"Impressive road performance" was one of the few things still on the checklist for the Bridgeport Indians in 2026.
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They checked that off on Friday, scoring 42 points in 40 real-time minutes, the last 5 touchdowns on a total of 7 plays, to crush the Grafton Bearcats, 55-14, at McKinney Field on Friday night.
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Gavin Williams ran 6 times for 119 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Tribe, which improves to 7-2 ahead of the regular season finale at Fairmont Senior next Friday.
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"We know we need to be playing our best football come November," Bridgeport coach Tyler Phares said.  "We thought the kids did well in a lot of facets."
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Max Conley returned Grafton's opening squib kick to the Bearcats' 23-yard line, then
Gabe Martin picked up a third-and-4 to the GHS 7 and
Eli Knight went in untouched from there.
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"We really wanted to focus on special teams this week," Phares said. "That's a point of emphasis, to win the special teams battle. Our offense is pretty good and if we can get a short field, even better. The return team was on point."
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Jaylen Brown's PAT gave Bridgeport a 7-0 lead with 9:44 left in the first quarter.
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After a Grafton 3-and-out,
Gavin Williams went 45 yards on second down to double the lead to 14-0 with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
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Aiden Gorby blocked the Bearcats' punt to give Bridgeport prime field position at the 35 and Martin immediately scored on a burst up the middle: 21-0, 3:44 left in the first.
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Another excellent special teams play, this time a punt return by
Graham Vincent, set up Bridgeport at the Grafton 37.
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Vincent then passed to Williams for a 37-yard touchdown on the next play: 28-0, 2:21 left in the first.
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After a short punt, Vincent gained 23 yards to the GHS 2 and Williams scored from there: 35-0, 11 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
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From the Grafton 36 after a punt and a solid Vincent return, Williams scored on the first play of the drive: 42-0, 10:07 left in the half.
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"The backs did a good job of taking care of the football and the line did a good job," Phares said. "All of that needs to mesh together to make good football."
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Grafton crossed midfield for the first time on their next drive and scored on a 7-yard JW Nestor run on fourth-and-2 with 2:44 left in the half: 42-7.
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A 30-yard Williams TD run with 42 seconds left in the half restored the 42-point gap, 49-7, at the half.
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Due to the 42-point lead, the second half was played under a running clock.
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A 15-yard
Zach Hickman TD run with 30 seconds left in the third quarter padded the gap to 55-7.
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Grafton got a score back on a 6-yard TD run by Jacob Moats with 7:37 left in the game to trail 55-14.
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