From the Bench: Is Charleston Return in BHS Football Mix for 2025? Magic 8-Ball Say All Signs Point to Yes
By Jeff Toquinto on December 15, 2024 from Sports Blog
There are several questions that always come up after a state championship game. At the top of the list is whether the teams involved can get back there the following year and, if so, can they win it?
Speculation is part of what always makes sports fun and a great field for debate. So, that leads to the question about this blog.
Can Bridgeport make it back to Charleston in 2025?
While there are no guarantees, a shake of the magic 8-ball is that “Signs Point to Yes.” As I did back in 2019, and as I did more than once back in the mid 2010’s, I talked to my friend Travis Jones, who most of you know as the “Voice of the Indians.”
No disrespect to my friend and colleague Chris Johnson who is also deeply embedded with the program, but he and I talk sports and BHS 
football multiple times a week. I wanted a fresh perspective, and Jones was my go-to guy once again.
football multiple times a week. I wanted a fresh perspective, and Jones was my go-to guy once again.
“Bridgeport will have a chance, for sure, because line play next year should be impressive,” said Jones. “They are losing Wes Brown and a few others, but there are a lot of pieces in the mix coming back.”
While line play on both sides of the ball is where games are won and lost, for Bridgeport and its almost exclusive run-at-all-costs single-wing attack, it takes higher priority. Because of that, Jones was quick to spell out the importance. And then spelled out who should be in the fold next year – and we both realize we may have left a name or three out regarding the line and other areas.
Looking at the offensive line, a player many were expecting to be one of the best linemen on the team and in the state never played a single down due to injury. However, Bryson Lowther is expected back next year and could help fill the void left by Brown. Then there is
returning center Harrison Hall – and that is important in any BHS offensive attack from the old stick-I, to the power pistol, to the Tyler Phares-ran single-wing.
returning center Harrison Hall – and that is important in any BHS offensive attack from the old stick-I, to the power pistol, to the Tyler Phares-ran single-wing.
Add to that Wes Conley, Noah West, Brody Abraham, Braedyn Yates, Malachi Nuse – and perhaps Tristan Noble who could move to the interior – and you not only have a foundation, but you have a unit that only cohesion and avoiding injury is required to make a mark. Many of the players will be found competing on the defensive side of the ball as well.
“You are looking at another lineup of players who either started every week or who have started or got a whole lot of snaps,” said Jones. “Honestly, I think it could rival this year’s line, but the unit will need time working and growing together.”
Where the real concern might be in the Indians’ deep and talented backfield. The Tribe loses the group of Alex Moses, Josh Love, Tim 
Jeffress, Jack Spatafore along with a whole lot of valuable pieces that makes the single wing at times undefendable.
Jeffress, Jack Spatafore along with a whole lot of valuable pieces that makes the single wing at times undefendable.
Jones, however, thinks there will be depth – and tested depth – available, primarily due to the number of blowouts that saw backups getting to go up against the first units of many other teams and often doing more than holding their own.
Luke Rohrig will be key after returning from a shoulder injury, Jones said. He was a starting punt returner and also occasionally field kickoffs. The rest? Not too shabby in the form of Eli Knight, Graham Vincent, Landen Gillum, Aiden Gorby, and Gabe Martin (who, as a sophomore was easily the team’s leading tackler despite missing a game).
There is also a weapon that can go into the backfield that is already a weapon on special teams this year. Jones said folks may be surprised to see that kicker/punter Gavin Williams is an explosive runner who eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing during his time on the Tribe’s freshman team. Those who saw him return a kickoff for a touchdown in the postseason got a sample of what may be in store.
“The pieces are there with what looks like a lot of really good frontline guys, but the part you’re going to have to develop is the overall
depth of the team. The good news is that this is an exceptionally talented sophomore class this year, but behind that are a lot of unproven freshmen,” said Jones. “This team was fortunate because such a deep sophomore class filled the gaps this year and the freshmen coming up have a couple that look really good, but it just doesn’t have the depth.”
depth of the team. The good news is that this is an exceptionally talented sophomore class this year, but behind that are a lot of unproven freshmen,” said Jones. “This team was fortunate because such a deep sophomore class filled the gaps this year and the freshmen coming up have a couple that look really good, but it just doesn’t have the depth.”
That freshmen group this year went 4-3. The losses were to Morgantown, Parkersburg South, and in a game against the East Fairmont junior varsity that featured a running clock from the start. Wins for the Corey Yates-coached squad came against University, Elkins, Lewis County and Grafton
Jones is confident that work in the weight room will turn that 4-3 group into a group that provides the depth. He is more confident that the junior varsity squad will do more than its share to step into starting rolls and fulfill the depth requirements needed for another run of getting to the state title game.
“It’s just amazing to think the junior varsity team has not lost a game since 2019,” said Jones, of the unit coached by Sean Snider that went 6-0 this year. The team beat Morgantown, Parkersburg South, and Fairmont Senior twice among the wins.
Jones thinks the tentative schedule for next year should be more advantageous. He said the additions of Spring Valley, Fort Hill, Md., and 
Heritage, Va. should provide more “strength of schedule” and “bonus points.”
Heritage, Va. should provide more “strength of schedule” and “bonus points.”
“If you can run the slate, it’s always easier to stay at home in the postseason,” said Jones. “Even with that, the talent will be there to compete for a state title, but the work begins in the weight room, which is the x-factor. This year’s group was committed to it.”
For good measure, Jones and I also discussed some recent commentary involving Bridgeport. As social media often does, it brings out conspiracy theorists. Recently, one “insider,” and let it be known that is pure sarcasm, pointed out Bridgeport’s run of success and getting to the playoffs is the result of years of organized recruiting and cheating.
So, they have been recruiting for 32 straight years for the playoffs? And they started recruiting and actively cheating back in 1967 to avoid losing seasons for getting close to six decades?
Yes, it is absurd. Jones pointed out that even with the handful of transfers that arrive (and I write about the new seniors on the football roster every year and they’re generally two to four students already enrolled coming out for the first time), that every player lives in the
Bridgeport school district.
Bridgeport school district.
“That’s checked out because the school doesn’t have room for students not living here because of overcrowding,” said Jones. “There are some kids that are in what I call gray zones that can choose their schools, but I honestly don’t know how you can cheat every year since the late 1960s.”
Another doozie leveled this year? Bridgeport complained to get down to Class AAA “as the biggest Class AAA school in the state” and would be going to court if they end up moving up in the next round of classifications.
First, as Jones quickly pointed out, Bridgeport has had the right to appeal several reclassifications in the past that put them in a higher class. Not once did they go to court or even start an appeal process with the WVSSAC.
“That’s a completely false narrative,” Jones laughed. “Before all the reclassifications this year, even though Bridgeport was ranked number one in Class AAA based on socio-economic factors, enrollment, and other items in the new classification formula, there were about a half a dozen schools with more enrollment. When the WVSSAC moved down 20-plus schools to ‘AAA’ there are now plenty more with higher enrollments.”
Of course, talking about that will not matter to those online who see a conspiracy in every victory as opposed to hard work and a relentless program geared at doing things right. Regardless, the Indians are continuing to get things done and doing it the right way.
And because of that, there is a fairly good chance you will see them rolling back to Charleston in 2025.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Harrison Hall doing his work at center, while Tristin Noble is shown pressuring the quarterback in the second image. The third photo shows Aiden Gorby working for yardage and that is followed by the team's tacle leader shown adding to his total in the next image. In the fifth picture, Gavin Williams boots in an extra point, while Landen Gillum totes the ball in the final photo. All photos by Joe LaRocca.
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