Bluefield –
Team: Bluefield
2024 Recap
Starting a freshman quarterback for the first time in program history, Bluefield trudged through a difficult schedule to a 4-5 regular season finish, securing a home playoff game. The Beavers ultimately ousted South Harrison before falling to eventual state champion Frankfort in the quarterfinal round.
The Beavers graduated several starters on the offensive line, skill players Jeff King and Kisean Smith, all-state linebacker Ty Patton and lost linebacker Landon Crane to Princeton via transfer.
2025 Outlook
Bluefield lost a lot but brings back players and coaches at the most impotent positions. Sophomore quarterback Max Simpson will be the first quarterback since 2020 to start two consecutive seasons for the Beavers. He’ll share the backfield with talented running back Willis Wilson who battled through injuries to lead the Beavers in rushing with 704 yards in nine games, missing both postseason contests.
Pushing Wilson for snaps will be sophomore running back Jeremiah Jones who figures to get some run in the backfield.
Simpson, who already has a Division I offer, was a 1,000 yard passer despite the slow start a year ago.
His top returning receiver is Wilson, who caught 15 passes for 227 yards but 181 of them came in one game against Greenbrier East.
“They’re working hard but we’re putting players in positions they’ve not played before or if they’ve played it’s been as a backup,” Bluefield head coach Fred Simon said. “It’s just going to take awhile to get the pieces to that puzzle and even if they’re right we’re so young mistakes are going to be made even if they don’t mean to. They’ll make some, hopefully we’ll learn from it and when it’s over we’ll have a good football team some point this year.”
Another key returner for the Beavers is offensive coordinator Fritz Simon. Simon resigned prior to last season but returned this year to help steer a young, talented offense. He’s worked directly with his father Fred and Simpson to get the offense up to speed with a plethora of young players.
“I’m more of the hard-nosed, toughness, discipline guy and he’s the brains and knows a lot of football,” Fred Simon said. “We work well together. Him being gone last year probably helped me to appreciate some of the things that he did that sometimes you take for granted and I’m happy. We work well and he’s good on offense and defense. He knows the game and is very sharp at picking things up. I’m happy because he’s blood and cares as much as I do.”
On defense Simon will be tasked with replacing the heart of his defense including defensive lineman Jaedan Francisco, Patton and Crane.
“That’s going to be a little more complicated because we’re putting players at positions either they didn’t play last year, they weren’t eligible last year and it’s not going to be easy until we start hitting people and seeing who wants to battle because defense is about being tough and mean. The scheme doesn’t have to be so complicated that they don’t know what to do but that’ll take some time.
“Tylee Simon will be one of our safeties, Wilson is back and Ja’Myere Harris is back and that’s really it,” Simon said. “And the rest of them are playing positions where they were either backups or haven’t played. Chadney Stanback was going to be one of our linebackers but he got tangled up in a pass and he’s out probably 4-8 weeks. I think we have a good group, we just have to find a few backups.”
The Beavers will also need to navigate a difficult schedule again.
They’ll open with defending state champion Graham before traveling to Princeton and then James Monroe. They’ll follow that by hosting Class AAAA Beckley and traveling to Class AA Independence.
“The schedule we play, you make a mistake or two in all of our games and you’re beat, so you grow from that,” Simon said. “The part about a hard schedule is you may lose a few players but you go with that. You learn from tough situations in a game and see how your players react. They react good most of the time and maybe they slip but that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to play a schedule, except the injury part, where you’re not having to battle. Nobody’s really excited when you blow teams out but these tight games when you battle, you’re proud of your players and the fans love it. So I like the tough schedule.”
Bluefield will open its season Aug. 29 in its annual rivalry matchup with Graham, Va.
| 1 | 08/29/25 | 7:30PM | H – | GRAHAM, VA H.S. | – | |||
| 2 | 09/05/25 | 7:00PM | A – | PRINCETON SENIOR | – | |||
| 3 | 09/12/25 | 7:00PM | A – | JAMES MONROE | – | |||
| 4 | 09/19/25 | 7:30PM | H – | WOODROW WILSON | – | |||
| 5 | 09/26/25 | 7:00PM | A – | INDEPENDENCE SENIOR | – | |||
| 6 | 10/03/25 | 7:00PM | A – | GEORGE WYTHE, VA H.S. | – | |||
| 7 | 10/10/25 | 7:00PM | A – | NICHOLAS COUNTY | – | |||
| 8 | 10/16/25 | 7:30PM | H – | PIKEVIEW | – | |||
| 9 | 10/24/25 | 7:30PM | A – | GREENBRIER EAST | – | |||
| 10 | 10/31/25 | 7:00PM | A – | RIVER VIEW | – |
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