By JED LOCKETT Bluefield Daily Telegraph

WHEELING  Comparatively, it is very small and technically, it is not a country at all. But there is such a thing as Beaver nation, and as dusk quickly descended into cold darkness Friday night, they filed into Wheeling Island Stadium to watch their beloved Bluefield Beavers take on Wayne in the West Virginia Class AA State Championship game.

Those fans saw the Beavers capture their 10th state championship with a 27-7 victory over Wayne. But it only added to the celebration of the institution known as Bluefield High School football and what it means to the families of those who love it most.

Rusty Ruble, 53, was among the first in line before the gates opened. He left Bluefield at 7 a.m. on Friday, arriving in Wheeling at noon and at the stadium at 5 p.m., a half-hour before the gates opened and two hours before kickoff.

"I'm a little nervous, anxious to get a win," Ruble said moments before he finally set foot in the complex. "You know you're playing a good team. You don't know how it's going to come out."

Ruble is a graduate from Graham, but his children attended Bluefield, which led him to join Beaver nation in 1995.

"It's exciting to watch," Ruble said. "I love the high school football and I've got a group of six of us that attends every game no matter where they're at."

Behind Ruble in the line was another man who has become a part of Beaver nation by association. James Hicks, 33, of Bluewell graduated from Montcalm, but he was there to see his first cousin, Jake Lilly.

"There's no other better feeling (than to have a family member on the team)," Hicks said. "Bluefield Beavers all the way."

Hicks has not missed a game since Lilly's freshman season. Naturally, he was as nervous as any of the other members of Beaver nation.

"They've got to play their butts off," Hicks said. "Wayne's a good ball team."

Hicks shared the experience with those closest to him as well. Tagging along were his wife Jackie and children Samantha, 10, and Garrett, 4.

"Who are you pulling for tonight?" he asked Samantha and Garrett. They responded emphatically, "Beavers!"

Some members of Beaver nation present in the shadow of the Ohio River have long-held ties with Bluefield High School. Donna Casey graduated from Bluefield in 1979. That alone would have entitled her to feel, "Nervous, excited, ready for another win."

But she had a better reason for her nerves.

"My son's out there playing," Casey said. Specifically, she was there to see No. 66, Kody Casey. The junior is continuing a family tradition that included another person that was special in Donna's life.

"It means a whole lot because my brother played for Bluefield High School too," she said. "It's a good tradition. It's wonderful. It's one that will be carried on."

Donna's brother passed away at the young age of 22. With Kody, she has a direct link to Beaver nation.

Kody was a part of Bluefield's last state championship team in 2007. Donna still has the memories from that game  and added more memories Friday night.

"The look on his face," she said when asked what she would remember most from this game, "and knowing that he was part of the tradition that was carried on in the family."

While most members of Beaver nation have been proud members for a large portion of their lives, some were only too glad to join for one memorable night. Rick Dollie, 40, of Moorefield has been attending the Wheeling football festival known as the Super Six since its first incarnation in 1994.

"I love football," Dollie said. "I absolutely love it.

"I see some of the new prospects that's going to play in the state conference as well as maybe even some Division I schools. I like watching the kids grow."

Dollie sat with Beaver nation on Friday night and like most on the Bluefield side, he brought his family with him. His wife Susie, sons Byron, 12, and Brock, 10 and nephew Adam Simmons braved the cold to watch the event with him.

But braving the cold is a part of the experience for them. Ask them about the year they attended when the temperature was 4 degrees Farenheit and they had to scrape ice off the metal bleachers. One team they saw that year, the Bluefield Beavers.

"It's been a winter vacation for us," Dollie said. "We really do love football back home and with the success that prior to even Moorefield becoming the powerhouse that they were back in the late ‘90s and early 2000 era. We have been coming out here prior to that and that just made it all the sweeter.

"You get to bring your family out here. You meet a lot of old friends. You meet nice news reporters, it is a wonderful thing."

That is the true beauty within high school football and the institution known as Beaver nation.

State championships are bragged about for decades, but the ability to share it with loved ones past and present is what truly makes Bluefield High School football so special.

"We've been taking our grandchildren to the home games," Ruble said. "We live from fall to fall for football season, turn in vacation days for every Friday night for every game. We don't miss a game."

"There's nothing like high school football," Hicks said. "The kids play with a lot of heart and when it gets to the upper levels it's all about the money. There's nothing better than high school football."

Ruble summed up Beaver nation in two words that could be used to describe what it means to the so many families it so positively effects.

"Winning tradition."

 Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com

BY RICK THORP Wheeling News-Intelligencer POSTED: November 29, 2009

Article Photos Brooke's Ryan Lazear (31) finds a big hole to run through during Saturday's Class AAA semifinal in Wellsburg. The Bruins won to advance to the Super Six. View additional photos at cu.news-register.net.

Photo by Art Limann

Advertisement WELLSBURG - Last May, Brooke coach Tom Bruney removed a photo of Wheeling Island Stadium from the Bruins' weight room and placed it in the team's locker room.

Bruney, who had just accepted the job as Brooke's new coach, wanted his players to see it everytime they walked in and out.

''We talked early on that we don't want to follow anyone else's trail, we wanted to blaze our own and that's what we've done,'' Bruney said after watching his team defeat University, 32-15, in a West Virginia Class AAA semifinal Saturday night at Brooke Memorial Stadium

''(The players) had heard the stories about the past, seen the highlights and had been a part of that from a distance. And now they're writing their own history.''

And there's one more chapter to be written.

That will happen when the Bruins face South Charleston at Noon on Saturday for the W.Va. Class AAA championship at Wheeling Island Stadium. The Black Eagles, seeded No. 2, edged No. 3 seed and previously unbeaten Bridgeport, 28-25 on Saturday in the other semifinal contest.

It will be Brooke's first state title game appearance since 1992 and its first since the Super Six moved to Wheeling in the mid 1990s.

''We got an invitation and we're going to the dance,'' Bruney said as his team celebrated with friends and family on the field. ''I suppose in a couple of minutes it will hit me but we're going to the dance. That's all I can say.''

Bruney changed the culture of the Brooke program when he arrived. But after Saturday's victory, the first-year coach was quick to point out everyone else's role in the success.

''This has been one giant team effort,'' he said. ''The best part about this season was the team chemistry that developed. I'm so proud of these kids and the coaching staff.''

Cotey Wallace threw for 195 yards and ran for another 94, sending him past the 2,000-yard passing and 1,000-yard rushing plateaus, respectively, for the season.

Junior Joe Dinardo was the beneficiary of most of Wallace's handywork, hauling in five receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the first quarter that took the wind out of the Hawks' sails early.

''Those two plays really set the tempo for the game,'' Bruney said. ''Because there was no rain (unlike when the Bruins defeated the Hawks 27-0 on October 9), we were able to throw the ball. That night we threw it three times. (Saturday) it was more than three and it was very effective for us.''

University coach John Kelley agreed.

''Cotey is phenomenal and we couldn't stop him,'' he said. ''We got ourselves in a hole early and we couldn't get out of it.''

University (9-4) wasn't helped by five turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions), including one that aided in a 20-point opening quarter for Brooke.

It took the Bruins a little more than 2 minutes to get things going.

Runs of 11 and 12 yards by Wallace, along with an 11-yard jaunt by Ryan Lazear, set up an 8-yard run by the latter that capped an opening five-play, 52-yard drive that gave the Bruins the early lead. Rusty Kocher's extra-point attempt failed and the scored remained 6-0.

University started from it's own 30. Three plays in, running back Micah Wilson fumbled and the ball rolled to midfield where Brooke's Devon Freshwater pounced on it.

On the next play, Wallace found Dinardo all alone down the left sideline. Dinardo hauled in the pass at the 25 and dashed into the end zone for the score. Wallace found Shane Paesano for the 2-point conversion and Brooke led 14-0.

The Bruins started their next possession deep in their own territory, but a 47-yard run by Tim Morris brought the ball to the University 25.

Later in the drive, faced with a 4th-and-21 from the 25, Wallace dropped back and lofted a pass into the end zone. Dinardo leaped up between two Hawks defenders, grabbed the ball, juggled it a bit, but maintained control as he fell down on his back for the score that helped give Brooke a commanding 20-0 lead.

The Hawks started their ensuing possession inside Brooke territory and took advantage.

Five consecutive runs got University to the Bruins' 13 before Wilson ran it in on the next play to help trim the lead to 20-7.

University got the ball to open the second half, but fumbled the ball away on its second play. Again, Brooke responded quickly.

Wallace found Dinardo again, this time from 29 yards out, and the lead jumped to 26-7.

Hawks quarterback Travis Maraney was intercepted by Brooke's Zach Hartman and Michael Koscevic on University's next two possessions, thwarting any thoughts of a comeback.

Lazear scored on a 5-yard run with time running out in the third quarter to seal the triumph.

''Back when I was an assistant coach everyone looked at the Brooke program and idolized the Brooke program,'' Bruney said. ''Everybody wanted to be Brooke.

''Now, here we are almost 20 years later, and Brooke is back again. We're very proud of that.''

South Charleston 28, Bridgeport 25

CHARLESTON - Tyler Harris threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Tevin Spurlock, and South Charleston made three defensive stands in the fourth quarter to secure a victory against Bridgeport in a Class AAA playoff semifinal at Laidley Field in Charleston.

The No. 2 Black Eagles (12-1), the defending state champions, led 21-10 after three quarters, but the No. 3 Indians (12-1) twice came within three points in the final period on short TD runs by Alex Sutton (27 carries, 143 yards), the latter with 7:04 left in the game.

Bridgeport got three more possessions after that. The first ended on a punt at its own 18, the second on a Perry Henry interception from the South Charleston 46, and the final one on downs at its own 40 as the game ended.

Harris completed 8 of 14 passes with one interception, connecting with Spurlock on scoring throws of 40 and 61 yards and with Moe Makhene on a 53-yard TD strike.

Bridgeport ran for 292 yards on 61 carries, led by Sutton and Wes Tonkery (10 carries, 71 yards).

Class AA

Wayne 27, Frankfort 21

WAYNE - Corey Damron ran for 124 yards and one touchdown and Wayne recovered back-to-back onside kicks in the second half to rally from a 21-0 deficit and earn a victory against Frankfort in the Class AA playoff semifinals.

The No. 1 Pioneers (13-0) earned another shot at No. 6 Bluefield (11-2) in the state championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wheeling Island Stadium.

Wayne ousted the Beavers 41-35 in last season's quarterfinal round. In 2004, the same two teams met in the state final, with Bluefield winning 69-24.

Frankfort (11-2), the No. 4 seed, was in control at halftime, leading 21-0 on scoring drives of 73, 67 and 72 yards. Joey Luciw scored the first TD for the Falcons on a 51-yard run.

However, Wayne drove for a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter, then gambled with an onside kick and a recovery that led to another score to make it 21-14. A second onside kick followed, and Jake Barr's 6-yard TD run tied the game at 21-21.

The Pioneers then stopped the Falcons on fourth-and-5 at midfield, and got what proved to be the winning TD on quarterback Adam Frazier's 49-yard run with 7:10 left in the game.

James Jones completed 8-of-11 passes for Frankfort for 121 yards.

Richwood one win away from title game

By Jim Workman Register-Herald Sports Writer

One victory away from a trip to Wheeling Island.

That's where the No. 3-rated Richwood Lumberjacks find themselves.

The undefeated Lumberjacks (12-0) travel to Logan County to face No. 2 Man, where they'll take on the 11-1 Hillbillies in a Class A semifinal game at 7:30 tonight.

The winner gets its ticket punched for a berth in next Saturday night's Super Six Football Championship in Wheeling against No. 1 Weirton Madonna (13-0), which defeated No. 5 Wheeling Central (9-4) in a semifinal game Friday night.

Fall short, and you go home empty-handed.

"We've been trying to keep our focus on Man," Richwood coach Jason Rogers said. "That's what we've been doing all year long, taking it one game at a time. But the boys know what's going on. They've been very focused this week."

Richwood has never advanced to a title game.

Man has some history of title game experience, but none of the current Hillbillies players were even born the last time the school went that far. Man lost in the Class AA championship game three times: in 1984 to Grafton, 14-10; 1980 to Ceredo-Kenova, 18-13; and in 1977 to Poca, 20-6.

It's been 20 years since the Hillbillies' last semifinal game in 1989.

It should be a grind-it-out affair, as both teams rely heavily on their running attacks.

Richwood already has one 2,000-yard-plus rusher in Dustin Brown. The senior running back has 2,305 yards on the ground through 12 games.

Brown went over 2,000 in the regular season, reaching 2,001 in just 10 contests.

He is also the state's leading point producer with 39 touchdowns  plus, as the team's kicker, Brown has added field goals and extra points and two-point conversions from his running back position on point-after tries.

Junior quarterback Sam Tindal could join Brown on the 2,000-yard club tonight. Tindal has 1,914 yards so far with 27 TDs. Also a threat to pass, Tindal has 1,209 passing yards and 11 TDs through the air.

"Our offensive line is taking this game personally," Rogers said. "Even though we're 12-0, they still believe that they have to prove a point. They've been playing with a chip on their shoulder."

Man's offense stays on the ground, but employs several different running backs and a highly skilled option quarterback.

Senior signal-caller Ryan Crum operates the offense for the Hillbillies. He has 527 yards and 12 TDs himself.

Man has one 1,000-yard rusher in senior running back Brandon Plymale, who has 1,021 yards and 11 scores.

Senior Michael Lomax (437 yards, 6 TDs), junior Derek Lomax (408, 5) and senior Andrew Hale (394, 5) spell relief for the Hillbillies' backfield.

"They all run hard  it doesn't matter who it is," Rogers said. "We have to hit them and hold on. We have to get pursuit to the ball. They don't do anything real fancy. They just come at you. We'll have to get off the block up front and tackle to have a chance."

Incredibly, the Lumberjacks have enjoyed a homefield advantage for the last five games.

The regular-season schedule was set up for three final home games, plus the Lumberjacks benefited from hosting two playoff games thanks to their No. 3 rating.

Now, instead of stepping out of its familiar orange and black-painted locker room at Dean Memorial Field, a nearly 3 1/2-hour drive covering about 180 miles one way awaits the Richwood squad.

The Lumberjacks haven't had to leave Richwood in over five weeks.

Until today...

"It's been a long time since we've had to travel," Rogers admitted. "Being at home has been nice. I reminded our players that we are going to be wearing our white (road) jerseys, and they looked around at each other like they didn't know what I was talking about. We've been wearing our black (home) jerseys a lot."

A large crowd is expected on converge upon George A. Queen Memorial Field in Man.

"We have two charter buses and two high school buses of students and fans going down (from Richwood) that I know of," Rogers said. "Everybody that I know says that they're going to be there."

 Email: jworkman@

register-herald.com

WESBANCO SCOREBOARD ON RSNSPORTS.COM

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FRIDAY
Last Update 11-06-09 2309EST

Bishop Donahue 12
Doddridge County 7

Bulldogs need to regroup for '10.

Bluefield 49
Robert C. Byrd 14
Beavers set for playoffs.

Bridgeport 53
North Marion 15
Indians on warpath for playoffs.

Brooke 14
Musselman 13
By the skin of a Appleman!

Buckhannon-Upshur 35
Elkins 12
Somebody had to win.

Burch 55
Hannan 20
Was this an 8-man exhibition?

Cabell Midland 24
Hurricane 7
Knights are annointed.

Calhoun County 14
St. Marys 12
Another close LKC score.

Cameron 13
Valley Wetzel 6
Cameron picks up the nice season ending win.

Capital 28
Huntington 20
Cougars regain momentum heading into playoffs.

East Hardy 33
Petersburg 0
Getting shut out on the last game of the campaign? Tough.

Ervinton, Va. 42
Montcalm 14

Fairmont Senior 31
East Fairmont 6
This is why one is called "Senior".

Frankfort 35
Hampshire 33
Shootout in the panhandle.

George Washington 54
St. Albans 29
GW just a couple of plays from being undefeated on the season.

Gilbert 30
Tug Valley 0
Lions roll.

Hedgesville 28
Berkeley Springs 27
Extra points. Extra points!

James Monroe 42
Summers County 0
Diamond cut! At least Summers can attend the state volleyball tourney next week.

Jefferson 24
Washington 0
Talk about being rough on your sibling!

Keyser 41
Mountain Ridge, Md. 14
Keyser returns to the playoffs.

Liberty Raleigh 34
Wyoming East 12
On to basketball season for W.E.

Madonna 28
Clay-Battelle 2
Madonna rolls into playoffs.

Magnolia 25
Grafton 3
Nice close to regular season for Blue Eagles.

Meadow Bridge 40
Big Creek 0
The Creek bows out quietly.

Moorefield 17
Tygarts Valley 0
TV needs some LaMaster advice.

Nicholas County 42
Preston 6
Grizzlies ready for best playoff run yet.

Oak Hill 40
Mount View 17
Red Devils didn't think much of The View.

Parkersburg South 48
John Marshall 20
South ready for postseason run.

Pendleton County 36
Bath County, Va. 35
Cross the border and salvage something.

PikeView 68
Midland Trail 14
Diamond cut!

Poca 36
Tolsia 6
The Rebels are surrendering the season.

Point Pleasant 48
Chapmanville 20
Point makes a point. You don't need people who don't want to be there.

Princeton 49
Woodrow Wilson 6
Tigers win the southern trifecta of the MSAC.

Rappahannock County, Va. 36
Hundred 14
If Hundred goes to 8-man football, this won't be a problem.

Richwood 68
Gilmer County 26
Lumberjacks make a playoff statement. Does Central even care?

Ripley 10
Ravenswood 7
Vikings needed this rivalry win.

Roane County 32
Ritchie County 13
Raiders end happy.

Scott 32
Lincoln County 0
Skyhawks dominate battle of Corridor G.

Sherman 26
Mount Hope 19
The Tide rolls into playoffs.

South Charleston 45
Riverside 6
SC ready and waiting.

Spring Valley 34
Winfield 13
Timberwolves sniff a championship.

Tucker County 48
Philip Barbour 22
Where's Jed Drenning?

Tyler Consolidated 40
Weir 10
Pound the opposition on the way out.

Valley Fayette 42
Williamson 14
A wolf can't catch a greyhound.

Wahama 58
Buffalo 22
White Falcons soar over Bisons.

Wayne 34
Logan 14
Pioneers hit the playoff trail once more.

Wheeling Central 36
Linsly 35
Knights have some lumberjacks waiting on them.

Williamstown 28
Parkersburg Catholic 14
Yellowjackets swarm.

Wirt County 48
South Harrison 20
Tigers roar.