Bridgeport too much for Robert C. Byrd, 58-21

— By Ethan Collins

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — In a storied rivalry that formerly pitted a pair of Class AA foes, current Class AAA member Bridgeport rolled by Robert C. Byrd, 58-21, to improve to 3-0 on Friday.

This was a game that was within reach for Robert C Byrd’s (3-1) midway through the third quarter. 

However, the Eagles’ mistakes along with not being able to get touchdowns in the red zone, allowed the Indians to pull away in the fourth quarter. 

The game started with a Bridgeport drive that took about 7 minutes off the clock and ended with a 16-yard touchdown run from Cam Cole. 

The first drive for the Eagles resulted in a Jeremiah King fumble and Bridgeport took over in opposition territory to start its next drive. 

From there, Cole ran 21 yards for his second touchdown of the night. The second drive by the Eagles ended in a three and out, but Bridgeport muffed a punt, allowing RCB to have good field position. The Eagles took advantage and got their first points on King’s 5-yard touchdown run.

Bridgeport went back ahead by two scores at 21-7 following a 15-yard TD run by Trent Haines. 

The Eagles started on their own 7-yard line, passed on every play and topped it off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Xavier Lopez to senior Nicholas Edwards to make it 21-14 with just under 3 minutes left to go in the half. 

The ndians made the best use of the time remaining, and on his first carry, senior Hayden Moore went 32 yards for the touchdown to put it back to a two score game. 

Down two touchdowns, the Eagles couldn’t do anything with the ball on their first possession in the second half. The Eagles gambled on fourth-and-goal and failed to convert, and Bridgeport went all the way down the field and Cole got his third and final touchdown of the night to have the Indians lead 35-14. 

The Eagles had one last good drive despite having to risk it again, going for it on fourth-and-goal and punched in a 1-yard score by John Crites to put it back to a two-score game at 35-21.

In the fourth it was all Bridgeport, and it started with a misdirection to perfection on a 53-yard touchdown run by senior JT Muller to make it 42-21. Then, Lopez was sacked for a safety. Moore and sophomore Camden Hess accounted for the final two touchdowns. 

Bridgeport had 531 total yards, all on the ground. Cole led the way with 21 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Muller had six carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Moore finished with seven carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. 

The Eagles had 406 total yards: Ninety-eight yards rushing and 308 passing. Crites led the way rushing with eight carries for 45 yards and a touchdown. Senior Makia Payne had three rushes for 44 yards. King had only 9 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Lopez went 26-for-38 with 308 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Leading the way in receiving yards was senior Bryson Lucas who had six catches for 75 yards. Junior Nathaniel Junkins led in catches with seven for 72 yards, while six receptions for 74 yards.





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