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W.Va. Class AA

Championship

Bluefield 27, Wayne 7

Bluefield7 7 6 7 - 27

Wayne7 0 0 0 - 7

B - Lilly 15 run (Mariotti kick)

W - Damron 3 run (Bryant kick)

B - Lilly 8 run (Mariotti kick)

B - Patterson 97 interception return (kick failed)

B - Fox 95 fumble return (Mariotti kick)

Rushing: 29-103-2td (Lilly 9-51-2td, Fox 12-41, Beckett 4-9, Patterson 4-2); Wayne 66-268-td (Damron 24-105-td, Frazier 6-4, Barr 9-30, Ferrell 19-99, Mills 6-24, Fleming 2-6).

Passing: Bluefield 0-1-0-x (all by Beckett); Wayne 1-8-0-2x (all by Frazier).

Receiving: Bluefield (None); Wayne (Mills 1-0).

First Downs: Bluefield 4; Wayne 14.

Penalties: Bluefield 3-19; Wayne 4-40.

Fumbles: Bluefield 1-1; Wayne 3-2.

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WHEELING - Generally when coaches start talking about there being three phases to the game of football, it's met with a round of eye rolling by reporters who are longing for a juicy quote, not the run-of-the-mill answers these guys seem to have tucked in their back pockets in situations where there's really not much to say. But not only does Bluefield's Fred Simon believe it, he lives it.

For the second consecutive week against a second consecutive undefeated team, the Beavers had all kinds of trouble when the idea was gaining yardage and moving the sticks. But three-way (offense, defense, special teams) standout Marcus Patterson proved each time, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Patterson returned an interception 97 yards for a third-quarter touchdown Friday night, intercepted another pass deep in Bluefield territory and caused a fumble that ultimately rolled harmlessly out of bounds, as Bluefield (11-2) earned the 10th state championship in school history with a 27-7 victory against Wayne (13-1), despite not picking up a first down in the second half.

''In defense of our offense, (the Pioneers) came out in the second half and drove down and we pick a pass off,'' Simon said. ''Then we have to kickoff again and they get a few first downs.

''Every time we got the ball, we were in such terrible field position.''

A week earlier it was Patterson who bounced off two would-be Magnolia tacklers, cut all the way across the field and raced to the end zone for a back-breaking punt return to beat what would ultimately be the second in a string of three straight perfect teams.

''As a captain on the Bluefield Beavers in my last year, I feel like whenever we need a big play it's my job to step up,'' Patterson said. ''All the coaches want me to step up and do it for the team.

''It's a real good football program. I played here for 4 years, I love it, and I am going to miss it.''

But before he went, he had to leave the large following that made the trip to our city with one final great memory.

With Wayne facing a fourth-and-11 from the Bluefield 15, quarterback Adam Frazier dropped back for one of the few times on the night. Under duress from a number of Beavers defenders, he threw off his back foot in the direction of Austin Mills.

''I couldn't believe it,'' Patterson said. ''It wasn't my guy, but I just read the quarterback's eyes and broke on the ball.

''I got good blocking by the other players up the field and just did what I could with the ball.''

That's been a common occurrence this season for the state's southern-most school, and a fitting end for one of its all-time greats, on a list of good ones that's as long as the 285-mile drive from Bluefield to Wheeling.

''He's a very good defensive corner,'' Simon said. ''I'm happy for him because at some points during the season people have keyed on him and we've had a hard time getting him going on offense.

''But tough luck.

''You've got to find a way to win, and he did.''

Shawn Rine can be reached via e-mail at Rine@theintelligencer.net