From the Bench: Hoping Summer Proves Pivotal for a "Beefed Up" Challenge for Indians Football Program
By Jeff Toquinto on June 14, 2026 from Sports Blog
The sun has been out. Vacations have been booked. And cold drinks are becoming necessary.
But, at Wayne Jamison Field and places beyond, something else is taking place in Bridgeport that is of great interest to many. The 
Bridgeport High School football team is taking advantage of their summer practice window to get ready for the 2026 season.
Bridgeport High School football team is taking advantage of their summer practice window to get ready for the 2026 season.
“These days in the summer have become as important as anything we do to prepare for a season. You get a chance to understand what you’re doing,” said BHS Coach Tyler Phares. “We’re not covering everything, but we’re doing a lot of teaching and fundamental work that we believe will pay off.
“What we do here allows them to play faster in August,” he continued. “If you’re not sure about something, there’s a chance you didn’t take advantage of these summer dates. It’s June where you hone your skills and get schematically better. It’s August where you take that and see who tackles best, blocks best, and understands what we want as a team.”
One thing Phares does want from his players: To not miss family time.
“We expect them to take a vacation, but we enjoy the advantage of them being here,” he said.
One important thing is Bridgeport participates in, like so many other teams are doing during part of the summer months, are 7-on-7 camps. On Wednesday (June 10), the Indians were at the Les Wexner Football Complex at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on the campus of Ohio State University.
“We’ll have gone to about five before it’s over. We had Ohio State and Fairmont State, and we’re going to WVU and Glenville State next week. We may hit one or two in July,” Phares said.
Many may think with Bridgeport’s aversion to the passing game that 7-on-7 and its emphasis on passing might be counterproductive. Phares, like his predecessors, knows such is not the case.
“We’re using our pass offense, defending against the pass, and trying to get better at both. The best part is that you’re seeing teams and.jpg)
schemes you have no idea of what you’re walking up against,” said Phares. “We were able to do that against teams from all over Ohio, and you get to take your defense up against the possibility of every offense known to man, so there are big advantages to it that we hope pay dividends against our schedule this year.”
schemes you have no idea of what you’re walking up against,” said Phares. “We were able to do that against teams from all over Ohio, and you get to take your defense up against the possibility of every offense known to man, so there are big advantages to it that we hope pay dividends against our schedule this year.”
While it is debatable, many have pointed to the upcoming schedule facing the Indians as one of the most daunting in recent years. Phares, while knowing you do the best you can against whoever is lined up against you, is aware that some believe the slate is heavy on heavyweights.
“There have been a few years at Bridgeport where I thought we needed to have beefed up the schedule. This year, you look at it, and I think it’s pretty beefed up; as beefed up as since I’ve been here,” said Phares. “It’s a loaded scheduled, and there are good teams on there, but after you look at it you don’t think about it and just go out and do what you do against whoever is on the other side of the field.
“The goal, with any schedule, is to be playing better when November arrives,” he continued. “If you play better competition, it makes a difference when you get there. We have the teams on the schedule that can make that difference.”
The Indians, who lost a bevy of talent and return a bevy as well, will benefit from have a six-game home schedule that includes three 
straight Jamison Field contests to open the season.
straight Jamison Field contests to open the season.
Along with a season-opener against Buckhannon-Upshur and a Week 3 matchup with East Fairmont, the Indians welcome what many consider that Alpha program in all of West Virginia football – Martinsburg.
The Bulldogs have arrived in the schedule slot after Heritage High School of Virginia dropped the Indians. For those who think Heritage was a pushover, they would be wrong.
After losing what was its season opener to BHS, Heritage won 11 straight games and entered Virginia’s Class AAA playoffs as the top seed. HHS would eventually lose in the semifinals, but Phares and BHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tom Sears wanted to replace a powerful opponent with another one.
Mission accomplished.
Since 2010, the Bulldogs have won 11 state championships thanks to a disciplined program under Coach Dave Walker. Last year, an incredible game by Morgantown stopped Martinsburg from title number 12 as the Mohigans secured a victory by holding off Martinsburg in the final minute of the Class AAAA title game.
Sears and Martinsburg AD Davis Moore worked out the two-year series. And Sears said in December it was not the first time a series was attempted, but the first time where dates on schedules complimented each program.
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.
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.
Then, there is Spring Valley visiting as a newcomer for the first time since the COVID season. The team made it to the Class AAA quarterfinals last year and veteran Coach Brad Dingess always has a monster lineup. In fact, during his time with the Timberwolves he has produced nearly 20 Division I players.
Add to that a game a trip to Fort Hill in Maryland, and you have three relatively new heavyweights on the schedule. The Sentinels went 9-4 last year but made it all the way to Maryland’s Class 1A state championship game before falling.
The rest of the schedule? Robert C. Byrd, Philip Barbour, Preston, Grafton, and a season-closing game with Fairmont Senior. The Polar Bears and the Indians have had many a battle over the last decade-plus, and this year’s game on Oct. 29 at East-West Stadium will mark a change from mid-season to final game of the season – raising the stakes.
“We know what is ahead of us,” said Phares. “What we do in June will make a significant difference on what we do in the final game in October and hopefully well into November and beyond. It may not seem like it, but June is as important a stretch for the season as anything. We take it seriously. The kids do too.”
Edtior's Note: Top photo shows Coach Tyler Phares at a June workout this past week, while players are shown in the second and bottom photo in the same action. Third photo shows Gavin Williams (20) leading the way for Gabe Martin, both of whom return this year, while the fourth photo is of Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tom Sears.
