MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown football team improved its record to 2-0 on the season by downing Bridgeport (1-1) 10-6 on Friday night in front of a packed crowd at Pony Lewis Field.
After defeating South Charleston 50-0 in Week 1, MHS could have easily been looked at as an offensive juggernaut, ready to confuse defenses and score a ton of points in order to be successful.
However, not to be overlooked is the Mohigan defense, one that has now only allowed six total points through its first two games. That’s also six total points to a team in BHS that scored over 50 last week.
Friday night was no different, and the defensive effort began on the first play of the game when MHS recovered the ball after a Bridgeport fumble.
The next play would open the scoring for the night as MHS junior quarterback Maddox Bowers connected on a 44-yard deep ball to Jacob Keir, who shook the defender off and ran in for a touchdown. MHS led 7-0 after the extra point.
The Mohigans added a field goal on a 33-yard kick by Aiden Stire that split the uprights in the first quarter, a score that held until halftime.
Discipline was the struggle for Bridgeport, a turnover on the first drive of the night would set up a one-play scoring drive for Morgantown. Penalties then stalled a second-quarter drive that made it into the redzone before ending in a missed FG.
Coming out for the second half, MHS kicked the ball away to the Indians, looking to continue its stifling defensive effort, and did so by forcing a three-and-out by BHS on the opening drive. MHS head coach Sean Biser praised the effort of both his players and staff for the success the team has seen through the first two weeks.
“Well I’ll be honest with you, Adam King came on board and changed some of the things we were doing, and the coaches and players bought into it and have done a fantastic job,” Biser said. “We just keep working and developing our program. That was one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen in a while, especially against that quality of offense.”
MHS linebacker Hank Marlin, who had a few key tackles for loss in the game — none bigger than one on a third and long that helped his team seal the game — says he’s known his team has always had this defensive fight inside of them.
“We knew their offense is very physical and knew they could move the ball,” Marlin said. “But we came out and just had to punch them in the mouth first and set the tone. As far as that play, my teammates did a good job taking up the blocks for me and it cleared the way for me to try and make a play.”
The remainder of the game wouldn’t see anymore scoring for MHS, and the Indians eventually got on the board late in the game capping off a nearly 7-minute long drive that went almost the entire length of the field. The extra point was missed, and MHS still led 10-6.
The Indians had another opportunity, but Bridgeport’s Charlie Brazier fumbled near midfield and MHS’s Bobby Powell recovered to end the game.
Morgantown will now have a bye week before heading on the road for a matchup against Hegdesville on Sept. 16.
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