Late last year, it was learned that for the first time in 10 years Wheeling Park will not be playing Bridgeport in football during the regular season. Thanks to early notice from the Patriots and a local team needing a game in the same week, BHS was able to fill the spot easily.

 

That happens when you find out in December.

 

In recent weeks, Bridgeport found out it will have another change in the schedule. And like the Wheeling Park affair, it will involve a big-time rival for the 2018 season.

 

The good news is that the game is still on. The bad news, at least from a coaching and preparation standpoint, is that the game week four contest with last year’s Class AA runner-up Fairmont Senior will be on Thursday instead of Friday.

 

“It’s a situation that couldn’t be avoided. Fairmont Senior and East Fairmont share East-West Stadium and it’s very difficult for them to make a schedule where each week one is at home and one is on the road and there are times throughout the year where both teams end up scheduling a game at home on the same weekend,” said BHS Principal Matt DeMotto. “This is one of those weekends.”

 

DeMotto said when it happens, one of the two schools sharing the stadium plays Thursday and the other on Friday.

 

“I am fairly certain they take turns rotating,” said DeMotto. “This is the time where Fairmont Senior takes the Thursday game. I know we’d rather play on Friday, but I would imagine Fairmont Senior would also.”

 

For Coach John Cole, he said with the game being in Week 4 (Sept. 13), it presents some unique challenges. The biggest being preparing for a Fairmont Senior team that once again should be among the best in Class AA and also feature one of the best passing attacks in the state.

 

“They really throw it well and in the opener we’ll probably see some throwing with Lewis County, but we’re not anticipating a lot of passing from Liberty and East Fairmont with their running attacks,” said Cole. “With the game on Thursday, that leaves us three days to prepare one of the best passing attacks in the state with one of the best quarterbacks in the state in Connor Neal back.”

 

Cole said the entire dynamic of the week changes. And he said it changes for both teams.

 

“The week will go by really fast,” said Cole. “The first thing it changes is that you lose the jayvee game that you usually play Monday and, although some may think it’s crazy, a lot of the defense you plan for a Friday game isn’t locked down until Thursday. You can game plan over the weekend, but until you execute in practice you don’t know how it’s going to look.

 

“What ends up happening is that you find minor things that you continually work on to hopefully straighten out,” he continued. “Losing that day is always tough, but against such a talented team it adds pressure. We’ll do what we always we do. We’ll deal with what’s in front of us.”

 

In years past, the Bridgeport and Fairmont Senior game was usually played in later weeks. That’s changed since the Big 10 Conference changed the way games were scheduled due to having Class AAA and Class AA teams.

 

“We’ve had to move things around and now Bridgeport and Fairmont has become a game in the first half of the season,” said DeMotto. “The way the schedule falls now is the way it works out for everyone involved.”

 

Cole said he knows the Polar Bears and their coaching staff is in the same boat. However, he said jokingly that FSHS has one advantage.

 

“I’m pretty sure they know right now exactly how to prepare for us on defense, which most teams can already tell you. Coach (Nick) Bartic may disagree, but I think they may have a little easier time with defensive preparation,” Cole joked. “Regardless, I hope it’s a good game like it usually is.”

 

The game will start at 7 p.m. from East-West Stadium. It will be carried on 103.3 WAJR FM. At this time, there are no plans to televise the game.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows BHS Coach John Cole, right, congratule FSHS Coach Nick Bartic following the Polar Bears win in 2017. Lefty quarterback Connor Neal returns for Fairmont Senior this year. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.