Photo by Sam Santilli John Marshall’s Ashton Collett makes an over-the-shoulder catch for a touchdown Friday against Bridgeport.

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — It all pivoted on one yard, on the goalline, on fourth down.

If John Marshall protected those three feet, then the Monarchs would have the ball back down just a touchdown, 21-14, and with all the momentum on the road at Bridgeport.

If Bridgeport gained it, the lead would double back to two touchdowns and the control that seemed within well within reach when the Tribe led 14-0 early would be restored.

It was the latter: Zach Rohrig plunged into the paint at the concession stand end of Wayne Jamison Field and Bridgeport didn’t look back, putting 28 straight points on the board to pick up a 49-21 win.

Rohrig rushed 14 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while Phil Reed added 10 totes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and completed both of his pass attempts for 46 yards.

Tyler Martin carried 13 times for 96 yards and two scores as Bridgeport finished with 529 rushing yards.

For John Marshall, Jacob Coffield ran for an even 100 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and also completed 5 of 13 passes for 113 yards and the other Monarch score.

Four of the completions, including the TD, went to Ashton Collett.

On the opening drive, Rohrig’s first carry of the season upon his return from injury went for 35 yards into Monarch territory, then, two plays later, he finished the job from 23 yards away.

Taylor Thomas’ kick gave Bridgeport a 7-0 lead with 9:30 left in the first quarter.

Following a John Marshall three-and-out, a 45-yard Reed romp set up a 23-yard Martin TD tote, doubling the lead to 14-0 at the 6:25 mark of the opening period.

Then the Monarchs found their footing courtesy of quarterback Coffield’s legs (a 27-yard run for a first down on second-and-long) and arm (a 24-yard TD strike to Collett) and it was a seven-point game again, 14-7, after Conor Fitzpatrick’s PAT with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Bridgeport went to the air, too, getting a 38-yard pass from Phil Reed to Cam Hess down to the John Marshall 20, then, after Rohrig picked up two stripes on fourth-and-1, two Reed carries set up a Martin plunge from a yard out.

Bridgeport’s lead was back to two touchdowns, 21-7, with 6:49 to go in the half.

That didn’t last long: Coffield and Collett connected for 51 yards to the Bridgeport 13, then Coffield carried on the next three plays, finishing from a yard away: 21-14, just 79 seconds after the Tribe TD.

Bridgeport moved the chains on a 12-yard rush by Charlie Brazier, a 4-yard carry by Reed on fourth-and-1, a 10-yard Brazier run, then, on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Rohrig finished the job on a pivotal play.

Bridgeport led, 28-14, with 1:15 on the clock, and, despite a long kick return by Wesley Hughes to the Tribe 27, a sack and a false start smothered the drive.

John Marshall punted on the opening drive of the second half, then Rohrig sprinted 90 yards to the house with 8:20 to go in the third quarter: 35-14.

Another Monarch punt was followed by a long Tribe TD run, this time from Reed, who went 70 yards on the first snap.

It was 42-14 with 6:06 left in the third quarter; John Marshall then fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, leading to another Bridgeport touchdown run, this time by Hess from two yards out with 11:18 to go in the game.

Coffield scored a consolation TD on a 1-yard rush with 46.2 seconds to go.

John Marshall (1-2) returns home to face Buckhannon-Upshur next Friday at 7 p.m.

Bridgeport (2-1) will have a short week before visiting Fairmont Senior at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Bridgeport WV 42, John Marshall 21

JM 7 7 0 7 — 21

B 14 14 14 7 — 49

Bpt — Rohrig 23 run (Thomas kick)

Bpt — Martin 23 run (Thomas kick)

JM — Collett 24 pass from Coffield (Fitzpatrick kick)

Bpt — Martin 1 run (Thomas kick)

JM — Coffield 1 run (Fitzpatrick kick)

Bpt — Rohrig 1 run (Thomas kick)

Bpt — Rohrig 90 run (Thomas kick)

Bpt — Reed 70 run (Thomas kick)

Bpt — Hess 2 run (Thomas kick)

JM — Coffield 1 run (Fitzpatrick kick)

RUSHING: John Marshall 27-155-2td (Coffield 19-100-2td; Wallace 7-52; Lemasters 1-3). Bridgeport 45-529-7td (Rohrig 14-205-3td; Reed 10-175-td; Martin 13-96-2td; Brazier 5-30; Hall 1-13; Love 1-8; Hess 1-2-td).

PASSING: 5-133 113-td (all Coffield). Bridgeport 2-2 46 (all Reed).

RECEIVING: John Marshall 5-113-td (Collett 4-82-td; Hughes 1-31). Bridgeport 2-46 (Hess 1-38; Martin 1-8).

FIRST DOWNS: John Marshall 13. Bridgeport 22.

PENALTIES: John Marshall 9-65. Bridgeport 10-94.

FUMBLES: John Marshall 1-1. Bridgeport 1-0.