Bluefield preparing for showdown w/ Martinsburg...

[Bluefield_Rules 46]

http://www.bdtonline.com/articles/2004/09/29/sports/01.no.%201s.txt

 

Bluefield expects playoff atmosphere versus Bulldogs

Posted: Tuesday, Sep 28, 2004 - 11:03:16 pm EDT

By DUSTY HARMAN

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

 

BLUEFIELD - The playoffs have come early.

 

While it may only be Week 6 on the schedule, a playoff atmosphere can be expected Friday when the Class AA No. 1 Bluefield Beavers host the top-rated team in AAA, the Martinsburg Bulldogs.

 

"I think it will be a playoff atmosphere," Bluefield coach Fred Simon said. "I'm ready for that, and I think our players are ready for it and their players are ready for it. ... It should be a heck of a playoff-type of game."

 

The challenge will arguably be the toughest either team has faced - Bluefield (4-0) has outscored opponents 188-54 in its first four games; Martinsburg (5-0) has tallied a 219-87 advantage in their five triumphs.

 

That total includes the closest contest either side has seen, a 28-21 Bulldog win over Riverside in Week 2.

 

"We look forward to the challenge because ... this is an opportunity for us, win or lose, to gain some experience against a quality team with talent," Simon said. "It should help us in the playoffs."

 

The Beavers have plenty of postseason experience already with back-to-back trips to Wheeling Island Stadium and the state championship game.

 

"I think it will be a good preparation for the playoffs," said senior quarterback Rusty Coeburn, the Beavers' starter in the past two title games.

 

"Just about everybody on this team that starts played in the playoffs last year. ... It's almost second-nature to us now."

 

The magnitude of a pair of unbeaten No. 1s colliding isn't lost on the Beaver players.

 

"This game is probably one of the biggest games in the state this week," senior running back David Perdue said. "It's probably one of the biggest games we'll play all year long, but we're going to focus, have a good, hard week of practice and see how it goes."

 

The high-octane Bulldogs are led by Kennedy Award candidate Nate Sowers, a versatile player that is as big a threat on the ground as he is through the air.

 

Through his first five games, Sowers has completed 59-of-103 passing for 885 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

 

The senior has also toted the pigskin a team-high 50 times for 422 yards and nine scores.

 

In total, nine other players have tallied scores for Martinsburg, including seven from running back Josh Twyman and four from D.J. Adams.

 

The Beavers will counter with a defense that has allowed 13.50 points per game, while forcing 47 points on offense.

 

"Hopefully it won't be, but it could a real high-scoring ballgame," Simon said. "It may boil down to who has the ball last, or it may just be who can score more points than the other. It's going to be an exciting game."

 

And the Beavers hope for a big and vocal home crowd at Chmara Field/Mitchell Stadium.

 

"We're hoping to see a whole lot of fans," senior center Daniel Wells said. "That always makes us play hard."

[bluefieldRocks 14]

And i as a student of Bluefield High School do say i hope you come and cheer on the beavers....we need at the support we can get.....remember if you cant be a athlete be a athletic supporter...lol