Beavers edge Graham
Graham (21) vs. Bluefield (28)
Written: Aug 29, 2015
 By BOB REDD
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — It was a game of big plays, long touchdown runs, scoring passes and the most important one for the Bluefield Beavers, a sack.
Freshman Jason Edwards chased down Graham quarterback Roman Workman and dropped him at the Beaver 41 with 2:09 to play in the game to preserve Bluefield's 28-21 win over the G-Men before a crowd of more than 10,000 Friday night at Mitchell Stadium.
“I was just glad to make the game-winning tackle,” Edwards said. “I saw him and was able to make a play and grabbed him.”
The 2015 Battle of the Bluefields got started with a bang. Graham took the opening kick and drove 56 yards to the Bluefield one on five straight carries by Jamorya' Cousins. Roman Workman carried it over from the one for the score and Logan Surface added the point after to put the G-Men on top 7-0 with 8:55 to play in the opening quarter.
Bluefield's opening possession saw the Beavers chew up yards on the ground. Moving from its own 43 the Beavers used the legs of Mookie Collier to drive down field. Collier carried on seven plays in the nine play drive, including the final yard for the score. Zac Springman added the point and the game was knotted at seven.
The teams exchanged punts and Bluefield even got a muffed punt deep in Graham territory late in the first quarter. The teams switched ends of the field but Bluefield could not capitalize on the turnover as Springman's 33 yard field goal attempt was wide.
Bluefield took the lead when Jordan Smith hit Collier with a pass in the right flat and Collier out-ran the defense 42 yards for the score. Springman's kick was true and the Beavers led 14-7 with 4:28 to play in the half.
Graham responded on its next possession when Workman connected with Israel Harris on a 36 yard pass-run play. Surface's kick tied things at 14 and that is where it stood at the half.
Bluefield got big plays in the third quarter. On its second possession, starting at his own 31, Carlos Reed scampered to the 43, then showed his speed as he raced untouched around left end 57 yards for the score. After a Graham three-and-out Reed took off on a 58-yard run for a score. Springman kicked both PATs and Bluefield led 28-14 with 5:40 left in the third.
Graham did not fold. The G-Men started at their own 38 and on the legs of Cousins drove to the Bluefield 26. Workman then passed to DaQuan Booker for a 26 yard score. The point after made it 28-21.
On the next possession Bluefield was driving and moved into Graham territory, but turned the ball over on a fumble with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
The teams battled back-and-forth, exchanging punts, but neither mounting a serious threat until the final five minutes.
The G-Men got possession at the Beavers 38 with 4:59 to play. Three consecutive runs by Cousins took the ball down to the Bluefield 23 and a pass from Workman to Booker gave Graham a first down at the Beaver 14. However a loss by Cousins, a short gain by Workman and an intentional grounding penalty saw Graham facing a fourth-and-14 from its own 29 with 2:15 showing on the clock. Workman took the snap and scrambled, looking for an open receiver, only to find Edwards break loose from a Graham blocker and sack Workman at the 41, turning the ball over to Bluefield with 2:09 to play.
Collier ran 24 yards to the Graham 35 for a first down and the Beavers moved the ball inside the G-Men 10 in the final minute before taking a knee and a victory in the battle of the Bluefields.
The Beavers had a pair of rushers eclipse the 100 yard plateau. Reed carried 10 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Collier ran 21 times for 104 yards and a score. Collier also caught a 42 yard pass, Bluefield's only completion, for a touchdown.
Cousins had a game-high 156 yards on 23 carries while Workman completed 9-of-19 passes for 121 yards and two scores. Booker hauled in five of Workman's passes.
“I knew it would be like that tonight, I just knew it,” said BHS head coach Fred Simon who started his 30th season. “We've got some inexperienced kids, but they along with the seniors kept it going. It was a great win for us.”
Graham head coach Tony Palmer said, “We had an opportunity to go in and tie it up, it's just unfortunate. We didn't take advantage of our opportunities.”
Both teams have rivalry games again next week as Bluefield travels to Princeton and Graham visits Tazewell.
At Mitchell Stadium
Graham (0-1)…………....….7 7 7 0 - 21
Bluefield (1-0)………….......7 7 14 0 - 28
First quarter
G - Roman Workman 1 yard run (Logan Surface kick), 8:55
B - Mookie Collier 1 yard run (Zac Springman kick), 5:05
Second quarter
B - Collier 42 yard pass from Jordan Smith (Springman kick), 4:28
G - Israel Harris 36 yard pass from Workman (Surface kick), 2:39
Third quarter
B - Carlos Reed 57 yard run (Springman kick), 8:21
B - Reed 58 yard run (Springman kick), 4:00
G - DaQuan Booker 26 yard pass from Workman (Surface kick), 0:16
———
Statistics
Rushing: Graham - Cousins 23-156, Workman 8- (-1), Meade 4-5. Team 35-160. Bluefield - Collier 21-104, Reed 10-147, Smith 10-30, Edwards 1- (-3). Team 42-278
Passing: Graham - Workman 9-19-121; Bluefield - Smith 1-5-42.
Receiving: Graham - Booker 5-54, Harris 1-36, Cousins 1-6, Cooke 1 29, Meade 1- (-4). Bluefield - Collier 1-42.
|