Class AA No. 2 BHS is now 6-0 on the year. The Bees fall to 1-4.

 

The Tribe led 42-0 at the break and never looked back. In fact, the dominance was so strong the teams went to eight minute quarters in the second half.

 

While the final numbers show Bridgeport with only a little more than 100 yards of total offense, the numbers were deceptive – very deceptive. BHS scored offensively, defensively and on special teams in what turned out to be a route from the game’s earliest stages.

 

“I thought we played well. Offensively we were able to do what we wanted, defensively we were just as dominant as we’ve been in recent games so I’m pleased,” said BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner. “Games like this, you have to go out and do what you’re supposed to do and we did that.”

 

Offensively, the Indians did it without starting quarterback Gordon Swiger. Swiger, who injured his shoulder against Lincoln last week, held on extra points, but didn’t play offensively or defensively. Nicewarner, who said it was more out of precaution, was thrilled to see the play of backup John Merica.

 

“John played well and I’m happy with how he played,” said Nicewarner. “It’s nice knowing that if Gordon can’t go we’ve got someone to be able to go for him.”

 

Merica finished with a game-high 98 yards rushing on just four carries with a score. He was also 2-for-3 passing for 41 yards and a touchdown.

 

The first of the two scores Merica was involved in didn’t seem like it would be coming. Not because the Indians didn’t have the skill, but because for the game’s first two plays East Fairmont’s defense came up strong. And then the barrage began and didn’t end until 35 points later in the first half.

 

After Bridgeport’s first two plays saw a total of minus-one-yard of offense, the Bees were likely fired up for a stop on third down at the Bridgeport 18-yard line. The fire would quickly be put out by Merica.

 

“We knew they were playing their linebackers aggressively and that was a situation where we decided to use some misdirection,” said Nicewarner.

 

The misdirection worked big time. Merica kept the ball to the backside and darted through a gaping hole. After Merica got past the first wave of defenders he was off to the races and 82 yards later was in for six points and the Indians’ first touchdown.

 

It wouldn’t be the Tribe’s last.

 

Koby Kiefer drilled the point-after kick – the first of six successful first half tries and part of a perfect 7-for-7 on the game – and it was 7-0 with 10:15 remaining in the opening period. Unfortunately for the visitors from Marion County, things were about to get a whole lot worse and once again Merica would have a hand in it.

 

Working, as they’ve done frequently in recent games, with a short field on their next drive. The Tribe would only need four plays to cover 54 yards. The final two plays saw Merica connect with Mackenzie Holmes for a 21-yard pass play and follow that up with a 20-yard scoring strike to Seth Friel for a 14-0 advantage with 6:43 to play in the first.

For Friel, it was his fourth reception of the year. Incredibly, all four have gone for scores on what appeared to be the same play as the first three.

 

“That was a different play. Same result, but a different play,” said a laughing Nicewarner. “We have to establish some kind of passing game and it’s more for down the road type of stuff, but too many teams aren’t respecting us being able to do that. John’s a good thrower, Gordon’s a good thrower and that’s what we’ve got to start doing moving ahead.”

 

With a touchdown rushing and a touchdown passing in the books, the Indians found another way to score a little more than two minutes later. After the BHS defensed forced a second three-and-out, East Side kicked off and J.T. Harris fielded it at the 42. Harris cut right, headed down the sideline and the cut back to the middle of the field for what would turn into a 48-yard punt return touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 4:27 to go in the opening period.

 

“Special teams are just as big a part of this game as anything else,” said Nicewarner.

 

Even when things looked up the Bees, things weren’t as they seemed. East Fairmont’s next drive involved plenty of passing and made it to the Bridgeport 15-yard line when disaster struck. And again, it was Friel doing the honors.

 

Friel stepped in front of the East Side pass on third down and went 84 yards for a pick six. The only thing standing between Friel and the score was a foe at the 30-yard line and a stiff arm gave the senior linebacker all the room he would need to coast into the end zone. After the Kiefer kick, it was 28-0 as the first period neared an end.

 

Although the outcome appeared to be in the books, the scoring in the first half wasn’t. Bridgeport would add two more scores in the second period. The first came on a Harris one-yard run with 8:27 to play to make it 35-0 and the second score came with seconds left before halftime.

 

Bridgeport would get the ball back with 2:34 left and appeared to be ready to settle for the five-score advantage when a late first down got the ball into East Fairmont territory.  With 36.2 seconds left, the Indians called a timeout; likely hoping to get close enough to score a field goal. Holmes had other ideas.

 

The senior fullback took the handoff on a trap play, broke free of contact near the line of scrimmage and was off. Holmes tip toed the final few yards and got into the end zone with 25.8 seconds left for the final TD of the half to help set the stage for the 42-0 advantage.

 

“I just wanted to put points on the board,” said Nicewarner, who added he was hoping to get close enough for a field goal. “ … We had two plays called (during the timeout), but we ended up only needing one.”

 

Bridgeport finished the half with 244 yards on 24 plays, including 21 runs for 203 yards. East Fairmont finished with 114 yards of offense on 27 plays. Of that total, 87 yards came through the air as Dominick Postlethwait was 8-of-14 in the opening two periods.

 

Once again, the opposition was unable to run against BHS. The Bees had just 27 yards rushing on 13 carries when the first team defense was on the field.

 

Bridgeport added one more score in the second half before playing almost every bit of the time-shorted final two quarters with reserves. The score came quickly; in fact it came on the Indians’ first offensive play of the third period.

 

With Jake Bowen in at tailback, he made the most of what would be his fourth and final carry of the game. The sophomore busted loose for a 60-yard scoring run and the Indians found themselves ahead 42-0 with 6:43 to go in the third.

 

East Fairmont would score late in the game to avoid a shutout. Dylan Burks scored on a one-yard run with 20.8 seconds left and the point-after proved to be the game’s final points.

 

BHS finished with 331 yards of offense on 33 plays. The Indians carried the ball 30 times for 290 yards with Merica leading the way.  Bowen finished with 74 yards on just four carries, while Holmes added 65 on five runs.

 

Postlethwait had 122 yards passing. He completed 11-of-22 passes during the game. Dylan Kincell finished with 90 yards on 17 carries – 61 of those yards came in the second half.

 

Bridgeport will play host to Liberty next Friday. The Mountaineers, 4-2, topped Braxton County this evening.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows John Merica cutting hard against the EFHS defense, while  Seth Friel sees open space as he returns an interception for a touchdown.  Third photo is of J.T.  Harris' punt return for six and in the fourth  photo Mackenzie Holmes swarms to stop an East Side player. In next to last picture, Caleb Strakal breaks up a pass play, while Coach Josh Nicewarner makes a call in the bottom picture. Photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.