Bluefield Daily Telegraph on the Bluefield Beavers

[bluefieldRocks 14]

http://www.bdtonline.com/articles/2004/10/16/sports/01.beavers.txt

 

WELCH - What many people expected to be an offensive extravaganza turned out to be a defensive struggle as the No. 1 Bluefield Beavers came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the No. 10 Mount View Golden Knights 17-14 Friday night in Welch.

 

Bluefield entered the game averaging 45 points per game, but the speedy Mount View defense forced six turnovers and kept the Beaver offense off-balance for most of the night.

 

The Beaver defense held Mount View to 88 total yards, 26 on the ground and 62 in the air and only two first downs, while the Knights held Bluefield to a season-low 234 yards of total offense.

 

"We came back, but Mount View played a great game," said Bluefield head coach Fred Simon. "We're fortunate to come out with a win here."

 

 

 

Mount View mentor Leon Gravely was equally proud of his team's effort.

 

"I feel like our kids played hard. They gave it their all and we just came up short," Gravely said.

 

Bluefield drew first blood in the contest, marching from its own one yard line to the Mount View 17 before the Golden Knight defense stiffened. All-State kicker Lucas Stone's 35 yard field goal was true to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead with 1:24 to play in the opening quarter.

 

The Beavers attempted to regain momentum after its defense stopped the Knights. David Perdue returned a punt from midfield to the Mount View nine with just over 5 minutes left in the half, but the Knight defense toughened and held the Beavers on fourth and goal from the MV four.

 

"When we had opportunities we didn't capitalize, either passing, catching or blocking," Simon said. "All you can do is try and play and we played hard. I'm proud of the guys for that."

 

Bluefield got the ball back with one minute to go, but Kevin Richardson intercepted Coeburn with 34 seconds left and the Knights took a knee and Bluefield went to the break with a 3-0 halftime lead.

 

Opportunity knocked for Mount View in the third as the Knights recovered a Beaver fumble at the BHS 15. The Knights failed to move the ball and Doug Vineyard's 34 yard field goal attempt was short.

 

Mount View got the ball right back when Adam Tinney stepped in front of a Coeburn pass at the 15 and took it to the Bluefield six. Mount View scored on a six-yard pass from Adrian Thomas to Shannon Thomas to go up 6-3. Vineyard's kick made it 7-3 with 7:54 remaining in the third.

 

Moments later Mount View extended its lead when Cordero High took a pitch around right end and scampered 70 yards untouched to the end zone. Vineyard's kick made it 14-3.

 

"We feel like he (High) is something special," Gravely said. "We're going to ease him more into the offense. He's only a ninth grader and still learning."

 

Bluefield scored its first touchdown with 10:35 to go in the game when Coeburn hit Repass on a slant and the senior receiver took it 49 yards to the house. The two-point conversion failed and Mount View's lead was 14-9.

 

The Beavers retook the lead with 4:54 to play when Derrick Steptoe took a handoff up the middle, bounced off a couple of defenders, broke it the outside and scored from 36 yards out. The two-point conversion pass from Coeburn to Andy Bales put BHS ahead 17-14.

 

Mount View got the ball back at its own 10 yard line with 24 seconds to play, but were unable to score, giving Bluefield the victory.

 

Derrick Steptoe led Bluefield with 80 yards on the ground and High paced Mount View, rushing for 42 yards.

 

Bluefield (7-0) hosts Herbert Hoover next week while Mount View (4-2) travels to Logan.

 

- Contact Bob Redd at

 

bredd@bdtonline.com

 

At Welch

 

Bluefield (7-0)..........3 0 0 14 - 17

 

Mount View (4-2)....0 0 14 0 - 14

 

First Quarter

 

BHS - Lucas Stone 35 FG, 1:24

 

Third Quarter

 

MVHS - Shannon Thomas 6 pass from Adrian Thomas (Doug Vineyard kick), 7:54

 

MVHS - Cordero High 70 run (Vineyard kick)

 

Fourth Quarter

 

BHS - Repass 49 pass from Rusty Coeburn (conversion failed)

 

BHS - Derrick Steptoe 36 run (Andy Bales pass from Coeburn), 4:54

[tom 10]

i find it interesting that Mt Views rb High scored an end run for 70 yrds but finished the game with a net of 42..mustve been a great defensive game with alot of backfield tackling