Bridgeport routs Fort Hill, 49-14

Oct. 4, 2025
by Alex Rychwalski

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Fort Hill had a window to stay in the game, but it just couldn’t crack Bridgeport’s Single Wing.

The Indians scored on seven of their eight drives, gashing Fort Hill for 451 yards on 47 bruising carries in the process and ending the game with 21 unanswered points.

Gavin Williams rushed for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns, Eli Knight added 95 yards and two scores, and Bridgeport roared to a 49-14 rout of No. 2 Fort Hill on Friday at Wayne Jamison Field to extend its winning streak to 20 games.

“Bridgeport’s a heck of a team,” Fort Hill head coach Zack Alkire said. “They gave us exactly what we expected. It was going to be a hard-fought game. I thought we fought pretty well early, let it get away from us there towards the end.”

Fort Hill fell to 2-3 for the first time since 2001. Its three losses — Dunbar, Hollidaysburg and Bridgeport — are a combined 17-0.

The Indians extended their home winning streak to 16 games.

Fort Hill was within 28-14 after an electric 73-yard touchdown pass from Noah House to Braelyn Younger with 9:08 left in the third quarter.

Bridgeport answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive, and House was knocked out of the game with a knee injury on the ensuing series, which ended with an interception by the Indians’ Kasen Baun — the second thrown by the Sentinels in the game.

Bridgeport scored on all four of its second-half series.

“Hats off to them and the scheming they came up for this week, and just proud of our kids to keep battling through adversity,” Bridgeport head coach Tyler Phares said.

“When you play a team the quality of Fort Hill ... they’re not gonna lay down. You’re not gonna be able to cruise to an easy win, and they proved that again tonight.”

House completed 6 of 9 passes for 196 yards, a touchdown and an interception, running in a one-yard score. Younger rushed for 64 yards on 17 tries and caught two passes for 96 yards and a TD. Landen Richardson caught two passes for 76 yards in the first half.

Fort Hill struggled to run the football between the tackles against Bridgeport’s aggressive 6-1 defense, gaining 72 yards on 31 carries. The Indians had a 19-12 edge in first downs, 475-305 in total offense and 27:09-20:51 in time of possession.

Bridgeport scored touchdowns on three of its four first-half drives to lead 21-7 at the half.

The Indians jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter after a touchdown each by Knight and Williams.

Fort Hill used its play-action passing game to get on the scoreboard. House connected with his tight end Richardson on a 49-yard pass to get into Indians’ territory.

House then linked up with Richardson again to get inside the five-yard line, and House snuck it into the end zone from a yard out to cut the Fort Hill deficit to 14-7 with 6:53 left in the half.

The drive spanned 90 yards on eight plays.

Fort Hill’s defense forced a three-and-out, and Bridgeport shanked the punt to set up a short field at its own 30. The punt was just the second the Indians have taken this year.

However, Bridgeport’s defense stood tall, and the Sentinels missed a 49-yard field goal.

“That was huge,” Alkire said. “You finally do get a stop. It’s not a great punt. You have great field position, you’ve got to score there.”

Bridgeport stole a late touchdown, driving 80 yards on 10 plays in a drive that lasted 3:08. Williams capped the series with a one-yard TD run with 22.5 seconds before halftime.

Fort Hill drove into Bridgeport territory on its first series, but Gabe Martin intercepted a pass at the goal line.

Fort Hill returns home to Greenway Avenue Stadium for its final four regular-season games, beginning with a matchup with Mountain Ridge (2-3) next week.

Despite the poor start against stiff competition, the Sentinels remain on their quest for a state record fifth consecutive Class 1A title.

Fort Hill hopes the best is ahead.

“Going forward just have faith in the kids,” Alkire said. “The kids are plugged in, and they’re battle tested. You’ve gotta hope that things ultimately end up turning around, and I know they will.”