Every once in a while, I am asked about “the greatest” in relation to a game, player, coach, moment at Bridgeport High School. Recently, someone asked me if I ever recall a football game with a ton of hype that was not a local rivalry such as Fairmont Senior or some past games with Robert C. Byrd.

 

I honestly could not produce one until one of my recent late nights where I was unable to sleep, and my mind wandered. Then, it hit.

 

Although I did not have the date on the tip of my tongue, I knew I could find it. And there it was – the game I recalled as being the most hyped ever. Perhaps not yours, but mine.

 

Back in mid-November 2001. It was in the second round of the Class AA playoffs as the Indians were set to host Wyoming East in a battle of two of the top candidates for the Kennedy Award that year.

 

Media coverage locally, regionally, and even statewide was zeroing in on the battle between Bridgeport’s all-state fullback C.R. Rohrbough and Wyoming East’s James “Tank” Tunstalle. Tunstalle was considered one of the favorites for the award, while Rohrbough had made his way onto the radar in an impactful way. On top of that, it was the two past winners of the Class AA state title meeting.

 

It should be noted neither would win the award that year. In 2001, Marc Kimes, the quarterback for the Parkersburg Big Reds, landed the honor before heading on to West Virginia Wesleyan.

 

Back to the two main components of this blog in Tunstalle and Rohrbough. Make no mistake, Tunstalle was a beast of a young man both physically and on the football field. Rohrbough, about as good as a player and athlete as I have had the privilege to watch during my decades following the Indians, was no slouch in either of those departments.

 

On this particular day at Wayne Jamison Field, it was a lopsided affair – both on the scoreboard and in the numbers produced by the players involved. Both of the numbers favored the Indians and Rohrbough.

 

Need proof?

 

The final score was 38-6. Rohrbough finished the game with 236 yards on just 19 rushes and added four touchdowns for good measure as BHS would go to 12-0 that year before losing in the title game to Poca by a 21-7 score, which is the only title game loss in Bridgeport history.

 

Tunstalle finished the 116 yards on 27 carries with 59 yards of it coming on a late fourth quarter run against the Bridgeport reserves. Prior to that carry, Tank had 57 yards on 26 runs.

 

Let me be clear, it was more about Bridgeport’s defense than Tunstalle not being legitimate. Tunstalle inked with Marshall University and Rohrbough went on to play with small college power Georgetown out of Kentucky.

 

As for the hype? Yeah, I was not imagining it. I found my old notes with written quotes and Rohrbough actually addressed it.

 

“There was too much hype about the matchup,” said Rohrbough. “I just wanted to get out there and get it over with.”

 

Rohrbough helped get it over sooner rather than later. The Indians led 21-0 at the half and were up 38-0 before Tunstalle scored late for what would lead to the final score.

 

Ironically, former Coach Bruce Carey addressed the hype about the game offhandedly when he talked about discussion taking place on the Kennedy Award that goes to the stop high school football player in the state of West Virginia.

 

“I told someone tonight that if they were looking at the Kennedy award candidates, they should be looking on the red side tonight,” said Carey.

 

Of course, Rohrbough also praised his line. And his line took it personal that Rohrbough was not considered the top back coming into the game. This quote I had down is from then center Jason Closson.

 

“I don't know about the rest of the line, but I took it as a personal challenge to help C.R. have a better game,” said center Jason Closson. “All you heard about before the game was how no one was better than Tank. I think C.R. showed he was the better back.”

 

At least he was in that game. Both would prove they were worthy of the hype. Thanks to remember the hype, you have this week’s blog.

 

Now if I could only remember who asked me. And for those out there who remember an equally hyped game not involving a local rivalry, or if you want to bring that into the mix, feel free to add it in the comment section below.