Bluefield/Weir article from the BDT...

[Bluefield_Rules 46]

http://www.bdtonline.com/articles/2004/11/28/sports/01beavers.txt

 

Beavers win overtime thriller

Posted: Saturday, Nov 27, 2004 - 10:07:27 pm EST

By BOB REDD

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

 

BLUEFIELD - What a comeback!

 

With three minutes to play in the Class AA semifinal game between the Bluefield Beavers and the Weir Red Riders the visiting Red Riders held a 14-0 lead and were driving deep into Beaver territory. It appeared that the Beavers' hopes for a third straight trip to Wheeling and a state championship were about to vanish.

 

On a fourth-and-three from the Beaver 32, Weir quarterback Brandon Sperlazza tossed a pass downfield, Bluefield defensive back Michael Davis stepped in front of the ball at his own 25 and raced 75 yards down the far sideline for a BHS' first score of the game with 2:28 to play in the contest.

 

"I saw the ball go up in the air, I got it and that was it," Davis said.

 

Lucas Stone's PAT made it 14-7.

 

The Beavers next executed a perfect onside kick, regaining possess at the Weir 47.

 

Derrick Steptoe rambled 21 yards to the Weir 26 with 2:15 left.

 

Rusty Coeburn completed a pass to Davis, good for nine yards to move the pigskin to the WHS 22 with 1:30 on a running clock. After a one yard gain by Steptoe to the 20, Coeburn hit David Perdue with a swing pass and the senior carried the ball to the two yard line with only 31 seconds left on a running clock.

 

"It was sort of like a movie. The pass came slow to me, I caught it and got what I could," Perdue said.

 

Perdue carried to the one with 22 seconds left. Coeburn attempted to sneak over but was halted at the one and spiked the ball on the next down, leaving one second on the clock.

 

An illegal substitution penalty on the Riders put the ball inside the one and on the final play of regulation Steptoe carried the ball over from one yard out as time expired.

 

Needing an extra point to either tie or win, Perdue took a high snap, but placed it perfectly for Stone who tied the game at 14-14 and the Chmara Field/Mitchell Stadium faithful were ecstatic.

 

"We practice that every day," Perdue said. "I wouldn't say it was something usual, but it's something you've got to be ready for at all times."

 

Weir won the coin toss and elected to play offense second in the overtime session.

 

Perdue carried seven yards to the 13, then Quintin Steptoe ran right on a sweep 13 yards into the corner of the end zone giving the Beavers their first lead of the game 20-14. Stone's kick was true to make it 21-14.

 

On Weir's possession Zach Copper bulled five yards to the 15 before being stopped for no gain on second down. Copper then ran six yards for a first down at the nine. The WVU-committted fullback then carried two yards to the seven before Sperlazza on a keeper took it to the four.

 

Cooper added two more yards, moving the ball to the Beaver two and setting up a fourth-and-two on which Sperlazza found Justin Pernell open in the end zone for the touchdown.

 

The Riders opted to go for the tie and a second overtime period, but Ryan Dennis' kick sailed wide left giving Bluefield the one-point victory and marking the second consecutive year the Beavers beat the Red Rivers in overtime in the playoffs.

 

"I'm very proud of the players. We made plays happen when we had to," said BHS coach Fred Simon. "I knew when we scored we at least had a chance and that's all you can ask for, is to have a chance. It's unbelievable."

 

Weir coach Tony Filberto said, "We're trying to get a first down to run this clock out. We throw a pass - that we threw earlier to maintain the drive ... and they run it back and the momentum shifts and they end up winning the football game.

 

"(In) hindsight, (if) we're smart, maybe we wouldn't throw that pass again, but at the time we thought it was a pretty good call. A couple of series before, we did the exact same thing, out of the same set, and we gained 12 yards down the sideline."

 

Things did not bode well for Bluefield in the early going as the Weir defense shut down the Beavers' passing and rushing efforts.

 

The Riders took the lead with 2:56 remaining in the opening half when Cooper reached the end zone on a 11-yard pass play from Sperlazza.

 

The point after was blocked by T.J. Morris. The drive consisted of only two plays and was set up when Cooper intercepted a deflected pass at the Beaver 39 and returned it to the 11.

 

The Riders' ground game caused BHS trouble all afternoon and chewed up the clock in the process.

 

Weir's lead would grow in the third quarter when the visitors embarked on a 17-play 72 yard drive that consumed 8:40. The score came when Cooper picked up a fumble at the two and carried it into the end zone. The two-point conversion pass from Sperlazza to Cooper made it 14-0 with 3:18 left in the third stanza.

 

Bluefield was unable to mount significant offensive threats, fumbling once and suffering two interceptions in the first three-and-a-half quarters of play.

 

It was not until Davis' interception in the final two-and-a-half minutes and the ensuing recovered onside kick that Bluefield was able to move on Weir's defense with any success.

 

For the game Weir rushed 57 times for 255 yards led by Cooper with 118 yards. Josh Smith ran for 111 yards.

 

Bluefield was led by Derrick Steptoe with 91 yards on the ground.

 

Weir was 4-of-10 passing for 32 yards while the Beavers connected on 5-of-15 passes for 78 yards. Coeburn surpassed the 2,000 yard passing mark for the season in the game.

 

Following the game an altercation on the Weir side of the field involved WHS players, fans and coaches and Weir assistant coach Joe Filberto was detained by Bluefield City Police. According to a police spokesperson at the stadium, the coach was detained until the situation calmed. No charges were filed.

 

The Beavers will make their third consecutive trip to Wheeling Island Stadium and the Class AA championship. This year BHS will take on the Wayne Pioneers, after facing the Poca Dots the past two seasons.

 

- Contact Bob Redd

 

bredd@bdtonline.com

 

At John Chmara Field/Mitchell Stadium

Weir (10-3).............................0 6 8 0 6 - 20

Bluefield (13-0).....................0 0 0 14 7 - 21

 

Second Quarter

WHS - Cooper 11 yard pass from Sperlazza (kick blocked)

 

Third Quarter

WHS - Cooper 2 yard fumble recovery (Sperlazza pass to Cooper)

 

Fourth Quarter

BHS - Davis 75 yard interception return (Stone kick)

BHS - D. Steptoe 1 yard run (Stone kick)

 

Overtime

BHS - Q. Steptoe 13 yard run (Stone kick)

WHS - Pernell 2 yard pass from Sperlazza (kick failed)

[Bluefield_Rules 46]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2004112725

 

Bluefield rallies past Weir for overtime win

By The Associated Press

 

 

BLUEFIELD  Weir couldn’t escape another overtime meltdown in Bluefield.

 

Top-rated Bluefield came from 14 points down in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game and won 21-20 when No. 5 Weir missed an extra-point kick in overtime Saturday in the Class AA semifinals.

 

Bluefield (13-0) will play for its first title since 1997 next Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium against Wayne (13-0), which beat Shady Spring 33-6 on Friday night.

 

Bluefield returns to the championship game for the second straight year. The Beavers lost to Poca last year in overtime 21-20.

 

Last year, Weir lost to Bluefield 37-30 in double overtime in the second round.

 

Saturday’s game didn’t appear to be heading to an extra period. Weir led 14-0 and had the ball at the Bluefield 32 with 2:28 remaining in regulation. But on fourth-and-3, Brandon Sperlazza’s pass was intercepted by Bluefield’s Mike Davis, who returned it 75 yards for a touchdown.

 

Bluefield recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Weir 47. Derrick Steptoe ran 21 yards to the Weir 26 and Rusty Coeburn later hit David Perdue with an 18-yard swing pass to the 2 with 31 seconds left.

 

Two running plays failed to score and Coeburn spiked the ball on third down with one second left at the 1-yard line. Steptoe then scored on fourth down as time expired.

 

In overtime, Bluefield’s Quintin Steptoe scored on a 13-yard run and Lucas Stone kicked the extra point.

 

On Weir’s possession, Sperlazza threw a 2-yard TD pass to Justin Pernell on fourth down, but Ryan Dennis’ kick sailed wide left.

 

Weir (10-3) was denied its first chance to reach the championship game since winning the title in 1998.