Beavers outlast Magnolia to clinch return to Wheeling

By BRIAN WOODSON

NEW MARTINSVILLE — The Beavers reeled in a Stingray and trapped a Fox. It’s now time to get the biggest catch of all.

Marcus Patterson returned a punt for a touchdown, and completed a halfback pass that set up another score, leading Bluefield to a 13-10 Class AA state semifinal victory over Magnolia on a cold Friday night at Alumni Field.

Bluefield (11-2) will seek its 10th state title next weekend in Wheeling against either Wayne (12-0) or Frankfort (11-1). Those clubs will meet this afternoon.

The Beavers made it two straight win over undefeated foes in the playoffs, including last week’s 25-18 win at No. 3 Sherman. No. 2 Magnolia dropped to 12-1 on the season.

“It’s a great feeling,” Patterson said. “As a senior and our last chance, hopefully we can pull it out with a win.”

Trailing 3-0 in the third quarter with all of 19 yards on offense, Magnolia punter Justin Fox kicked the ball to Patterson, who grabbed the ball at his own 43. In the opening half, the Blue Eagles had punted three times, but never giving the senior a chance to get his hands on the ball.

“We knew how dangerous he was on punt returns and pretty well held him in check, but he made a couple of nice moves over there and made our kids miss and once he got his field reversed, he was gone,” Magnolia head coach Mark Batton said. “That’s what good players do, good players make good plays.”

Patterson was knocked backwards twice, steadied himself with his arm, cut to the left sideline and then ran across the field, winding up in the end zone with an electrifying 57 yard touchdown to put Bluefield up to stay with 3:48 on the clock.

Justin Mariotti added the extra point for the 7-3 lead.

“As a senior, I felt like I needed to step up as a captain and the people in front of me made some blocks and I got in the open field and that is my job to make plays,” Patterson said. “That was just me wanting to score real bad and changing the game and the momentum.”

Bluefield also scored on its next possession, a drive keyed by a 33-yard halfback pass from Patterson to Damien Price on a 3rd and 13.

“They were expecting the sweep and he bit off it and Damien made a nice catch,” Patterson said.

While Jake Lilly finished with a hard-earned 83 yards on 18 carries, got 30 of those on the first play of the fourth quarter, breaking through a huge hole and dragging Magnolia linebacker Traeh Keller the final 10 yards to the end zone for the touchdown for the 13-3 lead.

“We had to open them up with the pass, but our line did their job” Lilly said. “It was hard blocking schemes where come down so hard, I’m proud of my line.

“I got loose, that was the first time I had seen open field and I was like ‘I’m going to get in that end zone’, I don’t care what happens. I dragged him probably about 12 or 10 yards, but I wasn’t giving up.”

After a scoreless first half, Magnolia’s Cole Mullett picked off a Levi Beckett pass in Bluefield territory, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Fox for a 3-0 lead with 7:20 left in the third quarter. Magnolia didn’t score again until a 14-yard pass from Fox to Nick Blatt with 1:09 left to pull within three.

However, Lilly caught the Fox onside kick attempt and Bluefield ran out the clock.

Bluefield managed just 159 yards, while the Blue Eagles had 235 in what was largely a defensive struggle. The Beavers held the Magnolia duo of Stingray Bates (17-47) and Dillon Jackson (11-38) to just 85 yards, while Fox threw for 150 yards, but was just 11-of-29 through the air. Nick Blatt led all receivers, catching five passes for 94 yards and a touchdown for Magnolia.

“I think we both had great defenses. They’ve got a great defense, they swarmed to the ball, they did their job, and they’ve got a lot of heart,” Lilly said. “Our line gave us holes for us to run through for that touchdown run I had, the special teams blocked good for Marcus to get that punt return.

“We done good. Overall, we had heart and we won. Magnolia had heart and they had a heck of a season.”

Bluefield was held to 11 first half yards by Magnolia’s defense, which had allowed just 59 points all season, and just double figures in points three times.

“We knew coming up here what it going to be like, but all we hoped for was just to battle and see what could happen and that’s all we did tonight,” Bluefield head coach Fred Simon said. “Marcus made a heck of a play right there and our players just found a way to beat this really good football team. I’m very pleased with the victory over them.”

Magnolia had the lone scoring opportunity in the first half, but a Fox field goal attempt never happened when the snap was too high.

Bluefield will make its 15th state championship game appearance, including its sixth in the last eight years.

“We have to go on the road against two tremendous teams and God has been good to us and blessed us for us to get as far as we have been,” Simon said. “I’m very thankful, I appreciate our fans coming up this far in cool weather.

“I’m happy right now. That happiness will be gone here soon from getting ready for Wheeling, but I am very pleased with our players’ hearts tonight. We bent in some tough situations, but they didn’t quit and I’m very proud of them.”

It will mark Lilly’s second trip to the state finals, having been a part of the Beavers’ ninth state title in 2007. He’d love one more to go out on top.

“It feels great. We came from an 8-2 season and going to the finals,” Lilly said. “It’s ain’t much more you can ask for as a senior. Team-wise, we all deserve it. We have worked hard for it.

“Next week we’ll start over Monday and get ready and get a great week of practice and head up Thursday.”

—Contact Brian Woodson at

bwoodson@bdtonline.com



at Alumni Field

Bluefield…....0 0 7 6 — 13

Magnolia.......0 0 3 7 — 10

Third Quarter

MG—Justin Fox 29 field goal 7:20

BF—Marcus Patterson 57 kick return (Justin Mariotti kick) 3:48

Fourth Quarter

BF—Jake Lilly 30 run (kick failed) 11:46

MG—Jared Blatt 14 pass from Justin Fox (Fox kick) 1:09

———

Team Statistics

First Downs: BF 5; MG 15. Rush-Yards: BF 40-126; MG 32-75. Passing Yards: BF 38; MG 150. Comp-Att-Int: BF 3-7-1; MG 11-29-0. Fumbles-Lost: BF 2-1; MG 3-1. Penalty-Yards: BF 11-85 ; MG 5-55. Punts-Average: BF 7-32.6; MG 6-28.9.

———

Individual Statistics

Rushing: BF Jake Lilly 18-83, Brad Fox 7-38, Marcus Patterson 4-15, Levi Beckett 9-(12) ; MG Stingray Bates 17-47, Dillon Jackson 11-38, Derek Fruner 1-9, Justin Fox 7-(19).

Passing: BF Marcus Patterson 1-1-0-33-0, Levi Beckett 6-2-1-5-0; MG Justin Fox 11-29-0-150-0.

Receiving: BF Damien Price 1-33, Marcus Patterson 1-7, Keith Ferguson 1-(-2); MG Nick Blatt 5-94, Cameron Benson 2-27, Stephen Rogalski 1-12, Stingray Bates 1-8, Derek Fruner 1-3, Dillon Jackson 1-3.

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