Bridgeport held its first practice for the 2022 high school football season at the earliest possible time, midnight Sunday night.

BRIDGEPORT, MI – After an 0-9 finish to the 2021 season, the Bridgeport Bearcats couldn’t wait to get to 2022.

So they started at the earliest possible moment, kicking off practice at midnight Sunday night, restarting a Bridgeport tradition.

“We had done it for four years, but last year we didn’t do it because of Covid, and we just wanted to be safe,” Bridgeport coach Kevin Marshall said. “When we asked this year’s seniors what they wanted to do this season, the one thing they wanted was to bring back the midnight practice. They were sophomores when we did it last, so they remembered.”

But Bridgeport does more than have practice, and the Bearcats don’t just end when practice ends.

“We have meetings before the practice where players will tell something about themselves,” Marshall said. “It’s a bonding event. It’s a way to introduce themselves to everybody. That was cool.

“We have a motivational video from some of our former players. We let them know what our expectations are. It’s just a good way to start the season, especially after you have the down week.”

When the practice is over, the players head to the gym for a lock-in. Some bring sleeping bags. Some even sleep. At 5:30 a.m., the Monday practice begins, with a two-mile run capping the day.

“I love this part of it, the start of the season,” Marshall said. “This gets you excited about football, about the season.”

Marshall expects to improve on 2021, health permitting. The Bearcats had 26 players on the varsity in 2021 … and 17 were injured during the season.

“It was a tough year,” Marshall said. “But the players returning did what they were supposed to do. They went right to work for this season. They came back bigger, stronger and more athletic.”

Heading the list of Bridgeport players expecting to have a big season is 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver/defensive end Zalyn Martin, who has received scholarship offers from Central Michigan, Saginaw Valley State, Nothwood, Siena Heights and Madonna.

“He ran a 4.5 40 at Saginaw Valley, and he’s got great hands at tight end,” Marshall said. “But the college coaches really love him at defensive end.”

The Bearcats also return tailback/defensive back Khalil Cliff, defensive tackle Jayden Garza and linebacker Will Harris. Junior Taybren Baldwin is expected to start at quarterback.

Marshall expects to have 30 players on the varsity and 35 on the junior varsity, with the season-opener Thursday, Aug. 25, at home against Chesaning.

“We’re probably going to switch our defense to a 4-2-5 to take advantage of the athletes on our defense,” Marshall said. “But we know it’s going to be hard. In this league (Tri-Valley Conference 8), you never get a break. Every week is a tough game.

“We had two teams (Frankenmuth and Freeland) get to the semifinals again last year. It’s one of the toughest leagues of this size in the state. I believe that. But we’re going to be better. We’re very talented, but still young.

“But we will be ready to play.”

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