Bridge Creek takes another step — a season-opening win

By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com

Bridge Creek opened its season with a 32-13 win over Bethel Friday night.

The win marked the first time the Bobcats have opened their season with a win since 2001, when it won 7-0 over Davenport to start the season.

“We felt like we had a good offseason,” Bridge Creek coach Jerry Wallis said. “The kids were well-prepared. We had some breakdowns but we still were able to execute pretty well. There were some normal first-game things.”

It was a tight ballgame until the fourth quarter. Bridge Creek led 6-0 at halftime and just 12-0 at the end of the third quarter. Wallis said quarterback Zane Mellinger’s development made a difference. Mellinger finished the game with 164 yards passing and two touchdowns and 112 yards rushing and a score.

“Zane Mellinger played a lot better in the second half,” Wallis said. “That half of experience made a difference; he was a little nervous in the first half but he settled down in the second.”

Receivers Michael Aska and Craig Hill certainly helped make it easy for Mellinger. Hill had 79 yards receiving and a touchdown and Aska caught a 43-yard touchdown and ran a 46-yard score.