By Bill Nestor
We are only two weeks into the high school football season and there is good reason to believe that Bridgeport and Fairmont Senior might be gearing up to provide a huge post-season clash. There are several other quality Class AAA teams that could become contenders if they can continue to improve (Robert C. Byrd is one of them) but, as of now, the Indians and the Polar bears are the leaders of the pack.
Bridgeport is a runaway semi that has steamrolled non-conference and conference foes alike, prompting potential opponents to duck the powerhouse. They have been forced to go outside the Mountain state to find opponents. This past week, the Indians had to bring a school from Virginia to Bridgeport.
Heritage High School, out of Lynchburg, visited Wayne Jamison Field and left with a loss. Bridgeport started pulling away early in the second half and after weather forced a cancellation, the Tribe earned a 33 to 14 win. The ground game helped the Indians control the contest from the first score. Gabe Martin led the way with 143 of his team’s 322 yards. He also scored the game’s first touchdown on a six yard scamper.
The Tribe decided to go to the air to double their touchdown production. Quarterback Gavin Williams made his only passing opportunity count when he connected with Sean Veltri from 47 yards out. Williams would add the extra point to make it 13 to nothing. Bridgeport would get back to what it’s known for and a third Indian would find pay dirt, answering a Heritage scoring run.
Martin would get number two on a 16-yard run. The two-point conversion would fail. Heritage would take a shot with their biggest pass play. An 85-yard catch and run brought the visitors to within a score. Martin would cap off the first half scoring with a one yard plunge. Williams would keep on the two point conversion and earn his team the points.
The final score came just into the third quarter. When Martin went 44 yards to the house just prior to the point after opportunity when the weather hit. Bridgeport’s defense only allowed two first downs and the squad only committed a pair of penalties for just six yards.
Fairmont Senior sat out week one and opened up with Robert C. Byrd this past Friday. There has been a great deal of hype surrounding the Polar bears transfer quarterback Anthony Smith. Smith is rumored to have several Division I scholarship offers in his back pocket after putting up exceptional numbers in the Pittsburgh area as a freshman.
Smith was 12 of 23 for 132 yards and two scores. He also found seven different receivers, led by Jason Walker. Walker caught three balls, one of which was a 25-yard touchdown. Christian Hrapchak was the game’s leading ground gainer with 111 yards, including a 44 score. Jarran Boda picked up 94 yards on two rushing scores.
Robert C. Byrd’sIsiah Heflin has three for 151 rushing yards and a score. Elijah Holmes hauled in a 13-yard touchdown reception.
Bridgeport and Fairmont Senior lock up in Tribe Country on Oct 31, the second to the last week of the season. It will set the table for a return matchup that would make everyone forget about the outcome of the initial battle.
That will do it for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!
