Some roads to the state championship game are tougher than others. Just ask Bluefield.

For the third straight week, the Beavers face a long trip to meet an unbeaten team in the playoffs. Tonight, it's the ultimate test as No. 6 Bluefield (11-2) tackles No. 1 Wayne (13-0) in the Class AA finals at Wheeling Island Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30.

Two weeks ago, the Beavers trekked 111 miles on a two-hour trip to Sherman, which was 11-0 and ranked No. 3. Last week, Bluefield was bound for New Martinsville, 232 miles and four hours away, for a date with No. 2 Magnolia (12-0).

The Beavers won both those games by a total of 10 points and now climb one more rung on the ladder, earning a spot opposite the top-seeded Pioneers, albeit after a ride of 284 miles and 41/2 hours to Wheeling.

"They've been able to have a tremendous playoff run,'' said Wayne coach Tom Harmon. "That takes a lot of self-discipline, a lot of want-to to get those things done, to get to this point.''

Bluefield coach Fred Simon, who takes his ninth team to the Super Six since 1995, sort of downplays the unique accomplishment.

"To me, when you get to the playoffs, everybody's undefeated,'' Simon said. "It's a new season. That's how I take it. It doesn't matter what our record is, or anyone else's. If we're the undefeated team, or the other team has a loss or two or three. You just go for it.

"To be the best, you have to beat the best. It's not how we wrote the script. It's just been that way. I thought those teams were quality opponents, and I'm proud of our players for rising to the occasion.''

Bluefield has gotten used to doing things on the fly this season. The Beavers were forced to play five games at midseason without their starting quarterback, Levi Beckett, who broke his collarbone. That meant they went from a pass-first team last year with Kennedy Award-winning quarterback Will Cole, to an almost no-pass offense, moving top rusher Jake Lilly under center.

Beckett's return has helped make the Beavers doubly dangerous, as they now think they can win games either running or throwing the ball.

"Bluefield's shown the ability to win a lot of different ways,'' Harmon said. "They played a good portion of their season without their quarterback, and continued to play. They've won games through the air, they've won games on the ground. All that's backed up by one of the most physical defenses you'll see anywhere. That's not any different than any other year you've seen them, and I have a lot of respect for that.''

Simon would obviously like to run the ball first, but Wayne's defense has been tough, allowing only three of 13 opponents more than two touchdowns. The Pioneers held the Beavers to 63 yards rushing last year in a 41-35 victory in the playoff quarterfinals, and Wayne's first three playoff opponents this year averaged just 105 yards rushing.

"I think we've adjusted, and done what we've had to do,'' Simon said. "We've got some options [on offense]. We've got to pick and choose what we want. If we don't make it with one thing, we'll go with something else. We have to.''