For all the marbles: Distant rivals Bluefield, Weir meet in title game for first time
Friday, December 2, 2005
By Rick Ryan - The Charleston Gazette
For teams separated by more than 300 miles, Bluefield and Weir have made a habit out of running into each other come playoff time. The only difference tonight is that a state championship is at stake.
The 11th-seeded Beavers (8-4) tackle the No. 4 Red Riders (12-1) at 7:30 p.m. at 10,200-seat Wheeling Island Stadium in the Class AA title game.
Bluefield squeezed past Weir in each of the two previous postseasons, 37-30 in double overtime in the 2003 quarterfinals and 21-20 in one OT in last year’s semis.
“It just shows that you’ve got two programs with great tradition,’’ said first-year Weir coach Eric Meek, “and now we’re facing each other for the championship. But we’re a team with a new identity and we certainly want to continue to add to our accomplishments. We won a [conference title] for the first time since 1998 and now we hope to add the state championship as well.’’
More than just about any team, the Beavers know the road to Wheeling in early December. This is their seventh trip to the state finals in the last 11 years and their fourth in a row. Bluefield is 2-4 in that stretch, taking titles in 1997 and 2004.
“We’re real thankful to get there,’’ said Beavers coach Fred Simon, “because you never know. I think our experience [from previous trips] has helped, and I’m proud of our players for working hard and making it happen. We believe in each other, and it’s worked pretty well for us so far.’’
Not too many folks expected Bluefield to make it this far this time around. The Beavers lost virtually every skill-position player from last year’s title team, and less than half the starting positions are manned by seniors.
To make up for it, youthful Bluefield relies on a stifling defense and a running-back-by-committee approach on offense.
In three playoff wins so far, Bluefield has allowed averages of just 7.3 points and 124.3 total yards. That’s quite an improvement from the regular season, in which the Beavers had games where they gave up 34, 43 and 55 points.
Matthew Carter (1201/2 tackles) and Mark Page (1001/2) are the team’s top two tacklers.
“They’ve definitely improved,’’ Meek said. “I’m very impressed with their athleticism, and we need to play our best football. They have great athletes, and the fact that they lost to two teams [Graham, Va., James Monroe] that they beat later on shows they’ve gotten better and they deserve to be exactly where they’re at.’’
Bluefield averages 229.8 yards rushing per game overall and 274.3 in the playoffs. Speedy Jon Payne (88 carries, 636 yards) leads the ground crew, followed by 262-pound fullback Allen Carter (134 carries, 670 yards). Six backs usually get the call in a game.
“They all get a few carries,’’ Simon said, “they run hard and it works out pretty well for us. A lot of them play defense, too, so [sharing carries] helps keep them rested.’’
Meek said it doesn’t seem to upset Bluefield’s offensive rhythm to shuttle so many ball-carriers into the lineup.
“No, it doesn’t for them,’’ Meek said, “and it doesn’t for us, either, with our two 1,000-yard backs. I think when you’ve got guys who are unselfish, you can spread it around. It’s a good philosophy to go with.’’
Sophomore Eric McClanahan quarterbacks the Beavers, having taken over from an injured J.T. Powell early in the season. McClanahan has thrown for 619 yards and five TDs. Powell, upon his return, became a valuable running back and gained 127 yards in last week’s semifinal win at James Monroe.
Weir also exhibits balance in its backfield, but with fewer players.
Tailback Corey Lyons has run for 1,516 yards and 16 TDs and averages 9.7 yards a carry. Fullback Josh Smith has added 1,316 yards and 18 scores. Brandon Sperlazza, a three-year starter at quarterback, has passed for 1,078 yards and 18 TDs.
Lyons and Smith are the first Weir teammates to run for 1,000 yards in the same season since the Red Riders’ 1949 Class A state championship team. Sperlazza threw for eight TDs against James Monroe in last year’s quarterfinals.
Bluefield has certainly frustrated Weir the past two seasons, but Meek thinks this year’s Red Riders squad can handle the adversity. He pointed to the team’s only loss, a 32-29 last-second setback on Sept. 30 at John Marshall, a Class AAA playoff team.
“We have shown great poise and communication the second half of the season,’’ Meek said, “and I think it’s because of the loss at John Marshall. Maybe we needed to lose a game, because we really dealt with the adversity very well.
“We’ve been losing three times at halftime since that game and we have not panicked. We’ve shown great poise, character and confidence. We communicate with each other and take care of business in the second half.’’
Weir trailed Scott 8-7 at halftime in the playoff quarterfinals before rallying for a 34-8 win.
The Red Riders also sport a solid defense, holding their three playoffs foes to averages of 5 points and 148 net yards. Top-ranked Wayne, which was averaging 52.2 points, managed one score in Weir’s 22-7 semifinal victory.
To contact assistant sports editor Rick Ryan, use e-mail or call 348-5175. 
