Beavers hitting midseason stride headed into clash with George Wythe at Mitchell
· Yahoo Sports
BLUEFIELD — It’s not all downhill from here, by no means. And it hasn’t been without cost. But there is just a hint of a feeling that the Bluefield High School football team’s last three football victories may have bought it something like a second wind headed into the second half of the regular season slate.
“It’s the job of the coaching staff and the players to just get better each week. We need to make sure we’re focused on whatever our job is and we’re going to get better at it,” said Simon, who is a literal West Virginia Sports Legend.
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“I think we’re doing some things right and we’ve just got to continue working to get better at what we are doing,” he said.
The Beavers are ranked No. 10 in Class AA in the most recent WVSSAC Football rankings, with Frankfort and Williamstown tied at No. 1. Simon hadn’t seen the rankings yet.
The early losses to Graham and Princeton are evidently still affecting the ratings but do not reflect the Beavers achievements on and off the field since then.
This does not bother Simon who doesn’t fret over seeding aside from opportunities to play a few more at Mitchell Stadium.
“It’s not going to matter until the end of the year where we are. Our goal is to get in. If we get to host a couple it would be great. If we don’t, we still get in and that will be great … and we’ll have a shot to win it all. That’s what the ultimate goal is,” Simon said.
“I think our o-line and d-line have improved each week and I thought we did a nice job against Independence last week,” said Simon. “I was pleased there. I thought our running game went well. The overall effort of our players, I was really pleased.”
One rain cloud from the contest is that for the third time in as many seasons, running back Willis Wilson came out of the game with an injury early and he’ll miss part of the season because of it. The good news is that it wasn’t catastrophic and he is expected to bounce back in time for post season play.
“A pulled hamstring. Not major. Not terrible. He’ll be back at some time before playoffs,” Simon said.
Wilson, who’d gotten only three carries for 18 yards when he had to come out of the game, has rushed 316 total yards rushing up to this point, but for six Beavers touchdown runs. Fortunately for Bluefield, a young running back upon whom Simon had pinned high hopes in the pre-season, stepped up against the Patriots. He carried 12 times for 83 yards and a touchdown.
“He made some nice cuts. He ran well and followed his blocks. He’s a sophomore … but he’s a good back,” said Simon, noting that Brown also stepped up on defense.
“He played linebacker for us with Wilsie out. He’s a good player,” the Beavers head coach said.
The Maroons (2-3) have routinely put together consistent postseason runs. Their best campaign in recent years was a 9-4 finish in 2023 that ended in a 17-14 loss to eventual state champion Galax. George Wythe finished 8-5 overall last season.
So far this season the Maroons opened with a 40-0 loss to Radford, picked up a 69-7 win over Fort Chiswell, and took a 20-15 loss to Virginia High and a 36-20 loss to Patrick Henry-Glade prior to last week’s 26-21 win over Rural Retreat.
“I think they’ve got a good team. They’ve lost a few games but, man alive, they’ve got talent, they’ve got nice size. They’re one of those teams that when things go right for them, they can cause you a lot of problems,” Simon said. “They’ve got a good mix of everything.”
Of particular note are two quarterbacks, including 6-foot-6 junior Isaac Smith who broke a big one against Rural Retreat last week and Cade Bralley, who scored three touchdowns versus Fort Chiswell.
Simon has been pleased with his players individual efforts, but a collective effort in two areas in particular has earned his praise by midseason.
“I thought our offensive line and defensive line did well. Everybody always talks about our skill players, but I think our line is coming around,” Simon said.
“I’m proud of them. We’re working well. I thought TJ Francisco did a good job stepping in at center when he’s only played back up before. He’s done a nice job. I think Xion Pitts did a good job at tackle, Jared Jackson did a good job at the guard … Valach at the other guard and you have Ethan Thompson at the left tackle,” Simon said.
“Defensive line … I thought [Chaun] Dowell did a good job anchored in the middle there. Pitts did a nice job and Francisco did a great job.
“And then we had [linebacker Jeremiah Wade] coming off that edge ...he had a couple of sacks and a couple of rushed passes that really helped us out a lot. Jeremiah Wade did a good job coming off that edge,” Simon said.