Staff report

BRIDGEPORT

Cole Smelley accounted for 252 total yards and three touchdowns to lead unbeaten Bridgeport High to a 31-20 victory over Southern in a Division VI football playoff game on Friday night.

The Bulldogs (11-0) advanced to a Region 23 semifinal game next Friday against Newark Catholic (8-3), which defeated Lancaster Fairfield Christian Academy, 28-0.

Southern, competing in the OHSAA playoffs for the first time, finished 8-3 under first-year coach Mike Skrinjar.

Smelley completed 4 of 9 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown pass to Mike Dalto that gave Bridgeport a 13-0 lead late in the first quarter.

He also rushed 15 times for 158 yards, scoring twice. His first TD run, of 1 yard, made it 19-7 just before halftime, and his 50-yard scamper in the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a 31-7 lead.

Chris Smelley added 87 yards and a touchdown for Bridgeport.

The Indians got a 5-yard touchdown run by Zack Puckett midway through the second period to close to 13-7 after Steve Treadway’s extra point.

But Southern did get into the end zone again until the fourth quarter, on a pair of Jake Boyle touchdown passes to Trey Griffith (51 yards) and Brett Hunt (41 yards).

Boyle finished the game11 of 19 for 170 yards, and Griffith caught six passes totaling 103 yards.

Puckett was held to 36 yards on eight carries.