MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After claiming the school’s first state championship in 2024, Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman realized a lifelong coaching dream. He originally said he would be satisfied with one title but his Falcons haven’t lost since, winning 27 consecutive games.
“Last year was awesome. It was weird because I said when we got back, I said, ‘We finally got a championship. If you don’t win another game, I am fine with it’. But I am not fine with it. I would really love to win another one. It would be really awesome,” Whiteman said.
Frankfort entered the season having to replace almost all of their key contributors on the offensive and defensive lines. Whiteman’s concerns were quickly put to rest just a few games into the season.
“I could tell things were starting to come together. The kids were buying into what we were selling to them. I am still surprised because coming into the season, I didn’t expect we would be where we are at this point. Hats off to the kids and the coaches for working hard.”
Junior Braydn Tyler leads the Falcons in rushing yards with 1,122 and 19 touchdowns. He also has six receiving touchdowns and he has collected four interceptions.
“He has a little bit of an edge and he has a lot of speed. In a lot of sports, in football too, speed kills. He makes big plays. People know he is a playmaker. But the beauty of our team is that he is not the only playmaker. We’ve got other guys — the Shanholtz boys [Cole and Carder], Blake Jacobs, I could go on and on.”
Jacobs has accounted for 16 total touchdowns while turning the ball over just once.
“He is a natural born leader. Kids follow him. He takes control of the huddle. Kids look up to him and he is a good role model. He started as quarterback as a sophomore and he is very smart. He makes good decisions. I love him being in there at quarterback. He does a phenomenal job and he is a really good young man.”
Prior to the start of this season, five-time state championship coach of Bluefield, Fred Simon, was confident that his young team would grow throughout the season after a challenging schedule in the first half. The Beavers started 3-2 with losses to Princeton and Independence before running off eight consecutive wins.
“I think what were concerned about early in the year was our youth,” Simon said. “How are they going to respond to our tough schedule? We worked hard in the weight room and they were very competitive. But that doesn’t mean it goes out on the field. What we have been pleased with is how are players have reacted in tough situations so far with the teams we have played.”
Sophomore quarterback Max Simpson has elevated his game in his second year as the starting signal caller. Simpson has passed for 3,153 yards and 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.
“Max has just spread the ball around nice to everybody,” Simon said.
Fellow sophomores Jeremiah Jones and Jaleel Jones have made significant impacts as well. Jeremiah is the team’s leading rusher with 926 yards and 17 touchdowns. He earned more carries after the season-ending injury to Willis Wilson in Week 5. Jaleel is the team’s third-leading receiver behind Pax Calhoun and Jordan Hess. He collected three first-half turnovers in Bluefield’s semifinal win over Philip Barbour.
“Jeremiah didn’t play last year,” Simon said. “But this year after the first game, I said, ‘This guy is a pretty good running back and linebacker’.
“Jaleel Jones is part of the receiving corps too but he and Jeremiah are twins. They both have played well on the defensive and offensive sides.”
Whiteman is in his 16th season leading the Falcons while Simon has guided Bluefield for forty years. The two faced off for the first time last year in the semifinal round.
“When I was a younger coach as an assistant, I used to always talk about Bluefield and what they did,” Whiteman said. “It is kind of wild. I didn’t know that we would get to play against them. Last year we got it [in the quaterfinals]. Now we’re playing for the championship. My dad told me, ‘It all came true. You are finally going to play Bluefield for the state championship.’ It is really exciting and I have a good rapport with Fred.”
“To be part of the tradition there, I have been blessed,” Simon said. “I grew up there and went to the games when I was young. I was a part of it in junior high and then played at the high school. I just know what football means to Bluefield. To be able to continue on with what we are doing, being able to get into state championship games, it means a heck of a lot to me. I am just so fortunate and so happy.”