BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The result doesn’t define the season.

The Oak Glen football team had a tough time slowing down the Bluefield offense, and the Golden Bears were unable to get much going offensively against the Beavers as No 2 Bluefield scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions of the first half en route to a 54-7 victory against 15th seed Oak Glen via mercy rule Saturday afternoon down at Mitchell Stadium.

“We knew going in that they were fast, athletic and well coached,” first-year Oak Glen (7-4) head coach TJ Miller said. “They are a great program. Kudos to them. They played a great game. Unfortunately for us, we were on the bad end of it. I cannot stress enough how far we have come since the start of this season and the end of last season. We have made a lot of progress. We have made a lot of improvements. I am really proud of these guys. I am blessed to have been able to coach these guys this season.”

The victors scored four touchdowns in the first quarter before tallying three more in the second to take a 47-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The second half was played with 10-minute quarters and a running clock. The hosts did not score in the third, but they collected one more touchdown in the fourth to complete the scoring.

“They are very pass happy,” Miller said. “They have so many athletes they can get the ball to, and that imposed some challenges. They were able to get the ball to their athletes in space, and they were able to do a lot of damage. Hats off to them.

“I am extremely proud of the way our guys battled. Unfortunately, we came out on the losing end today, but we have had a great year. We had an awesome senior class. They led the way for the team this season. This year has been surreal. I am honored to have been able to coach these guys in my first year.”

Oak Glen’s lone score came on its first drive of the third quarter.

“These kids are resilient,” Miller said. “We talked about no matter the outcome to always give 100 percent whether it is in football or in life. These kids kept fighting. They gave 100 percent. They battled until the final whistle. I am just super proud of them.”

The hosts received the opening kickoff, and they promptly drove down the field for their first of eight touchdowns on the day. A 15-yard pass from quarterback Max Simpson to Tylee Simon got things rolling, and Simpson then hooked up with Jordan Hess for a 45-yard catch-and-run to put the Beavers on the scoreboard. The extra point was no good, but the hosts led 6-0 just 41 seconds into the game.

Bluefield’s defense forced Oak Glen to punt on its first drive of the game, and the Golden Bears were able to advert disaster as the punt was returned 82 yards for a touchdown, however, the Beavers were called for a penalty on the play, and the ball was moved back to the Bluefield 40, which is where began its first possession of the day.

The Beavers may have had a touchdown taken off the scoreboard, however, it did not take long to score another one. Jamarius Smith caught a 13-yard pass to star the drive, and Jeremiah Jones ran for 11 yards before Simpson hooked up with Simon on a 36-yard score. This time, the Beavers went for 2, however, Jeremiah Jones was stopped just short of the goal line keeping Oak Glen’s deficit at 12 points with 8:05 left to play in the first.

The Golden Bears were forced to punt on their next possession, and another penalty on the Beavers wiped away a return as the flag moved the ball back to the Bluefield 15.

The home team was unfazed as they drove 85 yards in just two plays for their third TD of the day. Jaleel Jones got things started with a 23-yard reception before Jeremiah Jones broke free for a 62-yard touchdown, and Jericho Dempsey kicked the extra point to increase Bluefield’s advantage to 19-0 with 5:28 still to play in the quarter.

The visitors were unable to move the ball on their next drive, and following the punt, the Beavers took over at their own 49.

Hess caught on a 14-yard pass from Simpson on the third play of the drive, and Jones scored on a 27-yard pass from Simpson on the next to play to extend Bluefield’s advantage to 25-0. Dempsey came on and kicked the extra point to make the score 26-0 with 3:09 still to play in the quarter.

The Golden Bears were able to pick up their initial first down of the afternoon on the next drive as Cam Carter hauled in a 9-yard catch from Maddox Bowen, however, the drive stalled out, and Oak Glen was forced to punt from its own 42.

Unfortunately, the punt was shanked, and Fred Simon’s team took over at their own 49 following an 8-yard kick. A 25-yard run by Jeremiah Jones brought the ball down to the Oak Glen 28 before a 13-yard completion by Chadney Stanback on a trick play moved the ball deeper into Golden Bear territory. A 20-yard pass from Simpson to Paxtyn Calhoun moved the ball down inside the 1, and Dempsey plowed his way into the end zone for another score. Dempsey’s PAT was true giving Bluefield a 33-0 lead with 8:30 left to play in the second.

Oak Glen was forced to punt on its next possession, and the Beavers drove 71 yards for their sixth touchdown. Calhoun snagged a 17-yard reception, Simpson ran for 16 and Jaramrius Smith hauled in a 15-yard score from Simpson before Dempsey kicked the extra point to make the score, 40-0, with 3:44 remaining to be played in the first half.

Another Golden Bear drive resulted in another Oak Glen punt, and the winners took over at their own 22.

This time, Bluefield needed just two plays to reach paydirt. After an incompletion, running back Jurrien Tabb broke free for a 78-yard touchdown, and Dempsey delivered his fifth extra point of the half to make it a 47-0 ballgame with 1:56 left to play in the half.

Jaleel Jones came up with an interception on Oak Glen’s second play of its drive giving the Beavers the ball at their own 47 late in the half. A 6-yard completion from Simpson to Calhoun moved the ball into Oak Glen territory, however, Bluefield was content to let the clock run out instead of trying to tack on another score before halftime.

“This game does not define our season,” Miller said. “The coaching staff has seen a lot of growth from Week 1 until now. I am extremely proud of these guys for all of the growth they have shown this season. I am extremely proud of all of the guys. They are an awesome group to be with day in and day out. They have worked hard. I am super proud of them.”

The Golden Bears got the ball to start the second half, and Bowen hooked up with Josh Maher for a 60-yard completion down to the Bluefield 13. From there, senior standout Logan Murray ran it for a Golden Bear touchdown, and Chase Hartung kicked the extra point to make the score 47-7 with 7:19 left to go in the third.

“Our seniors have meant a huge amount to me and the program,” Miller said. “I met with them during the summer. I talked to them about the goals I had for the program and the culture I wanted to create. The seniors bought in. They are going to be a big loss. I am thankful to them for trusting me and for trusting the coaching staff. We are going to miss everyone of them.”

Oak Glen’s special teams made a play on the ensuing kickoff as the Golden Bears forced a fumble before recovering the ball at the Beavers’ 41. Clayton Heizler dove on the loose ball for the boys from Hancock County.

Murray hauled in a 27-yard reception down to the 14, and his 2-yard run moved the ball to the 12. Unfortunately, the boys in the white jerseys were unable to gain another yard on the drive as the ended up turning the ball over on downs.

Bluefield took over at its own 12, and the Beavers drove 88 yards for the final score of the game. In 18-yard run by Tabb got things moving in the right direction, and runs of 13, 37 and 11 yards by Jazhaun Brown advanced the ball down to the 1. From there, Brown bulldozed his way into the end zone, and Dempsey booted the PAT to make the score, 54-7 with 2:51 remaining in the game.

“We have 11 seniors,” Miller said. “We have a large group of seniors. We have a talented group of seniors. They put a lot of time in. I am extremely thankful to everyone of them. They are a great group of kids.”

Oak Glen got the ball back on the kickoff, and the Golden Bears ran three plays before the game came to an end.

“I cannot stress enough how proud I am of these guys,” Miller said. “I love them all to death – each and everyone of them. I am super proud of them. I will always be here for them.”