CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With a state title on the line and the game coming down to the waning moments, Frankfort had one more trick up its sleeve.
Tied at 42 with 17 seconds remaining, the Falcons (14-0) went all in, and it paid off.
Frankfort secured its second consecutive Class AA championship, stunning Bluefield 49-42 on Saturday at Laidley Field.
“A lot of emotions, a lot of positive, happy emotions,” Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “It was a big win, like I said to these guys, you’re coming into the year, you’re skeptical because you didn’t have a lot of starters. Total rebuild up on the line, so to see these kids work hard, come together as a team, be selfless and do the things they did, it’s a great feat for them.”
Trailing 42-34, Max Simpson connected with Tylee Simon for a 40-yard touchdown, then Simpson lobbed a fade to Paxtyn Calhoun for a conversion that evened the score for the Beavers (11-3).
Carder Shanholtz took a squib kick 27 yards to the Bluefield 43 with 17 seconds remaining in regulation.
On the next play, Braydn Tyler took the snap from the wildcat formation.
He fired down the right sideline where Keiton Nester was wide open, taking off for 43 yards and the winning touchdown with three seconds left.
“So we were drawing it up all week, out of that wildcat formation,” Tyler said. “We knew if we ran it a few times in that game, we eventually were gonna get that corner to bite. And that’s what he did, as soon as I saw Keiton’s back, that was it, it was a lost cause.”
On the final play, the Beavers tried to get a lateral going, but Gunnar Bradshaw was there for the tackle as time expired.
Tyler was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, rushing for 180 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.
“Last year, me personally, I didn’t feel I earned it,” Tyler said. “I felt like it was handed to me. But definitely, this one feels earned.”
He caught one pass for 15 yards and recorded three tackles and a pass breakup.
Trailing 21-14 at halftime, the Beavers went 63 yards in six plays and scored on a four-yard toss from Simpson to Calhoun.
After the Falcons went three and out, Bluefield drove 73 yards in eight plays and took the lead on a nine-yard pass from Simpson to Calhoun.
The Bluefield quarterback finished 20 of 33 for 321 yards, five touchdowns with no interceptions.
Calhoun caught eight passes for 109 yards and three scores.
Frankfort answered with a 20-yard run from Cole Shanholtz to the Beaver 10 where he dragged a defender at least 10 yards on his back.
Two plays later, he scored to even the score at 28.
Bluefield answered with a 26-yard throw from Simpson to Calhoun, however, Bradshaw blocked his second extra point to keep the Beaver lead 34-28.
“I knew it was gonna be a heck of a game,” Whiteman said. “I knew they weren’t gonna blow us out, I knew it was gonna be a good game.”
Facing fourth-and-six at its own 48, Tyler broke off a 52-yard run down the left sideline to retake the lead for the Falcons.
The Beavers dropped consecutive passes for a turnover on downs, which Cole Shanholtz capitalized with his third touchdown.
Shanholtz rushed 17 times for 75 yards and three scores and recorded seven tackles.
“I have the most blocking when I’m at the goal line,” Cole Shanholtz said. “They just give it to me up the middle.”
Time of possession was the story of the first half.
Frankfort controlled the rock for 18:44 compared to 5:16 for Bluefield.
The Falcons scored on three of their five drives while the Beavers scored on two of their five drives.
“That was our goal, we wanted to milk the clock, turn the clock,” Whiteman said of controlling possession. “Keep them from making big plays, naturally, they made a lot of big plays. We were able to make the big plays when we needed.”
Carder Shanholtz opened the scoring on a 14-yard run on the opening drive. He rushed 12 times for 68 yards and a score with three tackles on defense.
Simpson answered less than a minute later, but Bradshaw blocked the extra point to keep Frankfort in front 7-6.
Blake Jacobs scored on a quarterback sneak midway through the second quarter to extend the Falcon lead to 14-6.
Late in the half, Eli Hesse recorded a nine-yard sack to the 11.
On the following play, Jamarius Smith was wide open down the left sideline, and Simpson found him for an 89-yard touchdown.
Calhoun caught the two-point conversion to even the score at 14.
“We gave up a lot of stupid stuff,” Tyler said. “Lot of big plays, plays that didn’t need to happen. I’ll fault myself, I got burned twice in the end zone. That’s one of the best receivers in the state (Calhoun). He’s crazy, he’s definitely the best I’ve played against.”
With 24 seconds before halftime, Cole Shanholtz scored from a yard out to put Frankfort in front 21-14 at the break.
Bluefield led 481-430 in total offense with 321 passing and 160 rushing.
“One word, speed,” Whiteman said of Bluefield’s passing attack. “Speed kills, that’s what they have.”
Jaleel Jones led the Beavers with 15 carries for 137 yards and led both teams with 12 tackles.
Jessiah Hunt added 10 tackles with two for loss for Bluefield.
The Falcons rushed for 323 yards and threw for 107.
Frankfort finished with a 28:05 to 19:55 lead in time of possession.
Anthony Smith finished with seven tackles while Bradshaw added five for the Falcons.
Frankfort is the eighth Class AA school since 1958 to go back-to-back.
They’re the sixth team in West Virginia, regardless of class, since 1975 to win consecutive titles and go undefeated in both seasons.
“I’m just so proud to be the coach,” Whiteman said while holding back emotions. “I’ve talked about this for years, winning a state championship and it took until later in my career to do it. But I just think back to all the hard work, sacrifices, all the people that came before us. It’s just such a great feeling, I’m so overcome by emotions.”