Bluefield’s ‘will’ prevails vs. Gate City
Bluefield (42) vs. Gate City (34)
Written: Sep 18, 2015
By JIM NELSON
for the Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — It was a battle of wills and Bluefield’s will prevailed. The Beavers remained unbeaten, defeating Gate City 42-34 at Mitchell Stadium on Friday night.
Bluefield twice bounced back from double figure deficits to push its record to 4-0 against a Gate City (0-4) team that is much better than its record indicates.
Hunter Collier, Gate City’s talented quarterback, opened the scoring with a 65-yard first quarter punt return. Collier tacked on a second touchdown on a 33-yard quarterback draw.
The Blue Devils dominated early play before Bluefield’s Mookie Collier scored the first of his four touchdowns on a 46-yard bolt up the middle halfway through the second quarter
Zac Springman nailed a 39-yard field goal at the first half buzzer and Bluefield trailed 13-9.
After intermission, Blue Devils’ fullback Hunter Jones finished a 65-yard drive, scoring from 2 yards out and stretch the Gate City lead to 11, 20-9.
That is when the Beaver offense found another gear.
Collier scored back to back touchdowns on runs of 63 and 8 yards, and fullback Jason Edwards struck right up the middle from 48 yards out after a Beaver fourth down stop at midfield.
Bluefield led 28-20 at the end of the third periods.
Once again, Gate City rallied. Collier connected with Matt McClung on an 18-yard scoring aerial to bring the Blue Devils within two, 28-26, and the two point conversion for the tie was incomplete.
Bluefield’s Carlos Reed responded, rolling 60 yards on a scissors play and moments later Collier got loose for another touchdown to give Bluefield a seemingly comfortable 42-26 margin with 4:31 left.
Gate City would not go away, and Collier found Trey Lankford behind the Beaver secondary for a 44-yard touchdown pass. After the two-point conversion, Bluefield’s lead was 42-34.
The Beavers were able to convert several third downs and maintain possession for the remainder of the game to salt away the win, a real character test victory and stay unbeaten.
Reed rushed 160 yards on nine carries, while Mookie Collier added 151 on nine carries. Edwards added 84 yards on the ground.
Hunter Collier rushed for 170 yards on 28 carries, completed 10 of 18 passes for 123 yards and scored twice.
Bluefield returns to action at Greenbrier East on Friday.
at Mitchell Stadium
Gate City..........................13 0 7 14 — 34
Bluefield...........................0 9 19 14 — 42
Scoring
First Quarter
GC—Hunter Collier 65 punt return (Salyer kick) 9:43
GC—H.Collier 33 run (kick failed) 1:21
Second Quarter
BF—Mookie Collier 46 run (kick blocked) 7:41
BF—Zac Springman 39 field goal :00
Third Quarter
GC—Hunter Jones 2 run (Salyer kick) 9:13
BF—M.Collier 63 run (kick failed) 8:57
BF—M.Collier 8 run (kick failed) 5:42
BF—Edwards 48 run (Springman kick) 1:38
Fourth Quarter
GC—Matt McClung 18 pass from H.Collier (run failed) 9:17
BF—Carlos Reed 60 run (Springman kick) 8:20
BF—M.Collier 18 run (Springman kick) 4:31
GC—Trey Lankford 44 pass from H.Collier (Cade Lane pass from H.Collier) 3:07
|