Bridgeport High School football Coach Josh Nicewarner emphasizes that the Indians’ program is a family. Once you become a member of the family, you’re always a member.

 

Of course, there are occasionally some literal family members as well that find themselves on the Indians’ roster. And this year, a pair of second cousins find themselves not only as integral players on the team, but in the very high profile backfield that some believe may very well be the best in the state of  West Virginia regardless of class when it comes to athletic ability.

 

Seniors Dylan Tonkery and Elijah Drummond are the players that are united by the colors of the Indians, but they’re united by blood. That means that although they had plenty of choice in playing together, they family thing was set in motion without any input from either player.

 

Elijah’s mother – Cynthia Swiger Drummond – and Dylan’s mother – Sherri Tonkery – is where the relationship is formed. Cynthia’s father and Sherri’s mother are brother and sister, which creates the relationship. And while plenty of people in various schools, sports and other activities are related, not all of them are close.

 

That’s not the case with Elijah and Dylan. Both have been friends and teammates for a long time – a real long time.

 

“We’ve been on the same team for as long as I can remember,” said Tonkery, who has already verballed to play football at West Virginia University. “We were on the same team in Pee Wee football, at Bridgeport Middle School and now in high school. The only time we weren’t on the same team was when we were really young and played against each other in flag football.”

 

Drummond recalls those days well.

 

“It’s hard remembering not being on the football field with Dylan. It’s a lot of fun going and competing on the same team within someone that’s family,” he said. “It’s also been fun because we’ve won a lot since we’ve been playing.”

 

The “won a lot” statement shouldn’t be construed as a cocky statement as much as a factual won. The boys have competed on Pee Wee championship teams, they were on one of BMS Coach Robbie Buffington’s middle school championship teams and are looking to win a third straight high school championship.

 

About the only interruption in the championship process was during the pair’s freshman year of high school. For starters, there is no official freshman championship – county, Big 10 or otherwise. On top of that, it was the one year the two didn’t see time on the field together.

 

“I missed my freshman year,” said Tonkery. “I had a broken collarbone.”

 

Even with that one setback, the tandem has been nothing but beneficial for the Indians. What really makes it positively ironic is that it’s Drummond that usually is plowing the way for Tonkery to get massive yardage on offense.

 

In Bridgeport’s new pistol offense, which is similar in blocking schemes to the long-time standard bearer in the stick-I, Drummond serves as the H-back. The position is very similar to the former upback position and it’s the one that leads the way with what is often the block that springs Tonkery.

“I take a lot of pride in being the guy that gets the key block. Besides, I have to get that block or I’ll hear about it from his mother that I’m not protecting Dylan,” said Drummond with a laugh.

 

Jokes aside, anyone that knows anything about Bridgeport offense knows that the H-back/upback slot is as critical as anything in the overall scheme of the team’s running success. That fact isn’t lost on Tonkery.

 

“I know how important he is to what I do and what the team does. If he misses the block, I’ll get tackled right away,” said Tonkery.

 

Based on Tonkery’s numbers last year, he didn’t miss too many blocks in 2014. Tonkery, despite missing more than one game due to injury, finished the year with 183 carries for 1,557 yards (8.5 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns.

 

Drummond also made the most of his limited carries. He finished the year with 55 carries for 283 tough yards (5.1 per rush) and scored twice. He had a long run of 38 yards this past year.

 

While it’s usually Tonkery getting the carries, it’s almost always Drummond that he looks to find after a score. In fact, it’s a bit of a ritual.

 

“The few times I scored, he’s the one I look to first to celebrate,” said Drummond, whose sophomore brother Noah adds to the varsity bloodline this year. “We’ve been doing this a long time so it’s special.”

 

Tonkery echoed that.

 

“Not everyone can celebrate with family on the football field during the game so that’s really made it nice,” said Tonkery. “As good as the last two years have been it’s been even better knowing family is right there when those good things are happening.”

 

If things go as Tonkery and Drummond have scripted, good things will continue to happen this year. And at a minimum, they know they’ll have each other’s back.

 

That’s the way it should be. After all, it’s not just business out there on the football field. It’s family business.

 

Editor's Note: A familiar scene is the top and bottom photos as Elijah Drummond (33) leads the way for teammate and cousin Dylan Tonkery (photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com). In the seconnd photo, some early family bonding with Drummond, left and Tonkery mugging for the camera. In the third photo, Tonkery, left, and Drummond are shown sporting their BMS Braves uniforms, while in the fourth photo - from left - Dylan Tonkery, Wes Tonkery, Elijah Drummond and Noah Drummond are shown at Wes Tonkery's wedding this summer. These photos were provided by Cynthia Swiger Drummond.