Held annually as the first game of the season in an 80-year-old stadium, the Beaver-Graham football game may very well be one of the longest-running and well-known high school football rivalries in the United States. In the parking lot outside Mitchell Stadium, the atmosphere is more like a happy community reunion that straddles both sides of the West Virginia-Virginia State Line. If it’s a heated rivalry on the football field, off the field it’s unquestionably a friendly one. The first game between the Graham G-men and the Bluefield Beavers dates back to 1911.The two did not play each other again until 1928, but they have played every year since. The two towns come together for many events, but this is one where they separate and say pick a side.

MVP

Latrell "Mookie" Collier
Bluefield

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Latrell "Mookie" Collier

Bluefield

Collier is a three-year letterman on the football and basketball team and a two-year letterman for Bluefield track. Collier was named the Bluefield Daily Telegraph/Pocahontas Player of the Year in 2016 and picked up all-state honors on the gridiron. He was a First Team All-State selection in basketball in 2017 before being voted to the preseason all-state football team prior to his senior season.
Eric Workman

Graham

Workman has been a three-sport athlete for the G-Men the past three years. The son of Eric and April Workman, Eric enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time. He is a member of the Beta Club and Future Business Leaders of America. Eric plans to attend Virginia Tech.

HALL OF FAME

Joseph Johnson

Bluefield

Johnson helped the G-Men break a 10-game losing streak to the Beavers in his senior season. He picked up all-area honors and was named to the Southwest district team in his final two seasons, before being voted “Mr. Football” his senior season. Johnson played four years at Bluefield State College and earned a degree in criminal justice.
Albert Family

Graham

The Albert family’s involvement with Bluefield’s football program spans more than 50 years. Bill (1969), Randy (1976), David (1993), and Ryan (2006) shared the jersey number 54 for the Beavers. Bill was a member of the 1967 AAA State Championship team, while his brother Randy helped the Beavers to the state title in 1975. Bill’s son, David, helped his squad advance to the quarterfinals of the 1992 state playoffs. Randy’s son, Ryan, earned a AA State Championship ring in 2004 and is thought to be the only player in Bluefield history to start in four consecutive state title games. Often referred to as the “Four 54’s”, the Albert family has left their legacy on the Bluefield program.

GAME SUMMARY

The game was broadcast live and had more than 9,000 views from across the nation. Bluefield put up 10 points in the final quarter to pick up a 17-14 win over rival Graham in its first game of its 100th season. After a scoreless first quarter, Graham struck first with a 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Taymon Cooke in the second frame. The Beavers answered later in the quarter on a 5-yard touchdown scamper by Jason Edwards to tie it up at 7 before intermission. Graham regained the lead with 2:01 to play in the third after a 14-yard touchdown run from Cameron Allen. However, it was all Bluefield in the fourth. The Beavers connected on a 34-yard field goal five seconds into the period and cut into the Graham lead, 14-10. Jason Edwards’ 18-yard interception return for a touchdown lifted the Beavers to the 17-14 win.

GAME GALLERY