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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Playing against one of the toughest schedules in Class AA last fall, Bluefield finished eighth in the playoff ratings with a 4-5 record. The Beavers defeated South Harrison in the first round of the playoffs before losing at eventual champion Frankfort in the quarterfinal round, 27-6. It was the most competitive playoff game the Falcons faced en route to the championship.
“We still made the most of it,” said Bluefield head coach Fred Simon. “I am proud that we gave Frankfort a run for their money early. It ended up being that they beat everyone else worse than they beat us. That’s kind of how to be on a positive note, the best I can come up with.”
The longest tenured head coach in the state, Simon welcomes back his leading passer and leading rusher this fall. As a freshman, Max Simpson passed for 1,336 yards with nine touchdowns against just three interceptions. Simpson has already received a Division I offer from East Tennessee State.
“He has worked hard in the offseason. He is a hard worker. He’s got a nice little arm and we will use that to our advantage.”
“He did better than a lot of people thought he would. I’m not going to lie,” said Bluefield junior RB/LB Willis Wilson. “He did good and he is going to carry us this year.”
Junior Willis Wilson rushed for 704 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games during an injury-shortened sophomore season. A handful of new offensive linemen will work their way into the starting lineup for the Beavers.
“They’re looking real good,” said Bluefield junior WR/DB Tylee Simon. “I’ve got faith in them. As long as they just do everything they are supposed to do, they’re going to be alright.”
“I think our line play will be key because we are so young and inexperienced,” said Fred Simon. “We have a sophomore tackle that’s back and a senior center. But that’s it. The rest of them are young and they played some last year, but not in a starting role.”
Bluefield’s schedule is stacked with top-tier opponents through the first five weeks. All of those opponents qualified for postseason play last fall, including a Virginia state champion and a pair of West Virginia semifinalists.
“Graham, Princeton, we go to James Monroe, Beckley comes here and then we go to Independence. That’s a pretty tough schedule to start out with,” Fred Simon said. “I think we can come out of it pretty good as long as we don’t have the injuries. And we will learn a lot about our team.”