (6’0, 200) will be at the other end after returning for his final year at BHS. Amos, who could also play linebacker, and Olivio also will see snaps at end.

 

Bridgeport’s two tackles – the guys tasked with stuffing the run and opening things up for the linebackers and other to create havoc – are senior Zack Osborn (6’3, 285) and junior John Thomas (6’0, 250).

 

“Defensively, we’re looking to be consistent. We’re not going to be flashy; we never have been,” said Nicewarner. “Offensively, we have to help the defense out and have to carry that throughout the year. Last year, our offense peaked early and the defense showed up to finish things off. Outside of J.T., we don’t have a player that can blow a game wide open so we’re going to need both sides of the ball to be consistent all year.”

 

The third side of the game, special teams, is in some pretty capable hands – or feet as the case may be. Junior Koby Kiefer, who saw action late his freshman year, was dominant as a sophomore last year as a kicker and a punter and Nicewarner expects the same and more this year.

 

Kiefer averaged 35.6 yards on 24 punts last year. He also placed four of them inside the 20-yard line with a long of 53 yards. As a kicker, he went 73-of-78 on point-after tries and was 3-for-4 on field goal attempts.

 

While there is talent, there are as many question marks. And the biggest one is something Nicewarner said has to be handled by the players.

 

“The thing that has me most concerned as we approach the start of the year are problems we’re facing that a coach can’t fix. It’s not that we have bad kids or kids that want to win, but it’s that I haven’t seen them shift it into a position to find the will, the extra strength, whatever you want to call it, to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done,” said Nicewarner. “So far, when things have gotten tough I’ve seen too many kids shut down and you don’t win championships like that.

 

“We’ve got starting guys that can’t lean on others this year. They are going to be the ones the young guys lean on. Maybe we figure that out after a game or two,” Nicewarner continued. “The problem in football is that every games matters and if you lose two or three games early, you may have sealed your fate before everyone develops to where they need to be. We’re going to find out real soon where we’re at.”

 

Game time Thursday against Lewis County is 7:30 p.m. The contest will be aired live on WVFX and also will be broadcast with Travis Jones on play by play and Ryan Nicewarner doing color commentary on 103.3 WAJR FM. You can also find the game on WAJR’s Web site to listen to.

 

Connect-Bridgeport will tweet updates during the game barring issues with the internet. Lewis County game preview tomorrow on Connect.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from Tuesday's practice session.