CLASS AA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Bluefield vs. Wayne fitting way to end decade Beavers, Pioneers know what it takes to win in the postseason

A year after Class AA's southern factions were given a year offfrom the Super Six, the two pre-eminent powers of the decade willsquare off Friday night to put the past 10 years to bed.

Top-seeded Wayne (13-0) takes on No. 6 Bluefield (11-2) atWheeling Island Stadium on Friday, hoping to tie the Beavers withits second state championship since 2000.

Poca leads Class AA with three state titles this decade, but hasreached the playoffs just once in the six years following its 2003championship.

"We're had our share of getting in the playoffs, and they havetoo," Bluefield Coach Fred Simon said. "We've got a lot of traditionhere at Bluefield, and I don't think you could ask for a better gamethan what we've got on Friday."

The Beavers, whose rise to dominance coincided with Poca's waningdays as a power, have a 22-5 playoff record since 2000. Simon'steams have already made five appearances in the Super Six since thatyear, and won their most recent championship in 2007, defeatingrival James Monroe 20-12.

Wayne's numbers are equally as impressive. The Pioneers are 22-8in the postseason since 2000, and have reached the Super Six threetimes, and won the 2006 title with a win over rival Tolsia, 33-6.

"We certainly have a lot of respect for what they've been able todo, considering the type of players they have and the area they drawfrom," Wayne Coach Tom Harmon said. "It's not a wonder why they'reat or near the top every year."

Harmon, who took over at Wayne in 1997 and has taken the Pioneersto the playoffs every year since 1999, said that success hasperpetuated itself in his program.

"I think a lot of it has to do with it being like a college teamthat gets into a bowl and gets an extra month of practice," Harmonsaid of reaching the later rounds of the playoffs. "It gets to be anexpectation on behalf of the community and the players. So long asit's backed up by hard work, it works out."

Both teams found themselves in semifinal dogfights to reachWheeling Island Stadium. Wayne trailed No. 4 seed Frankfort (11-2)21-0 in the first half before storming back in the final twoquarters to win 27-21.

Bluefield, playing on the road at No. 2 seed Magnolia (12-1),managed just 7 yards of offense in the first half, trailed 3-0midway through the third quarter and used a 55-yard punt return bysenior Marcus Patterson to ignite a rally that ended in a 13-10 win.

Simon does not count on the experience gained by traveling towithin 35 miles of Wheeling and into a hostile environment as muchuse in preparing his team to face Wayne.

"The trip doesn't mean anything to us," Simon said. "We were gladto go up there and get a win against a fine, fine team. But I'venever been a kind of guy to live in the past. I'd rather move on tothe next thing."

Still, Simon has in Patterson (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) and seniorlinebacker/running back Jake Lilly (5-11, 198), a pair of playersthat bring more than their share of playoff experience into thetitle game.

"They both have had a really good role as far as helping ourplayers become the team we are," Simon said of the pair, the onlyplayers on Bluefield's roster to have started for the Beavers intheir 2007 championship year.

"They're players that have started four years, and that doesn'thappen here very often, and that says a lot about what they're ableto do for us."

Harmon said Lilly was, "one of the best players, if not the bestplayer," in the state.

"They've also got one of the most athletic guys in the state withMarcus Patterson," Harmon said. "You throw in the fact that goodteams generally run the football good, it comes down to our abilityto keep those guys from making big plays."

Lilly, a Huff Award candidate as the state's best defensiveplayer, has 594 tackles in four seasons, and had 16 at Magnolia.Although he stepped under center to handle quarterback duties whenstarter Levi Beckett (6-0, 175) went down with a broken collarbonemidway through the season, Lilly still finished with more than 1,200yards rushing.

Wayne has its share of playmakers, too. Senior running back CoreyDamron (5-9, 168) has 1,532 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on 227carries out of the Pioneers' wing-T offense. Junior Clyde Ferrell (5-11, 175) has 919 yards and eight TDs and junior fullback Jake Barr(6-1, 240) adds a third option with 514 yards and 10 scores.

Simon said Harmon's team looked like a typical Wayne team, whichwas a compliment.

"It's not any different. Their line does a great job. They callit the Wayne-T, and they prove why they call it that all the time,"Simon said.

BOB WOJCIESZAK/DAILY MAIL Bluefield senior Jake Lilly was called"one of the best players, if not the best player, in the state" byWayne Coach Tom Harmon.

COURTESY OF RANDY PAYTON/WAYNE COUNTY NEWS Wayne running backCorey Damron leads the Pioneers with 1,532 yards rushing and 18touchdowns on 227 carries.