WHO: Bluefield (0-2) at Greenbrier East (0-2)
WHERE: Spartan Stadium in Fairlea
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 PM
LAST WEEK: Bluefield (lost to Princeton 27-6) Greenbrier East (lost to Beckley 42-39)
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
The Bluefield Beavers are no stranger to the Spartan community. They have played for many years, but this will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2018 season. Their head coach, Fred Simon, is in his 39th season at the school and has been the head coach for 38 of them. He has piled up 290 career wins and has five Class AA championships with their most recent coming in 2017.
The Greenbrier East Spartans are still looking for their first win in the young 2023 season and they will have a golden opportunity to pick that up this Friday night as the Beavers are also winless this year.
East is trying to rebound from the tough loss to Woodrow Wilson last week where they had multiple chances to pull out a victory before falling 42-39. However, East is opening their home slate this week and the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium could play a huge role for the home team.
In that last meeting in 2018, Bluefield won 62-7 so not only do the Spartans have the home opener working in their favor, but they also have a little revenge on the mind.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR BLUEFIELD:
Sencere Fields
R.J. Hairston
Gerrard Wade
The Beavers are not a big scoring team, at least so far. They are averaging just 7.5 points per game, but their defense has kept them in contests by allowing only 20 ppg. Still, the Beavers have a history of running up and down the field with speed, speed, and more speed, but this year has been a little bit different.
Fields is a capable quarterback. He plays the same position for the Beavers’ basketball team (point guard) and is used to controlling his team and setting the tempo. He likes to hand the ball off to Wade and the senior typically delivers. Wade ran for 80 yards in a loss to Graham two weeks ago and had a 31-yard run last Friday against Princeton but finished the game with just 44. He is a game-breaking type of player that with the right seam, he can hit it and go. Hairston is a big receiving target at 6’4” and 206 pounds. He can make the incredible catch, but he is also a running threat. Against Graham, Hairston finished with 109 yards on 13 carries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR GREENBRIER EAST:
Brody Hamric
Nate Suttle
Abram Wickline
Sam Wright
Grant Burdette
Hamric’s young quarterback career is off to a quick start. Through two games, the sophomore has thrown for 380 yards and four touchdowns. Suttle has totaled 170 yards of offense (82 rushing, 88 receiving) and has crossed the goal line three times. Last week, Wickline was big against the Flying Eagles. He caught three critical passes for 24 yards, but he also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Wright had two sacks last week and is teaming with Aiden Cole to form a respectable defensive line, and Burdette has cemented himself as Hamric’s favorite target. Burdette has a team-leading 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE SPARTANS:
It is always cliché’, but stopping the run tends to lead to success in the win column. The Beavers are going to run Wade and most likely Hairston, a lot in hopes that their line can open some holes for the two speedsters. The front seven of the Spartans must fill their gaps correctly and play to their assignments.
East also cannot let the Beavers get offensive confidence. With the Beavers having only two touchdowns in two games, they are looking for new ways to get the ball into the end zone. That could mean they will let Fields throw it more than he has so far, or they may break out a couple trick plays to catch the Spartans asleep. Last week, the Eagles used their kickoffs as opportunities to create more possessions. Anytime a team is struggling to score, they will try anything. All positions on the Spartan defense need to be on high alert.
The Spartans will have a great chance to get their first victory if they shore up their kickoff coverage. They need to make the Beavers offense put points on the board, not allow them to get ‘free’ points with kick or punt returns. Beckley ran two kickoffs back for scores last week and coach Ray Lee said special teams coverage would be a focus this week in practice. Shoring that spot up may lead to good news for East after this game concludes.
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