A wild fourth quarter featuring six TDs, back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns and the biggest comeback in the Fred Ray coaching era at Bridgeport High left the homestanding Monroe Central Seminoles stunned Friday night.

The inspirational 50-44 win for the 2-0 record Bulldogs came after a disastrous first half where Ray’s troops committed four turnovers and were on the short end of a 22-6 score at halftime.

“We challenged the seniors at halftime and I felt our response int he second half was a result of our work in the weight room over the summer,” said Ray. “We pushed that commitment and in the fourth quarter we had a chance.”

Among Bridgeport’s many comeback heroes was junior Lamar Kendricks, who had four TDs in the fourth quarter alone, including an electrifying 80-yard kickoff return after Monroe senior Terry Price had taken one to house from 70 yards a few seconds earlier for a 44-28 lead at the 9:22 juncture.

“(Lamar’s) explosive and he’s a big part of what we do,” beamed Ray, who received major efforts from Peyton Pyle, Colin Jackson, Law Chambers, Avery Jackson, and Logan Baker.

It was a bitter setback for Seminole coach Josh Ischy, who saw his sophomore quarterback Tucker Howell throw for five touchdowns. MC never trailed until the final three minutes.

“It’s all about execution and (Bridgeport) executed better than us,” said Ischy, whose 0-2 club must regroup for a Friday visit from River. “The second quarter was the ugliest I’ve ever coached. We were sloppy on both sides of the ball.”

“In the second half we let them hang around, lost our composure a few times, and a well-coached team is going to take advantage.”

Howell’s 29-yard toss to junior Carter Knowlton on the opening drive helped Monroe to an 8-0 lead, and following a fumble cover from Tyler Whitacre, Howell found Logan Powell for a 25-yard TD connect and a 16-0 lead.

Jayke Vinskovich covered a BHS bobble at the visitors’ 36 moments later, but a sack from Bulldog junior Mike Marshall and two penalties after MC reached the 11 fizzled the drive.

Howell found a wide open Xavier Kinney open early in the second for a 22-0 lead before the Bridgeport ground game went on dispay.

Behind some nice gainers from Colin Jackson, Pyle, Marshall, and Joey Bugaj, the visitors marched 12 plays to paydirt as Pykle scored from the seven with 3:36 left in the half.

Before the half the ‘Dogs turned it over twice on INTs from Howell and Knowlton.

The Bulldogs’ Pyle scored from the 3-yard line on the opening third quarter series, but MC kept a two-TD cushion when a Howell-to-Kinney aerial was good for 58 yards and a score after Kinney was open behind the linebacker and went untouched.

Pyle earned his third score when he pulled in a Jackson toss for 10 and Jackson’s PAT run cliced it to 28-22 at 2:05 of the third quarter.

Howell was at it again early in the fourth on a scramble to his right when he whirled and threw back to his left to the far corner of the end zone to Kinney. The PAT made it 36-22.

Kendricks proceeded to make his presence felt on a 23-yard TD catch. The first of three TDs in 24 seconds.

After Price returned the kickoff to paydirt, Kendricks followed suit and it was 44-36 after Mason Aberts’ PAT catch was ruled good at 9:10.

A successful onside kick led to an 8-play TD drive capped by Kendricks’ catch from Jackson, who was brilliant in the second half. A Jaki Threet bonus run tied it at 44-all with 5:49 to go.

An ‘Noles fumble at their 42 led to a decisive TD drive as Kendricks ran it in from the four. The PAT failed but it was 50-44 at 3:09.

Ischy’s club used a short kickoff and three completions from Howell to reach the visitors’ 23, but Avery Jackson swiped a desperation pass in the end zone.

The ‘Dogs return home Friday against Morgantown Trinity.

Bridgeport 50,

Monroe Central 44

Bridgeport 0 6 16 28 – 50

MC 16 6 6 16 – 44

MC-Knowlton 29 pass from Howell. (Howell run).

MC-Powell 4 pass from Howell. (Howell run).

MC-Kinney 16 pass from Howell. (kick blocked).

B-Pyle 7 run. (pass failed).

B-Pyle 2 run. (A. Jackson pass from C. Jackson).

MC-Kinney 58 pass from Howell. (pass failed).

B-Pyle 10 pass from C. Jackson. (C. Jackson run).

MC-Kinney 27 pass from Howell. (Howell run).

B-Kendricks 23 pass from C. Jackson. (pass failed).

MC-Price 70 kickoff return. (Kinney pass from Howell.

B-Kendricks 80 kickoff return. (Aberts pass from C.Jackson).

B-Kendricks 6 pass from C. Jackson. (Threet run).

B-Kendricks 4 run. (pass failed).

RUSHING: Bridgeport 40-238 (C. Jackson 10-71, Kendricks Jr. 2-(-8)-td, Pyle 17-78-2tds, Marshall 6-32, A. Jackson 2-11, Bugaj 3-48); Monroe Central 25-85 (Lydick 8-7, Howell 9-25, Phillips 6 (-1), Berry 1-5, C. Knowlton 1-1- td).

PASSING: Bridgeport 11-19-150-3tds-2ints (all by C. Jackson). Monroe Central 13-20-259-5tds (all by Howell).

RECEIVING: Bridgeport 11-150-3tds (Pyle 1-10 td, Charlton 2-15, Threet 5-51, Aberts 1-32, Kendricks 2-29-2tds). Monroe Central 13-259-5tds (na)