1 day Ago By by Tyler Kennett Sports Writer
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WV News) — Class AAA No. 3 Bridgeport broke its program single-season scoring record with a 65-0 win over No.
14 Robert C. Byrd on Friday in the first round of the WVSSAC high school football playoffs. The Indians are now at 646 points this season, besting the previous record of 615, set in 2023.
“You want to come out in the first round and execute while staying as healthy as you can,” Bridgeport coach Tyler Phares said. “That’s the key, staying healthy. You’re playing some really good teams back-to-back.
Health is a big part of it. To do that while executing well is big.” Alex Moses led the Indians in rushing with 160 yards and 2 touchdowns on seven carries.
Josh Love was right behind him with 121 yards on six carries with three touchdowns. The team combined for 576 rushing yards. Robert C.
Byrd’s season ends at 4-7. The young Eagles team made their first trip to the playoffs since 2021 despite injuries to key players throughout the season. “We hit our goal of making the playoffs, regardless of our record,” Robert C.
Byrd coach Austin Scott said. “It says something about the guys that stuck it out and played for each other. Tonight, we only had three seniors that played.
We’re young, still trying to find that right direction.” To begin the push, Jack Spatafore ran for 40 yards to set up Love for a 5-yard touchdown with 7:09 left in the first quarter. Bridgeport led 7-0.
Carter Zuliani was part of a strong defensive effort on the next drive, swatting a pass in the backfield after a sack to stall the Eagles’ drive near midfield. During that Byrd drive, Junior Smith scrambled for 38 yards, the longest rush against Bridgeport’s varsity defense this season. Love then ran 57 yards for his second touchdown to stretch the lead to 14 with 3:41 left in the first as Gavin Williams made his second of seven PATs, perfect in the frigid yet rainy night.
Zuliani then blocked a punt, recovering it with a foot out of bounds to net a safety. Bridgeport led 16-0 with 2:06 left in the first. Sam Goodwin returned the kick 42 yards to the Byrd 43-yard line.
Moses then immediately scampered 43 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 23 with 1:43 to play in the first. Moses, as always, brought the energy. “It feels amazing,” Moses said of the scoring record.
“These are the things we have worked on for four years. The first thought I had when I stepped on the field today is that I have dreamed of this moment. We will never give anyone an easy win.
” He also was one of hundreds of players to likely share the feeling of finally playing football after the delayed start to the playoffs. “It was killing me, man,” Moses said. “Football is my everything.
I’m glad we got to continue to do what we do.” Donovan Williams hit Junior Smith as he threw on fourth down to give Bridgeport possession with 29 seconds remaining in the first. He and Zuliani were constant pressures in the backfield.
“Carter was tough,” Phares said. “He does a lot of good things up front. If it’s not him, someone else steps it up.
It’s almost a battle to see who makes the play.” After a quarter, Bridgeport led 23-0. Love hurdled a defender before breaking free for his third touchdown to begin the second quarter.
Bridgeport led 30-0. Moses got his second score of the night on the following drive with a 79-yard rushing touchdown that looked like he could see the field from above. “I got as far out as I could before I started running up the sideline,” Moses said.
“I saw two or three Bridgeport jerseys and a couple of Byrd jerseys to the outside, so I tried to make it look like I was taking the sideline to cut back off the block. I get great blocks, so that one was pretty.” The blitz broke the season scoring record.
“It’s a combination of everything,” Phares said. “The offensive line is an unsung hero. These kids get a lot of open space.
Our backs take care of the football and make special plays. Kids like Alex, when they are in the open field, are tough to deal with. It’s a full team effort.
” Timmy Jeffress capped off a 7-play, 50-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown on Bridgeport’s next drive. The Tribe led 44-0 with 4:22 left in the half. Moses fumbled, scooped it up, reversed field and moved 19 yards for a first down on Bridgeport’s next drive.
It set up Spatafore for an 8-yard touchdown to make it 51-0 at halftime. Landen Gillum helped get the Bridgeport second team off to a hot start in the second half with a 47-yard touchdown to make it 58-0. On RCB’s next drive, Junior Smith launched ahead to the Bridgeport 23-yard line on a scramble as the Eagles pushed into the red zone.
The run made just the eighth time a team has made it within 20 yards of the end zone this season against Bridgeport, and Smith’s run was the longest against the Indians this season. Smith led the Eagles with 83 rushing yards on 10 carries but left the game due to injury late in the third. The sophomore ended the season as a bright spot for the future of Byrd’s program.
“He’s a great athlete,” Scott said. “It’s all about him working toward being a better player and leader. That’s what it all comes down to for everyone.
(Bridgeport) works for this stuff, so we need to get to that point.” Graham Vincent intercepted Smith to keep the shutout alive, helping create the third red zone stop for Bridgeport this season in eight tries. Gillum scored once more in the final quarter to bring the game to its final score.
“We get to play a bit more aggressive when the back of the end zone is in play because he is a great defender,” Phares said of Vincent. “He’s undefeated back there.” Bridgeport improves to 11-0 and will host the winner of No.
6 Nitro and No. 11 Shady Spring, playing on Saturday, in the quarterfinals. Dates and times will be set next week.
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