The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Philip Barbour players celebrate a fumble recovery during last Friday’s quarterfinal win over Clay County at George Byrer Field at Freedom Bank Park.

PHILIPPI — Third-seed Philip Barbour looks to add to its historic season when it travels to No. 2 Bluefield today in Class AA state semifinal action.

Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Mitchell Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the schools on the gridiron.

The Colts’ resume for the 2025 campaign under head coach Nick Mayle has been quite impressive.

They have set a school record for victories in a season, have won eight straight games by an average of 37.6 points per contest and are playing in the semifinals for the first time in school history after dispatching Clay County, 69-7, last Friday.

Philip Barbour treated the faithful fans to quite a scoring exhibition against the Panthers in its first quarterfinal playoff game played at home.

The Colts amassed a school record for points as they bolted out to a 56-0 lead by halftime.

Sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones had a pair of scoring passes to senior Malachi Poling and ran for another, junior running back Landyn Carpenter, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first year playing varsity football, tallied 147 yards on the ground and two TD runs and two fumbles were returned for scores — both offensively and on the defensive side.

Cam Bennett, who was injured in the season-finale against Lincoln, also saw action. The senior gives the offense a threat from several positions, including out of the “Wildcat” formation.

Senior receiver Pat Webster and junior running back Mason Jones also figure into the offense, while freshman kicker Ayden Thorne has been nearly perfect on extra-point attempts

Defensively, all-state senior linebacker Tyler Vance tops the squad in tackles and sacks with 8.5 and had three stops behind the line in last Friday’s game.

Webster and Poling have five interceptions apiece to anchor the secondary.

Sophomore Parker Herrod has recorded 28 total tackles during the postseason and Mason Jones 22.

While Philip Barbour is in unchartered territory, the Beavers have been one of the most storied programs in the state under Fred Simon, in his 40th season at the helm and the coach of five of Bluefield’s 11 state titles in school history — the last coming in 2017 against Fairmont Senior.

The Beavers (10-2) enter the game as winners of seven straight games, defeating Oak Glen (54-7) in the opening round and Midland Trail (45-7) in the quarterfinals.

Sophomore running back Jeremiah Jones rushed for three touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Max Simpson threw for three in the victory over the Patriots last Friday night.

Top-ranked Frankfort hosted No. 5 Doddridge County Friday night in the other semifinal.

The Class AA title game will be contested at noon next Saturday at UC Stadium at Laidley Field.