There is plenty of championship history with the remaining teams in Class AA.
Top-seeded Fairmont Senior was won six championships, however last season’s win against Bluefield was the Polar Bears’ first since 1946. No. 2 Bridgeport has nine titles to its credit, four this century included three in a row from 2013-2015. The aforementioned Beavers have the most with 11, also four this century with the last coming in 2017.
Then there is Oak Glen, which is making its first appearance in the semifinal round—ever.
One of these teams is not like the other, yet last week, the 2019 edition of the Golden Bears proved they could play with the blue bloods of Class AA, knocking off six-time champion and previously unbeaten Poca, on the road and in a driving rainstorm. They’ll have to get through another of Class AA’s storied programs in the Indians, which will be moving back up to Class AAA for the 2020 season.
Champion Rematch
The other side of the bracket features of rematch of the previous two Class AA state championship games. The Polar Bears won 23-13 in 2018 while the Beavers tasted victory in 2017, 29-26.
Will another trophy be headed back to the halls of one of the storied programs, or will the upstart Bears continue to stake their claim to a seat at the table?
If you know nothing else about Bluefield this season, know this. The Beavers offense is as potent as it is diverse.
Facing Class AA’s top defense statistically in Keyser last weekend, the Beavers compiled more than 400 yards of total offense in rolling to a 43-20 victory. The Golden Tornado made an all-out effort to stop Bluefield’s run game. Coach Fred Simon’s team shifted gears early and watched as Carson Deeb torched the Keyser secondary for 345 yards and four touchdowns on 21 of 30 passing.
The Beavers turn their sights northward to Fairmont’s East-West Stadium and the defending champs.
The Polar Bears won their 26th straight game, racing out to a 31-0 lead against visiting Frankfort before allowing a late touchdown in a 31-7 win. Gage Michael passed for 172 yards, ran for 41 and had a touchdown passing and rushing.
Statistically, Fairmont owns the best scoring offense and defense remaining in the Class AA field. A quick look at the result from Mitchell Stadium last Friday will show how little those numbers mean come playoff time.
The winner of this game will likely be the favorite in the championship game.
Bridgeport had already won five state championships by the time Oak Glen qualified for its first playoff game during the 1993 season. It was then a Chris Enochs-led team bested North Marion in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs. They lost the next week to Herbert Hoover.
It took until 2009 for the Bears to reach the postseason again only to lose in the first round to Wayne. Two years later, Oak Glen picked up its second playoff win, besting No. 8 Roane County 28-20 before falling to Point Pleasant in the quarterfinals. Now, the Bears stand on the edge of the unfamiliar, one win away from a state championship berth.
All that stands between them and a shot at glory is the one-loss Bridgeport Indians and their run first, run second and when in doubt run some more offensive philosophy. Flashy no, but it works. Bridgeport threw nary a pass in the 28-8 quarterfinal win against Mingo Central. It’s a philosophy that has the Indians in the semifinals for the ninth-straight year.
If there’s one thing the Bears do well, it’s defend the run. Poca’s record-setting Back Ethan Payne ran for 182 yards against Oak Glen, but 150 of that came in the first half as the defense turned stout when it mattered.
The have Bears allowed less than 100 yards rushing per game on average. Offensively, they have a balanced attack that churns out more than 425 yards per game. Quarterback Nick Chaney has thrown for more than 1700 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, while do-all Hunter Patterson has over 1,000 rushing and 700 receiving yards. Paxton Shuman is closing is on 1,000 rushing yards as well.
Mingo Central was able to throw on Bridgeport, amassing 252 yards passing.
