Photo/ALEX KOZLOWSKI BRIDGEPORT running back Peyton Pyle follows blockers for a big gain during last week’s game against Federal Hocking. The Bulldogs are seeking their second straight win Friday when Beallsville comes to Perkins Field.

BRIDGEPORT – Wins have not come easy for the football teams at Beallsville and Bridgeport over the past four years, with the two squads combining for just 14 wins, four of those coming against each other, since 2018.

Friday night Coach Rusty Bondy’s Blue Devils and Fred Rays’ Bulldogs will meet once again, both with 1-4 records, and both looking for a much needed push to getting their respective programs back on the winning track.

Beallsville, which defeated Hundred 49-6 earlier this season, is coming off a tough 38-16 home setback to Valley last Friday while Bridgeport broke into the win column with an impressive 48-0 blanking of Federal Hocking that same night. The Bulldogs will be in search of their first multiple-game winning streak since claiming three in a row in September of 2018, the final game in that streak being a 49-14 win over the Blue Devils.

“We lack tackling skills, and it is something that we are constantly working on,” Bondy admitted. “Hopefully one day soon we will find a way to become more solid in that aspect. But it’s tough when you are consistently moving people around due to injuries, and that is not an excuse, it’s just a way of life with a small team.

“Right now we are so inconsistent, we will make a couple of good plays one series, then none the next and then somebody else will do something good the series after that. We have to find a way to be more consistent. I honestly believe that if we could get more consistent and execute, we could play with anyone on our schedule, and I know when we do finally put it all together we are going to beat a team no one expects us to beat.

“I really felt like we could compete with Valley going in to last week, but we just didn’t block and again, we weren’t consistent. I believe we put a good 11 players on the field every week, but until we start playing consistent football it isn’t going to matter.”

After allowing 145 points in its first three games the Bridgeport defense came to life last week, posting the shutout and giving up just 108 yards of offense. Offensively the ‘Dogs racked up 296 yards on the ground and four scores.

“We really needed that win,” Ray commented. “But honestly, I feel like we should be further ahead of where we are right now and have a better record. But I am proud of the kids and how they played last week. We didn’t get out of quarantine until Thursday, practiced one day and went out and won on Friday.”

Senior Aiden Tarr had 74 yards on just four carries with a touchdown in that victory while sophomore Michael Marshall carried just three times for 96 yards and a pair of scores. Quarterback Colin Jackson was a perfect 6 of 6 through the air for 123 yards and two touchdowns with Tarr catching a pair of passes for 68 yards and a score and Jason Aubrey catching a 33-yard scoring strike.

“They are a solid football team with a good, mobile quarterback, a good offensive line and some very quick athletes,” Bondy said of the Bulldogs. “Our biggest concern with them is trying to contain their speed.”

In similar fashion, the Beallsville defense has surrendered 182 points in its four losses but gave up only six in its only victory. Senior Brandon Louden is coming off a two touchdown performance last week against the Lumberjacks.

“They have a similar record to us and since I have been the head coach here they have been a team that we have gone back-and-forth with winning games,” Ray added. “They have some kids back from last year, they have a lot of speed and decent size, and they are very similar to a lot of the teams that we play.

“But these are the teams that we should be competing with on every play and these are the games that we need to be winning to get our confidence up. We are definitely capable to performing well against teams similar to us, but we just have to go out and do it.”

The two teams have split their last two meetings with Bridgeport picking up a 46-14 victory a year ago and Beallsville capturing a 35-13 verdict in 2019.