Using a fierce pass rush to limit host Beallsville to 68 net yards, Bridgeport High’s 8-TD explosion ended a three-game skid with a 54-14 triumph Friday night and spoil homecoming at Dave Caldwell Field.

After a punt on its opening series, coach Fred Ray’s Bulldogs relied on an accurate arm of senior Colin Jackson, who threw for 211 yards (11-of-13 passes) and three TDs, while he ran for two scores.

“We did a good job spreading it around as we wanted to use our guys in space,” noted Ray, whose 4-3 record club remains in the thick of a D7 Region 27 playoff berth. “We’ve been facing some sickness and injuries, but we moved some guys around and our execution was much better.”

“Our pass rush really stepped up and for the most part we eliminated any big plays,” said Ray, as seniors Peyton Pyle and Joey Bugaj, junior Law Chambers and Michael Marshall, and freshman Chad Coulson cut off any Blue Devils trying to sweep the corners.

Bridgeport hit paydirt at 5:26 of the opening panel when Colin Jackson kept from two yards out. Big gainer in the drive was 36 yards by Pyle courtesy of freshman Justin Eckert’s block to reach the 10. On the PAT, freshman Jaki Threet hauled in a pass to make it 8-0.

Beallsville coach Rusty Bondy, his Big Blue now 2-5, hasn’t lost faith in his squad finishing the season strong. “We’ve got to improve the run game, but give (Bridgeport) credit, we couldn’t move the ball inside or on the ends.”

The ‘Dogs made it 16-0 when Aberts caught a long Jackson aerial at the hosts’ 20 and took it the rest of the way to cover a 52-yard scoring strike. Lamar Kendricks Jr. pulled in the PAT pass at 4:10.

It was 22-0 late in the opening quarter when Jackson scrambled right, reversed to his left and threw so sophomore Avery Jackson, who snuck behind a defender in the end zone to cover 20 yards.

Jackson’s arm found Kendricks Jr. over the middle for 36 yards to the hosts’ 14 early in the second, before Bugaj found room off right end for a 17 yards TD scamper. At 8:55 it was 28-0.

After the Devils’ fifth punt, Bridgeport’s Marshall sprinted up the home sideline for an 80-yard TD on first down with 7:42 remaining in the half and it was suddenly 34-0.

Blue Devil faithful finally rang their cowbells on the ensuing kickoff as junior Reed Smith darted his way up the middle for a 61-yard touchdown after three consecutive penalties on the visitors pushed the kickoff back. Marky Louden caught Perkins’ PAT toss to make it 34-8.

Jackson’s screen pass to Bugaj for a 27-yard score made it 40-8 at 5:53.

Kendricks displayed his defensive skills with an interception and 33-yard runback to the hosts’ 22-yard line to set up a 7th TD.

After a combined sack by Colton Shriver and James Palmer, Jackson shook off the lost yardage with a 17-yard TD scramble to make it 48-8.

Avery Jackson added an INT before halftime when Janessa Steck was crowned queen after drawing the blue rose.

The second half saw a running ‘mercy rule’ clock and lots of substitutions, but the hosts found the end zone when Garrett Perkins kept from a yard out late in the third.

Bridgeport was penalized 15 times for 116 yards. The ‘Dogs put the wraps on a third game with over 50 points when Charlton raced 42 yards with four minutes to play.

Ray’s club returns home Friday to host Steubenville Central, while Beallsville is host to Montcalm, Saturday at 2.

Bridgeport 54, Beallsville 14

Bridgeport 16 32 0 6 – 54

Beallsville 0 8 6 0 – 14

Bpt – C. Jackson 2 run. (Threet pass from C. Jackson).

Bpt – Aberts 52 pass from C. Jackson. (Kendricks Jr. pass from C. Jackson)

Bpt – A. Jackson 20 pass from C. Jackson. (pass failed)

Bpt – Bugaj 17 run. (pass failed)

Bpt – Marshall 80 run. (run failed)

Bea – Smith 61 kickoff return. (Louden pass from G. Perkins).

Bpt – Bugaj 27 pass from C. Jackson. (pass failed)

Bpt – C. Jackson 24 run. (C. Jackson run)

Bea – G. Perkins 1 run. (pass failed)

Bpt – Charlton 42 run. (pass failed).

RUSHING – Bpt – 24-298 (Charlton 2-36 td, Aberts 2-17, Pyle 7-55, Marshall 5-107 td, C. Jackson 3-14 2td, Bugaj 5-72 td); Bea 26-44 (Perkins 16-40 td, Hagan 5-4, Stofell 1 (-3), Palmer 4-0).

PASSING – Bpt 11-13-211-3td (all by C. Jackson); Bea 3-14-24-2x (all by Perkins).

RECEIVING – Bpt 11-211-3tds (Threet 1-8, Aberts 4-106 td,. Kendricks Jr. 3-63, A. Jackson 1-20 td, Bugaj 1-27 td.) Bea n/a

FIRST DOWNS – Bridgeport 7 Beallsvile 5

PENALTIES – Bridgeport 15-116, Beallsville 2-10

FUMBLES – Bridgeport 1-1, Beallsville 1-1