WHEELING - Bridgeport coach Josh Nicewarner had expressed concern over how his team would slow down Tolsia's offense in the Class AA state championship game Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium.
His worry regarding the Rebels' triple-option attack was the first step in what became the most dominating Class AA defensive performance in Super Six history, as Tolsia managed just 67 total yards in Bridgeport's 39-0 victory that was its third consecutive state championship win.
"The Presley kid is a talented kid, he's hard-nosed," Nicewarner said of Rebels star running back Luke Presley, who entered the game with 2,138 rushing yards in 13 games.
Presley carried the ball 12 times for 16 yards Friday night.
To Nicewarner, however, Presley wasn't the key to stopping the Tolsia offense.
"To me, the guy to stop was the quarterback, [Seth] McMillion. He's the scary, the sneaky one, and we played our assignments. We had guys on the dive, we had guys on the tailback and we had guys on the quarterback.
"I've never seen a defensive game plan executed as well as these boys did tonight," Nicewarner said.
Presley didn't hurt the Indians, and neither did McMillion. The shifty option quarterback carried 10 times for 15 yards and Tolsia managed just 49 rushing yards on 37 attempts.
Bridgeport senior defensive back Dante Bonamico, who had just 3.5 total tackles - senior defensive tackle Noah Markley led the team with six stops - said the Indians worked all week to focus on their assignments.
"Our defensive coordinator, Jason Nicewarner, puts in so much time week-in and week-out, and it was assignment football this week," said Bonamico, who also scored on a 24-yard run in the second quarter that put the Indians ahead 14-0.
"Every single guy on our defense, all 11, came together, did their job and just made plays," Bonamico said. "It's what we've been doing all year."
The Indians' defense even got in on the scoring act. Defensive end Chapin Murphy sacked McMillion with 8:03 left in the third quarter for a safety that put Bridgeport ahead 29-0.
"We just all had jobs we had to do," Murphy said. "Once we do our jobs they can't run on us."
Presley actually did account for the Rebels' biggest gain of the night. He took a pitch from McMillion and threw a 23-yard completion to Brian Campbell. McMillion was 2 of 4 passing for minus-5 yards.
Jennings Holland led the Rebels with 28 rushing yards on eight carries.
Bonamico said McMillion's ability to run the option with such efficiency and elusiveness was the single biggest challenge Bridgeport had to overcome.
Still, the Rebels' 67 yards were 9 fewer yards than the team racked up in penalties.
"It did [make it difficult]. Each and every guy had one guy," Bonamico said. "It's tough. They're a good team and they run a good offense, and it's difficult to defend."
The win improved Josh Nicewarner's career record to 70-8-1 since taking over the program in 2010.