CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After capturing its maiden state championship last year, Frankfort has a chance to go back-to-back on Saturday.
The top-seeded Falcons (13-0) bring their Mineral County-record 27-game winning streak to Laidley Field at the University of Charleston Stadium where they’ll battle No. 2 Bluefield (11-2) for the Class AA title at noon.
“It’s a great feeling,” Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman said of the return trip to Charleston. “It’s a great feeling for everyone. The school, the players, the community, everyone involved with Frankfort football. Coming into the season, we had a lot of rebuilding to do, and that’s what makes it extra special.
“We had some players coming back who were starters, but we had to replace our entire line, which the kids have really responded and worked hard, and it’s just amazing. … What we lost last year, it was a great feat to make it where we are.”
Frankfort blasted Roane County, 49-14, in the 2024 state championship, concluding a run that saw little resistance for a high-powered offense that scored a school-record 623 points.
Despite returning just four contributors from that squad, the Falcons have had a similarly dominant jaunt through the 2025 season.
Frankfort was far from its best in the state semifinals last weekend, and that still equated to a 28-7 romp of Doddridge County — its 26th victory by 20 or more points in its last 27 games.
The lone exception was a 37-25 triumph over Herbert Hoover, which fell in the Class AAA quarterfinals to Princeton, 41-35.
Frankfort is averaging 43.5 points per game and allowing 10.2.
Asked what it took to get back to the state championship game despite replacing nearly its entire squad, Whiteman said:
“Everyone has to buy in and everyone has to work hard. We have a good coaching staff that works hard, and I think they do a good job teaching what we were trying to teach to the kids, and the kids embrace it and worked hard, and that’s what it’s all about.
“One of the most difficult things, in my opinion, being a coach at any level is getting everyone to come together as a true team and not being selfish and not caring who gets the credit. And I think that as the season progressed, we’ve become a pretty good team that is full of selfless players.”
Bluefield is looking to play the role of spoiler, and that’s an unfamiliar one for the Beavers.
Bluefield has won 11 state championships and five under longtime head coach Fred Simon, whose Beavers defeated Philip Barbour, 56-27, last week to advance to his 13th title game in 40 years at the helm.
Whiteman has long respected Simon’s program. Despite both their teams being regular fixtures in the Class AA playoffs, they didn’t square off for the first time until last year.
Frankfort got the better of Simon’s Beavers, 27-6, in the state quarterfinals.
If Bluefield can avenge that defeat, then it would earn the program its first championship since winning the 2017 Class AA title.
“It’s something I’ve always looked forward to,” Whiteman said of facing Simon. “I’ve looked up to the man for a long time and he’s legendary in the state of West Virginia.
“It was a big thrill last year to be able to coach against him in the playoffs. But now in the championship, I’ve talked to him about it, and it’s really cool to be able to be on the same field with him in a state championship game.”
Whiteman expects Bluefield to stack the box, as two-dozen teams have unsuccessfully done over the past two seasons, and who can blame them?
Frankfort’s Wing-T offense is averaging 285.8 yards per game on the ground and 7.9 yards per carry.
The Falcons’ balanced attack features three ball carriers with at least 500 yards, led by Braydn Tyler’s 1,122 yards and 19 touchdowns on 84 carries.
The do-it-all big-play threat has racked up 1,844 all-purpose yards and has 31 total touchdowns — tying Fort Hill’s Braelyn Younger for the area lead.
The versatile Tyler had 225 receiving yards and six touchdowns, three return scores and three defensive touchdowns.
Tyler is the third Frankfort player to ever score 30 touchdowns in a season and is within reach of the school and area record of 35 achieved by Travis Lynch in 1997.
Carder Shanholtz is nearing the century mark on the ground, entering Saturday’s contest with 927 yards and 16 touchdowns on 95 rushes.
Cole Shanholtz adds 545 yards and seven scores on 108 totes, and quarterback Blake Jacobs has 1,144 yards of total offense and 16 total touchdowns to just one interception.
Bluefield’s defense has allowed one or fewer touchdowns in five of its last seven contests, a key ingredient in the Beavers’ eight-game winning streak.
“They’re going to pack it up in there,” Whiteman said. “They’ve got a lot of speed on defense and they fly to the ball. Our kids are used to that. We’re used to people packing the box on us. We use different types of formations and things to try to spread that out when we need to.
“We know going into the games, every game we play, based on our style, that we’re going to get a packed box so our kids won’t panic. And sure, we’ll get multiple looks from their defense, but our kids are coached well and they’re going to be ready for the challenge.”
Bluefield will present challenges with its own highly touted offense.
The Beavers average 34.6 points per game, but they’ve been even more potent once the playoffs have begun with a 51.7 mark in three routs.
Bluefield was expected to be in somewhat of a rebuild this year, but the sophomore-led squad overcame a 3-2 start to secure double-digit wins in a season for the first time since 2019.
Sophomore quarterback Max Simpson has thrown for 3,153 yards and 36 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
“I think a lot of that is after the catch,” Whiteman said. “Those guys catch it and they can fly. Our defensive coaches, they have a good game plan to try to attack all that stuff.”
Fellow sophomores Jeremiah Jones (926 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns) and Jaleel Jones (462 receiving yards, three TDs) have played big roles.
The latter Jones is Bluefield’s third-leading receiver behind Pax Calhoun (1,093 yards, 13 TDs) and Jordan Hess (632 yards, seven TDs).
“We have to be able to slow down the big play,” Whiteman said. “They’re athletic and fast. They’re going to make some plays on us. That’s going to happen, but we can’t let them have a bunch of big plays. We’ve got to be able to get some three-and-outs and make them punt. It’s going to be a tall task.”