Beavers return to winter retreat

Beavers return to winter retreat
Posted: Tuesday, Nov 29, 2005 - 11:54:08 pm EST
By JESSICA DAVIS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Passing his way to Wheeling...Bluefield quarterback Eric McClanahan throws a pass during practice Tuesday at Mitchell Stadium. The Beavers will leave for Wheeling on Thursday in preparation for Friday's Class AA state championship game against Weir. The Beavers are 3-0 all-time against the Red Riders. (Staff photo by Eric DiNovo)

BLUEFIELD - For the fourth straight year, the Bluefield Beavers will be traveling to Wheeling, and this time they will be defending the Class AA championship that they won last season.

“The success of this program is due to the hard work and commitment of the players and the coaching staff,” Bluefield head coach Fred Simon said. “We work together and always believe in each other.”

This will be the 15th trip to the state football championship for Bluefield since 1959. Seven of those appearances have came in the last 11 years since the school switched to Class AA.

Simon holds two championship trophies under his belt. The first of which was won in 1997 when the Beavers trounced Grafton 42-13, while the second came last season after the Beavers crushed Wayne 69-24 at Wheeling Island Stadium. Simon hopes the 12th man can serve to Bluefield's advantage, as they do battle with No. 4 Weir Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

“We have become used to the trip. It's fun and it is something you get accustomed too,” Simon said. “We have good loyal fans and they will be there to support us.

“I think they call it the 12th man. That's what our fans serve as. Last Saturday, the fan support was tremendous.”

This will be the fourth time since 1997 that the two teams have faced off. In 1997, Bluefield beat Weir 28-14 in the state semifinals, while 2003 brought a much closer game, with the Beavers coming out on top with a 37-30 victory. Last year the two teams met once again in the state semifinals. Bluefield barely slipped by Weir with a 21-20 victory.

“We have built up a pretty good rivalry over the years,” Simon said. “Every time we have met in the playoffs it has been a very tough game. They are a tough, formidable opponent.”

Simon says that as a coach he can understand where his team has been deemed the ‘underdog' going into the contest.

“With the experience they have and their ranking, I can see why we are being called the ‘underdog',” Simon said. “At kickoff everyone is even and you just have to wait and see what happens.”

In their first round playoff game, the Beavers defeated Liberty Harrison 24-8, and became host of the quarterfinals after Grafton upset No. 3 Herbert Hoover. The Bearcats traveled to Mitchell Stadium, only to be shut out 35-0 by Bluefield.

“In the playoffs you know you are going to face some tough teams,” Simon said. “It was a pleasant surprise when we got to host the second game.”

The trip to Wheeling was sealed last Saturday after No. 11 Bluefield handed No. 2 James Monroe its first loss of the season, defeating the Mavericks 24-14 in the state semifinals.

“We beat a heck of a team to get to the where we are at today,” Simon said. “It doesn't matter to us that they were undefeated and we gave them their first loss. It didn't matter to us who we beat as long as we won.”

- Contact Jessica Davis at

jdavis@bdtonline.com