Bluefield – Bluefield’s young group of Beavers continue to straighten out the program and on Wednesday night they made history while doing so.
Quarterback Max Simpson threw for a single-game program record 397 yards with touchdown tosses to Jamarius Smith, Pax Calhoun and Jamirion Owens as the Beavers clinched their first winning record since 2021 with a 39-0 win over PikeView at Mitchell Stadium.
Simpson’s final pass of the night, a short one to Owens, proved to break two records as Owens zoomed 99 yards down the left sideline for the longest touchdown in program history while also cementing Simpson’s name in the program record books.
The performance displaces that of 2008 Kennedy Award winner Will Cole who threw for 386 yards in a 41-0 win against Scott on Oct. 23, 2008.
Simpson’s previous career high of 380 yards came last year in a 19-point fourth quieter comeback against Greenbrier East.
“It means a lot and that’s really a team award too,” Simpson said. “My receivers didn’t really drop any balls. We had one but it was a little low and that’s on me. My team, my line played great tonight. Some of the passes, the receivers just created space and I really think that’s on them.”
While Bluefield’s offense moved quickly, capitalizing on big plays, PikeView’s was more methodical, running the ball 61 times for 190 yards but turnovers and the inability to capitalize once they got in the red zone doomed the Panthers.
“They tightened up but I thought we did a good job moving the ball,” PikeView head coach Jack Turner said. “Just leverage on defense. Kept wanting to duck their head inside. Real disappointing.”
The first drive of the night for each team was an omen for how their respective evenings would play out.
Simpson found Smith, who did most of the hard work after the catch en route to a 46-yard touchdown to cap a four-play 62-yard drive. PikeView responded with an 11-play series that saw it convert a pair of third downs but a fumble on third-and-9 at the Bluefield 20 was recovered by the Beavers at their own 18.
Six plays and 82 yards later, running back Jeremiah Jones found pay dirt from a yard out. The next Beaver drive covered 70 yards, ending in Jones’ second touchdown run, this one from 33 yards out with 10:55 to play in the first half.
Trailing 20-0, PikeView strung together a 10-play drive but once again stalled out at the Beaver 20. The visitors got a stop on the ensuing drive when Peyton Mounts intercepted Simpson but another drive proved fruitless.
Then the Beavers delivered a gut punch before the break, requiring just two plays to score, striking when Simpson found Pax Calhoun for a 54-yard score and 27-0 lead.
Every drive after the intermission was deja vu for the Panthers who saw a 12-play 41-yard drive, 13-play 38-yard drive and 7-play 19-yard drive all end deep in Bluefield territory.
“You can bend and don’t break,” Bluefield head coach Fred Simon said. “We battled inside the 10 and 15 yard lines and didn’t let them in. That’s a sign of what we needed to see and we all did so I hope we continue to not let them in that end zone. Maybe this will be the start but we’ll see next week because that’s going to be a tough one.”
On senior night the Beavers had just three seniors to honor with starting defensive lineman Ja’Myere Harris scoring a touchdown on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter.
“I looked at one of the coaches and I said, ‘I don’t know,”” Simon smiled. “He says, ‘Coach, if he’s never carried the ball I guarantee he’ll give great effort,’ and he did. He gave great effort and he’ll remember that for the rest of his life and I will too. He’s a hard-working kid and he’ll probably never carry the ball again, although he’ll want to. We kind of spoiled him. But I’m just happy for him and it’s kind of nice to have some fun sometimes.”
Owens led Bluefield with 99 yards on his one catch while Pax Calhoun added 87. Jordan Hess (77), Smith (65) and Jaleel Jones (55) all had over 50 yards receiving each.
Jeremiah Jones rushed for 68 yards on eight carries.
PikeView’s Braydon Mullins led all players with 115 yards rushing on 33 carries.
Bluefield (6-2) remains in the hunt for homefield advantage throughout the Class AA playoffs and will travel to Class AAA No. 5 Greenbrier East next Friday.
PikeView (5-2) will look to rebound next week at Braxton County.
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