Photos and story by Sean McNamara
MORGANTOWN – Two of West Virginia’s best met at Pony Lewis Field in Morgantown on Friday, with a defensive battle going the way of the Morgantown Mohigans, who protected their home field and defeated the Bridgeport Indians, 10-6,
In the opening week of the West Virginia prep football season a week ago, both Morgantown (2-0) and Bridgeport (1-1) scored 50 or more points in blowout victories, but neither faced a defense like they would Friday night.
Morgantown outgained Bridgeport, 202-164, in total yards Friday with each team playing downhill and hitting from the start, not allowing the opponent to collect many explosive plays.
The physical nature of Friday’s game was one that Morgantown coach Sean Biser knew his team was in store for, and he was pleased with how they answered the call.
“It’s Bridgeport. That’s what they’re going to do,” Biser, whose Mohigans have allowed just six points on the season, said. “If you play soft against them, they’re going to grind you in the dust. It was a great job by our defense and our whole team, really.”
While Biser knew his Mohigans were in for a physical battle, so, too, did Bridgeport coach Tyler Phares, and his team welcomed that challenge.
“It was needed,” Phares said. “Our kids hadn’t really been hit. It was a very physical, tough game on both ends. They were better with the details tonight and got us beat.”
Those details came in the form of players on both ends staying true to their assignments and limiting mistakes. It was the Indians’ mistakes that proved crucial, with a pair of fumbles at critical times having a major impact on the game.
The first miscue came right from the jump as Bridgeport’s Josh Love returned the opening kick to the MHS 38-yard line, but the Indians coughed up a fumble moments later, with Morgantown’s Dakoma Neal recovering at the BHS 49-yard line.
The Mohigans struck immediately as Jacob Keir got behind the Bridgeport secondary and caught a Maddox Bowers pass for a 44-yard touchdown strike. After a PAT by Aiden Stire, it was 7-0 Mohigans.
Following a pair of Bridgeport three-and-outs and a Morgantown punt, the Mohigans struck again with a 38-yard Bowers-to-Andrew Phares pass setting up a Stire 33-yard field go to put the Mohigans up, 10-0.
Bridgeport began to get its offense rolling soon after, moving the chains for the first time in the game with 1:20 left in the opening quarter, but the drive stalled and a missed 44-yard field goal by kicker Taylor Thomas gave the Mohigans the ball back.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, with a Bridgeport turnover on downs in Mohigan territory representing the only threat either way in the period, sending the two teams into the locker room at halftime with MHS up, 10-0.
To open the second half, Bridgeport’s Josh Love intercepted Bowers, but the Indians were unable to take advantage, going three and out on the ensuing drive.
After holding the Mohigans to a three and out of their own, Bridgeport finally got on the board as a 32-yard run by Tyler Martin set up a 10-yard Martin TD run, but a missed PAT held the score at 10-6 with 2 minutes remaining in the third.
On the next possession, following an MHS first down, the Indians forced a Mohigan punt which Love blocked, giving Bridgeport a first and 10 at the MHS 21-yard line.
The Mohigans held tough, forcing a 42-yard Thomas field goal attempt that missed the mark, keeping the four-point Morgantown lead intact.
As his team held serve in that crucial moment of the game, Biser was pleased to see how his Mohigans responded to the situation.
“They’re worried about this play,” Biser said. “That’s all they’re worried about. That play was over. What are we going to do? We can’t worry about the blocked punt. It’s just how are we going to respond to that adversity. It’s not a matter of if adversity hits, it’s just a matter of when it hits and how you respond to it. Our motto is ‘this play’ and that’s what they did.”
Both squads proceeded to trade a pair of quick possessions leading to punts, setting up a Bridgeport drive from its own 35 with a chance to go take the lead with 2:31 left on the clock.
The Indians started the possession with a 15-yard completion from Phil Reed to Tanner Hathaway, but a fumble on the next carry was recovered by MHS’s Bobby Powell, allowing the Mohigans to run out the clock, with a Caleb Nutter run on fourth and inches sealing the deal.
One week following an offensive outburst of more than 500 yards against Buckhannon-Upshur, the Indians were unable to find the big plays they did a week ago against a stout MHS defense.
Martin set the tone for the Indians’ rushing attack with 77 yards on 11 carries and accounted for the only play of the game that went for more than 15 yards for Bridgeport.
“They were winning the line of scrimmage, and our backs struggled to block a little bit tonight,” Phares said. “They were beating us, especially on the perimeter. Their outside backers were coming down physical, and we didn’t really have an answer for it.”
In total, the Indians averaged 3.4 yards per carry and connected on 1-of-5 passing attempts with nine first downs in the game.
“We knew coming in that it was going to be one of those games,” Phares said. “They’re athletic and they’re big, but we feel we can play pretty good team defense. We ran the football, and the breaks just didn’t go our way tonight.”
After allowing the 10 first-quarter points, the Indians defense tightened up, shutting out the Mohigans the rest of the way while holding MHS to 2.9 yards per carry and Bowers to 6-of-10 passing for 112 yards.
Nutter led the way for MHS with 53 yards on 14 carries while Brodrick Washington ran for 29 yards on nine carries and Powell caught two passes for 27 yards.
Morgantown has a bye in Week 3 prior to a trip to Hedgesville on Sept. 16, while Bridgeport will host John Marshall on Friday.
MORGANTOWN 10, BRIDGEPORT 6
Team Statistics
MHS;BP
First Downs;7;9
Rushing Yards;90;149
Passing Yards112;15
Total Yards;202;164
Passing; 6-10-1;1-5-0
Fumbles;1;3
Fumbles Lost;0;2
Penalties;5-50;7-65
Individual Statistics
Rushing
MHS: Caleb Nutter 14-53, Brodrick Washington 9-29, Keonn Mallett 4-11, Maddox Bowers 1-7, Bobby Powell 1-(-2), TEAM 2-(-8). Totals 31-90. BP: Tyler Martin 11-77 1 TD, Phil Reed 17-39, Charlie Brazier 12-42, Ryan Hall 3-4, TEAM 1-(-13). Totals 44-149.
Passing
MHS: Maddox Bowers 6-10-1 112 yards 1 TD. BP: Phil Reed 1-5-0 15 yards.
Receiving
MHS: Jacob Keir 1-49 1 TD, Bobby Powell 2-27, Brodrick Washington 1-1, Andrew Phares 1-38, Caleb Nutter 1-(-3). Totals 6-112. BP Tanner Hathaway 1-15. Totals, 1-15.
Morgantown;10;0;0;0;;10
Bridgeport;0;0;6;0;;6
First Quarter
MHS – Jacob Keir 44-yard pass from Maddox Bowers (Aiden Stire kick)
MHS – Stire 33-yard field goal
Third Quarter
BP – Tyler Martin 10-yard run (kick failed)