Blue Byrd

Beavers swat Eagles

By BOB REDD

BLUEFIELD — The Bluefield Beavers secured a first round home playoff game with a 49-14 win over the Robert C. Byrd Flying Eagles on Friday night at Mitchell Stadium.

The Beavers needed a win to remain in the top eight in Class AA, while the Flying Eagles had to win to possibly remain in the playoff field in Class AAA.

Levi Beckett put the Beavers on the board with a 23-yard scamper with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter. Beckett’s run capped a 43-yard Bluefield drive which included a clutch 14-yard fourth down pass to Brad Fox for a first down.

The Beavers next drove 80 yards for the second score of the game. A 10-yard run by Jake Lilly and a 19-yard Beckett to Marcus Patterson pass highlighted the drive. Patterson’s 35 yard run made it 13-0 and Andrew Shaw’s extra point gave Bluefield a 14-0 advantage.

Robert C. Byrd was facing a third-and-23 when the Flying Eagles had their biggest play of the game, an 84-yard pass play from Adam Secret to Anthony Abston that put the visitors on the scoreboard. Scott Levine booted the point after.

Bluefield answered the bell. The Beavers drove 65 yards, all on the ground to get back on the scoreboard. Fox trots of 14 and 15 yards and Lilly’s 26 yard run put the ball on the eight where Patterson took it to paydirt. Shaw’s kick made it 21-7.

Bluefield was not finished. The Beavers’ defense rose to the forefront and forced an punt. Fox broke through and blocked the kick, giving the Beavers the ball with 1:58 to play in the half.

Lilly’s five yard run and Shaw’s conversion kick with 48 seconds remaining in the half gave Bluefield a 28-7 lead going into the locker room.

The Beavers picked right up in the second half where they left off in the first. Lilly’s 34 yard run 49 seconds into the third quarter and the two point conversion from Patterson to Lilly put the Beavers on top 36-7.

Lilly’s touchdown run put him over the 1,000 yard mark in rushing for the season.

Patterson scored his third touchdown of the night on an 11-yard jaunt and Shaw’s kick made it 43-7 with just over a minute left in the third.

Alex Morris broke into the scoring column when he ran 84 yards for a touchdown at the 3:07 mark of the fourth quarter.

Robert C. Byrd’s Secret and Abston connected on another long pass play, this one for 62 yards and that rounded out the game’s scoring.

Lilly finished the game with 103 yards on 11 carries. Patterson ran eight times for 86 yards. Morris carried twice for 90 yards, Beckett four for 38 and Brad Fox five for 51.

Bluefield rolled up 407 yards on the ground compared to 40 for Robert C. Byrd. The Eagles had 231 yards passing, while the Beavers had 54.

at Mitchell Stadium

Robert C. Byrd (6-4)….....0 7 0 7 — 14

Bluefield (8-2)……...........7 21 15 6 — 49

First Quarter

B – Beckett 23 yard run (Shaw kick) 2:42

Second Quarter

B – Patterson 35 yard run (Shaw kick) 7:39

RCB – Secret 84 yard pass to A. Abston (Levine kick) 5:51

B – Patterson 8 yard run (Shaw kick) 3:41

B – Lilly 5 yard run (Shaw kick) :48

Third Quarter

B – Lilly 34 yard run (Patterson pass to Lilly) 11:11

B – Patterson 11 yard run (Shaw kick) 1:19

Fourth Quarter

B – Morris 84 yard run (run failed) 3:07

RCB – Secret 62 yard pass to A. Abston (Levine kick) 2:43