The Bottom Line
By Bill Nestor
Sports Editor
This past week was a big one for county football teams as five of six were winners. Every game does indeed count but they seem to mean even more this late in the season. It might have been a perfect week if not for the fact that Liberty and Notre Dame met forcing a guaranteed loss for one squad.
In Bridgeport the Indians blanked Keyser 38-0. The Tribe jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win. Dante Bonamico scored three of his teams five touchdowns and picked up 114 yards on 7 carries. Dylan Tonkery earned a game high 178 yards on 16 rushes including a 65-yard touchdown. Kicker, Kobey Kiefer drilled a 32-yard field goal and was 5 of 5 on extra point attempts. Meanwhile, the defense pitched its third shutout of the season.
Lincoln was fresh after their bye week and showed no signs of rust in a 41-8 win over Ritchie County. The Cougars took to the road and rolled up nearly 400 yards in the tilt. Quarterback Kobe Carpenter was 9 of 18 for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Andrew Lopez was the games leading rusher with 118 yards on 14 carries. It was the fourth time in six games that Lincoln’s defense had allowed one score or less.
Liberty held off Notre Dame, 27-20. The Mountaineers utilized a 13-0 third quarter to hold a 27-14 lead going into the fourth quarter. Special teams play put the Irish back in the contest when Zach Seibel returned a blocked punt 20 yards for a score. Notre Dame would have a chance to tie the game with a fourth and goal inside the one-yard line but the Mountaineer defense came up with a stop.
Liberty was led by Seth George who picked up 220 yards on 30 rushes. He also scored the game first touchdown on a 10 yard run. The Mountaineers also put six on the board via special teams play as Preston Nelson returned a kickoff 76 yards for a score.
Fighting Irish signal caller, Jordan Miller, threw for 162 yards and rushed for 36 more in the affair. Miller also tossed a 10-yard pass to Seibel. Seibel had the hat trick as he also scored Notre Dame’s first touchdown on a six-yard run.
Robert C. Byrd doubled up East Fairmont 48-24. Juwan Jones-Wright earned 190 of his team’s 340 rushing yards and accounted for the first five Flying Eagle scores. Just before halftime, quarterback Julian Marino found Cole Fisher on a 21-yard pass play to provide a 41-3-halftime lead. Marino was 7 of 9 for 110 yards in the win.
South Harrison handed Webster County a 56-13 loss. The Hawks took a 21-0 lead to the break and then exploded for 35 second half points. South Harrison received scoring from all three phases. Chase Jenkins returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown. While Brenton Barnette recovered a fumble and rambled 32 yards for the games final score.
Jenkins finished with a game high 160 yards on 17 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Cam Barnette picked up 147 yards on 17 attempts. Barnette also rushed for three scores in the victory.
Speaking of “drive,” congratulations are in order for Bridgeport’s Mason Williams. The sophomore sensation was the low medalist at the state golf tournament this past week. Williams shot a 73 in Tuesday’s opening round at the Speidel Golf Club in Wheeling. Williams continued his strong play Wednesday with a 74 for 147 total.
Bridgeport golf coach Fred Wilhelm earned honors as well as he was named the 2015 National Federation High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
Congratulations to both Williams and Wilhelm, for their most recent accomplishments
That will do it for now. Until next time …Take care and God bless!
