BRIDGEPORT — In early September, back in Week 2, Morgantown made the trek down Interstate 79 to Bridgeport’s Wayne Jamison Stadium to face the Indians. Although the Mohigans couldn’t have asked for a better start than to return the opening kickoff to the house, the Indians eventually ground down and defeated the mistake-prone Mohigans, 31-20.
Fast-forward 11 weeks to Friday night’s opening round Class AAA playoff rematch between No. 14 MHS and third-ranked and undefeated BHS. Morgantown was hoping for a similar fast start, plus this time, a full game of clean, sustained success in order to pull off the upset against the powerful Indians, winners of 28 of their last 29 games and making their 29th straight playoff appearance. Unfortunately, while the Mohigans repeated their solid beginning, the mistakes crept in, as well, and once again, Bridgeport took advantage, pulling away to an impressive 34-7 victory.
In a lightning quick first quarter, both teams demonstrated textbook power rushing offensive football. In mirror image drives, Bridgeport (11-0) took the opening boot and steadily marched 64 yards in seven plays, with quarterback Cameron Cole shaking loose down the right sideline for a 31-yard score. However, Morgantown (5-6) responded in strong, nearly identical fashion, driving 69 yards in seven plays, the last 27 on running back Braedon Brooks’ dash around left end.
The Indians’ ground attack kept rolling into the second quarter, powering down to the MHS 12 before fumbling the ball away. Having dodged a bullet, the Mohigans, as has been their unfortunate habit all year, then stabbed themselves in the foot, fumbling it right back at their own 25. BHS, using its bulky, disciplined Single Wing offense to perfection, converted the TO into a go-ahead TD when running back Charlie Brazier bucked across from the 1.
After a muffed kickoff return pinned them back at their own 5, Morgantown pieced together an important, potentially game-sustaining drive to midfield, but a third-down pass to a receiver 30 yards in the clear was just barely overthrown. With 1:41 left in the half, Bridgeport worked the clock to perfection, driving all the way to the MHS 20, where Taylor Thomas drilled a 30-yard FG as time expired.
Down by 10, but clearly demonstrating the ability to hang with the favored Indians, the Mohigans needed a strong start on offense to begin the second half. But three running plays could only advance nine yards, and on 4th and 1 from its own 36, MHS coach Sean Biser had a decision to make, and he decided to punt.
“It was a real tough one,” he admitted after the game. “We’d had success running the ball in the first half, but it was so early, and we didn’t want to give them another short field. Looking back in hindsight, I probably would’ve rolled the dice there.”
Maybe the game might’ve turned out differently had the Mohigans converted and scored to pull within three — but considering how potent the Indians’ run game was throughout this one, the outcome likely wouldn’t have changed. Especially when it took all of three plays for BHS to score again, when Cole burst through a hole on the right side and sprinted past the MHS secondary for a 55-yard TD. Or even more so when Aiden Paulsen picked off a pass at the MHS 29, leading to Landyn Reppert’s 3-yard TD run. In the final quarter, Thomas tacked on another field goal for the final tally.
“We felt really good about our first quarter for sure, and even at the half,” Biser said. “We did just what we wanted on that first drive, and then we turn them over. At that point, you can’t give it back to them right away in your own end, and we did. And good teams make you pay. Then we just miss a wide-open guy that could’ve tied it up. In the end, we didn’t make the plays we needed to make, and made some mistakes we just can’t make.
“But we battled hard all night, and I’m proud of our seniors and the whole team. We overcame so much adversity this season, and played well enough to make the playoffs, and that’s a big step on our way to changing the culture at MHS. We’re already looking forward to next year.”
Morgantown (5-6) 7 0 0 0 – 7
Bridgeport (11-0) 7 10 14 3 – 34
1st Q – BHS – Cameron Cole 31 run (Taylor Thomas kick)
MHS – Braedon Brooks 27 run (Jack Grushecky kick)
2nd Q – BHS – Charlie Brazier 1 run (Thomas kick)
BHS – Thomas 30 FG
3rd Q – BHS – Cole 55 run (Taylor Thomas kick)
BHS – Landyn Reppert 3 run (Thomas kick)
BHS – Thomas 27 FG
PASSING
MHS – Jarrett Lawrence 1-3-1 14, Maddox Bowers 0-1-0 0, Totals 1-4-1 14
BHS – Cole 1-1-0 20
RUSHING
MHS – Lawrence 9-35, Keonn Mallett 2-8, Brooks 8-46 TD, Peyton Johnson 8-53, Caleb Nutter 9-36 Total 36-178 TD.
BHS- Cole 13-185 2TD, Aiden Paulsen 7-43 Brazier 3-17 TD, Reppert 18-98 TD, Anthony Spatafore 3-7, Zach Rohrig 3-7, Total 47-357 3TD.
RECEIVING
MHS – Brooks 1-14
BHS – Nathan Lhotsky 1-20
INTERCEPTION
BHS – Paulsen
