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Scott gets one more crack at Bluefield For the third time in little over a year, Scott will square off with Bluefield on the football field. Only this time, it’s the biggest game in the history of the Skyhawks program. Scott tackles the top-ranked Beavers tonight in a Class AA playoff semifinal in Bluefield, with the winner earning a spot in the Super Six state finals at Wheeling Island Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 on the artificial turf at Mitchell Stadium. The fifth-seeded Skyhawks (9-3) have met the unbeaten Beavers (11-0) at Laidley Field to end the regular season each of the past two years. Bluefield won both times — 22-0 last year and 35-25 this year. Last year’s game wasn’t entirely competitive, but this year’s certainly was, as Scott standout Jordan Roberts ran for 268 yards and two touchdowns. “We’re excited for the opportunity to go into uncharted waters,’’ said Scott coach Shane Griffith. “We’re not overly confident, but the fact that we’ve played Bluefield the last two years prepares us for this moment in front of us. It’s not such an overwhelming task. “There were so many intangibles that our young men had to deal with the first time we played. As you deal with a storied program like Bluefield, that first game gave us background knowledge of that kind of environment. This year, we were kind of able to say, ‘We’re not there yet, but we belonged.’ We’re starting to handle ourselves as being able to compete. We left in the second half with some confidence. We were comfortable about how we played.’’ The four TDs Bluefield allowed to Scott were the most the Beavers have given up in a game this season. “I think it will be an interesting matchup,’’ Griffith said, “as to what little wrinkles and adjustments each of us make. I don’t think there will be many. Both teams left pretty confident, but the few that will be made will be significant.’’ There aren’t too many programs any more successful in the state than Bluefield. The Beavers have captured eight state titles — six as a Class AAA school and two more in AA under current coach Fred Simon (in 1997 and 2004). Bluefield is gunning for its fifth finals appearance in six years and its eighth since 1995. “You expect to be good all the time,’’ Simon said, “but sometimes you can’t pull it off.’’ The Beavers have ridden a balanced offensive attack and a defense that allowed two or fewer touchdowns in their first eight games. Lead running back Shaun Brooks (1,216 yards, 16 TDs) and quarterback Will Cole (1,189 yards, 15 TDs) hold nearly identical stat lines for an offense that averages 356 yards per game despite breaking in five new starting linemen this season. “We had good balance in 1997 and 2004,’’ Simon said, “but you don’t have it every year. You don’t always have that luxury. “The linemen, counting the tight end, have done a nice job, considering their experience — but they’re not totally inexperienced.’’ Scott, of course, relies on Roberts, who has set state single-season records for rushing yards in the regular season (2,895) and all games (unofficially 3,658). He’s run for 47 TDs and passed for seven more. “It seems like the bigger the stage, the better he gets,’’ Griffith said. “Last week his performance was one of desire. He was making plays that game at another level.’’ In a 54-20 quarterfinal road win against No. 4 Berkeley Springs, Roberts carried 23 times for playoff records of 405 yards and eight TDs, and also added some jarring hits on defense. “It was kind of an historical day,’’ Griffith said. “We’d never won in round two of the playoffs, and there was a great deal of excitement there. But at the same time, they were pretty calm in the locker room after the game. We explained to them before we left it was kind of a business trip, and that’s how they treated it. “We’ve always kind of had a three-word slogan every year, and the one they chose this year was, ‘There’s no tomorrow.’ The last two weekends, I’ve told them they can give themselves one more tomorrow, and go from there.’’ To contact assistant sports editor Rick Ryan, use e-mail or call 348-5175. Mike Whiteford contributed to this report. AA: Scott-Bluefield by the numbers No. 5 Scott (9-3) at No. 1 Bluefield (11-0)
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