For those who wanted it, you are going to get it. For those who said it would never happen in the regular season, well, you were mistaken.

 

The often-debated topic of why Bridgeport and Martinsburg do not meet on the football field is no longer a topic for debate. Recently, BHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tom Sears confirmed that the two schools will be meeting in 2026 and 2027 on the gridiron.

 

“We have a head coach in Tyler Phares who wants to play the best possible schedule,” said Sears. “He and I always talk about opponents for upcoming years, and with Martinsburg, we just haven’t been able to make it work in the past.”

 

That, however, is no longer the case. Finally, an opening came up, and the two teams were able to find spaces that complimented each other’s respective openings and it is happening.

 

“Davis Moore, the AD at Martinsburg, and I worked it out. We’ll be playing in week two next year against them and week four the following year,” said Sears.

 

The reason it happened is for more of a reason than just open weeks on the calendar. Bridgeport’s week two opening was the result of Heritage out of Virginia dropping off the Indians’ schedule. Heritage not only had to travel five-plus hours on the road but was part of a game that drug on into the late hours due to a weather delay.

 

What is the other reason? Heritage

 

The team lost in Virginia’s Class AAA semifinals by a 14-7 score and, like the Indians, were a No. 1 seed in the postseason. The team had won 11 straight contests after falling to the Indians.

 

“We ended up getting the number one seed because of that game when you break down the numbers,” said Sears. “Their final win propelled us to the top seed, so we realized we had to replace them with a powerhouse. Year in and year out, there are few if any powerhouses to the level of Martinsburg.

 

“There is always talk about who would win a regular season series, but now we can settle on the field,” said Sears. “This will help with our strength of schedule for the (WVSSAC computer-seeded) postseason. Win or lose, it will help position ourselves for the AAA playoffs.”

 

The two teams are not meeting for the first time. They series features six games, with the Indians winning two of the contests.

 

The most recent setback was a 21-3 loss in the 2022 Class AAA (when there were just three classifications) quarterfinals. In 2021, the Bulldogs claimed a 21-0 win in the AAA semifinals.

 

Bridgeport did pick up a win in 2020. However, that was a 1-0 win by way of forfeit Prior to that, Martinsburg won 31-7 in the Class AAA quarterfinals in 2010. The last actual win by Bridgeport was in 2007 when the Indians, under former Coach Bruce Carey, took a 27-26 opening round Class AAA playoff win over the Bulldogs at Wayne Jamison Field.

 

Speaking of Jamison Field, next year’s contest will be played here in Bridgeport. The 2027 contest is in Berkeley County.

 

“We’ll have a tough schedule next year (games at Fort Hill in Maryland and with Spring Valley at home on the non-conference slate) because the program is in it to win,” said Sears. “At the same time, I can tell you as the AD, scheduling football games for Bridgeport is brutal.

 

“When we had our most recent opening, I sent an email out to all the other athletic directors, and never got a single response,” he continued. “I understanding other teams need to have open weeks, but we never heard anything and were fortunate to work this out with Martinsburg.”

 

It should make out for an interesting season in 2026. While the Indians return the bulk of their skill players, the graduate the bulk of one of the most dominant offensive lines – and defensive linemen – in the school’s history.

 

“We’re looking forward to the game. We hope our fans will be looking forward to it as well,” said Sears.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Gavin Williams (20) leading the way for Gabe Martin. Both players will be back in 2026 for Bridgeport, while the bottom photo shows Graham Vincent making a catch. Vincent, like Martin and Williams, was a junior on this year's squad. Middle photo is of Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Tom Sears. Photos by Joe LaRocca.