But a blocked extra point in the waning seconds let the Graham Steers head back home with an unbeaten record (5-0) and anticipation of the feature on UT quarterback Colt McCoy on Game Day.
His little brother Case showed his share of star power, too, leading the Steers to a 49-48 victory and sending the Bulls to a 1-4 start for the 2009 season, just a year after they posted a perfect 10-0 mark.
This one was a shootout from the get-go, with the teams trading punches right until the end.
Graham took the lead for good with only 93 seconds remaining, but it took the Bulls just 45 seconds to answer. It was the only missed extra point of the night that decided it, when Graham's Ethan Hiser blocked Ricky Martinez' extra-point try to preserve the win.
Bridgeport broke on top with a Blake Waldrep 20-yard run soon after the opening kickoff, following a Diego Hernandez interception. It would prove to be Graham's only turnover.
The Steers evened things just six minutes into the contest and took the lead at 5:01 of the first quarter, 14-7. Bridgeport tied it at 14-all on Trent Schuett's 5-yard run and Martinez' kick.
The Bulls regained the lead on a 75-yard pass from Cody Henson to Austin Blevins, with Martinez booting the Bulls in front 21-14, just 30 seconds into the second period.
Graham re-tied it at 9:17, but that lasted a little more than two minutes when Waldrep ran it in from six yards and the kick made it 28-21, Bridgeport.
The Bulls got up by two scores, 35-21, at 3:46 to go in the half on a 25-yard pass from Henson to Jace Hudson.
But McCoy threw his fourth touchdown pass of the half with just 16 ticks left to make it 35-28 at halftime.
The defenses slowed the pace in the second half, at least a little.
Bridgeport again gained a two-score advantage on Henson's 10-yard run at 8:19 in the third period.
McCoy's arm rang up six more at the 1:08 mark to pull the Steers within seven, 42-35.
Graham tied it at 42-all with 7:18 left in the game, this time on a run, and McCoy's sixth scoring toss of the night handed the Steers the lead with 1:33 to play. Henson found Dustin Green for four yards to pull Bridgeport within a point. But that's where it ended with 48 seconds to go. A final chance at an onside kick came up short, to end the slugfest.
The teams combined for 38 first downs and 992 yards of offense to go with the 14 touchdowns and 97 points. Henson threw for 296 and McCoy 368.
The Bulls start district play when they travel to Burkburnett Oct. 9.
Story by Phil Major with stats provided by Mack Thweatt
