There are some concrete truths in the sports journalism business when it comes to interviewing coaches at any level. One of those is that you never ask a coach about anything other than the next game, let alone the next season.

 

Earlier this week as I was having my weekly chat with Bridgeport High School football coach Josh Nicewarner about Friday’s state title game with Frankfort, I knew not to get him to speculate on if the team wins would they be in line to pull a “three-peat.”

 

You just don’t go there when there’s still business to tend to. Since I like to consider myself somewhat clever, I hit Nicewarner up with a few questions about the junior class, hoping to find a juicy sound bite and this is what I got prior to him catching on to where I was heading.

 

“I don’t think anybody has been disappointed in our junior class and what they’ve done this year. Is there room for improvement? There is always room for improvement,” Nicewarner said. “Right now, we’re not worried about who are the juniors or seniors. Right now, we’re worried about our team and we’re worried about the problems Frankfort presents us.”

 

With those worries ended Friday evening at Wheeling Island Stadium, it seemed a better time after the win to talk to Nicewarner about this year’s team’s accomplishments as opposed to speculation about next year’s team. Because of that, I decided to bend the ear of the one person outside the coaching staff or with family bonds that knows as much about BHS football than anyone – Travis Jones.

 

Jones, who has served as the voice of the Indians radio broadcast team for more than two decades, thought exactly as I did. He had no problem speculating for this blog and he served up exactly what I thought was coming. Jones believes this team, or rather the players that will comprise the one that returns for 2015, will be the odds-on favorite to win another state championship.

 

“I think going into next year they’re going to be at the top of a lot of preseason polls. Next year’s team will have a lot less question marks coming into 2015 than this team did in 2014, at least on paper,” said Jones. “Bridgeport will be the preseason number one in most, if not all, of the polls.”

 

If you want a good starting point for why Jones, myself and probably a whole lot of others in Bridgeport and beyond believe that, then look no further than the Indians’ backfield. The Indians don’t just return some talent there; they return all-state level talent there as well as nearly 3,000 yards rushing.

 

The backfield of quarterback Zack Spurlock, Dylan Tonkery, Dante Bonamico and Elijah Drummond are all back in the fold for the Tribe. Mackenzie Holmes returns at an end spot and tackle Brier Anderson is back as well. The other holes on the line could be filled with junior Matt Dillon who saw starting time this year when senior Josh Hastings was injured as well as fellow lineman Dalton Elliott that has got time.

 

“When you have the entire offensive backfield returning and the key component is the precision and timing, you’ve already won a major battle for 2015,” said Jones. “You will have to solidify the line a bit, but I think that will happen.”

 

Certainly, there’s a chance Holmes could convert into a lineman or defensive standout Noah Markley could see time as an offensive lineman as well.

 

Defensively, the Indians return three of four starters in the secondary in Bonamico, Tonkery and Luke Southern. Holmes is back at linebacker and Drummond actually started there when Bonamico was injured and the Tribe added an extra linebacker to the mix. Along the line, Noah Markley will return as a rare three-year starter in his senior year.

 

“You’re going to need to find some defensive linemen too,” said Jones. “I can’t think of a time since I’ve been doing these game that Bridgeport has had a hard time finding linebackers. How many have we had that have had great senior years? There are really too many to count and I expect that to continue.”

 

Jones brought up an interesting point. With so much talent in the backfield, he said next year’s squad may win more games because of a dominant offense as opposed to a dominant defense. And he added that is not a slap at this year’s offense or the potential of next year’s defense.

 

“You just can’t expect the defense to be this dominant again. Everybody, all 11 guys, move in one direction and it’s been a special thing. This is the best defensive unit I’ve ever seen in any classification that Bridgeport has been in,” said Jones. “I think the offense may set up so that the defense doesn’t need to be this good. If it can be that good again then that’s bad news for the rest of Class AA.”

 

 

Talent, however, isn’t the only thing required. There are other intangibles – so many that you can’t even identify – that help make up a championship caliber team. The thing is that Bridgeport has those too. They have them every year. It’s why they’ve not had a losing season since 1967. It’s why they’ve been in the playoffs now every season since 1992. It’s why they have eight state championships.

 

It is the coaching, it is the community, and it is fan participation. It’s the facilities, it is the feeder systems, it is selflessness, and it’s tradition. It’s also, as mentioned above, too many things that can’t be identified.

 

It’s why they’re Bridgeport. And it’s why talking about another state championship isn’t jumping the gun. It’s standard procedure that’s been earned.

 

“If they can continue anywhere near this level there is no question they’re once again a championship level team,” Jones said. “Don’t you agree?”

 

Who am I to disagree with the “Voice?” And for those that believe asking for a three-peat is undue pressure, you’re not paying attention. Bridgeport goes into each season expecting to win a title. This time, however, they’ll be looking to make even more history.

 

Editor's Note: The Tribe returns the "big three" part of the backfield in - from left - Dylan Tonkery, Dante Bonamico and Zack Spurlock in the top photo, while lineman Noah Markley looks to return for another punishing season. In the bottom photo, expect Elijah Drummond's role to expand in 2015. All photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.