IN THE WIN COLUMN — The Brooke Bruins got in the win column last week and will look to make it back-to-back victories on Friday night when they travel south to face a big test on the road in the Bridgeport Indians. - Michael D. McElwain

WELLSBURG — Brooke’s continued improvement took a big step last week as the Bruins got off the schneid and returned to Brooke County with a cherished 33-14 victory against Lincoln County.

Running back Triston Stevens registered his best performance of the season, rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries.

Stevens workload increase with leading rusher Dante Tulenko missing his second game.

Tulenko averaged 12.6 yards per carry, bolstered by a 54-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter.

Quarterback Ty Sperringer threw for 86 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-21 attempts. Darion Hilton caught three of those balls for 52 yards, including the lone scoring strike.

Brooke’s rush defense against the Panthers was staunch, limiting the hosts to 114 yards on 42 carries, a minuscule 2.7 yards per carry.

As positive as that statistic is, Brooke’s run defense, and team as a whole, is going to get a whole different type of test this week.

The Bruins are once again hitting the road, this time entering hostile territory in central West Virginia to face the unbeaten juggernaut that is the Bridgeport Indians.

To save Bridgeport has been dominant in 2024 would be an understatement.

In five games, the Indians have allowed one score — one — in a 54-4 steamrolling of Linsly on September 20 at West Liberty.

As impressive as that victory is, it was the 49-0 blanking of Morgantown at Pony Lewis Field that is eye-popping.

It’s not often the Mohigans lose, let alone get blown out at home.

But that’s the type of season Bridgeport is having.

Leading rusher senior Josh Love has 555 yards on 38 carries with 11 touchdowns. He averages 111 yards and 14.6 yards per carry.

While Love gets the bulk of the work, the Indians run-centric offense boasts a number of capable ball carriers, including Tim Jeffress, Alex Moses and quarterback Jack Spatafore.

Eleven of the Indians top 12 ball carriers – from Love down to Aiden Gorby, who’s rushing totals are foru carries for 51 yards – average better than 10.4 yards per carry.

Credit Bridgeport’s sizable and punshing offensive line for blowing open holes for Indians’ runners to burst through.

If Brooke wants a legitimate shot at leaving Bridgeport with a victory, then the Bruins defensive front will need to stand its ground like it never has before and it’s second level will need to plug, scrape, and prevent runners from breaking through the second-level for double-digit gains.

Traditionally Bridgeport doesn’t pass often, and this season is no exception.

Through five games, Spatafore averages less than three pass attempts per game. His numbers read as thus: 14 attempts, 11 completions for 340 yards. But of those 11 completions, four have gone for touchdowns as he averages 68 yards per game.

On the opposite end, Brooke is facing a defense that yields only 1.6 points and 81.6 total yards per game.

Teams have ran the ball 134 times on Bridgeport for an average of 22.4 and 0.8 yards per game and carry, respectively.