Before these 2 great coaches were having winning seasons year in and year out along with state championships making a legacy for themselves they once faced adversity to get there that some people might not know about in their early years. Dave Walker has a overall record at Martinsburg that is (239-46) along with 7 state championships beginning in 2010 and carrying on to last football season exception of 2014 and 2015. Coach Walker has led The Bulldogs to 20 straight playoff appearances(1998-2018) a current record along with 47 straight wins to add to it for another record in his 22nd season as head coach for The Bulldogs. Fred Simon has a overall record of (276-124) along with 5 state championships(1997, 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2017). Coach Simon has led The Beavers to 22 playoff appearances and is in his 34rd season as head coach for The Beavers.
Martinsburg Football - 1997 Season Review(1-9), First year under Dave Walker.
8/29 at Musselman - lost 41-18
9/5 at Our Lady of Good Council - lost 27-0
9/12 at Sherando - lost 45-13
9/19 at Warren County - lost 42-20
9/26 at Hedgesville - lost 42-15
10/3 Woodrow Wilson(D.C.) - lost 55-7
10/10 Allegany - lost 34-7
10/24 Jefferson - lost 35-28
10/31 at Fort Hill - lost 56-7
11/7 Riverdale Baptist - won 21-0
Martinsburg Football - 1998 Season Review(6-5), Second year under Dave Walker and a playoff berth.
8/28 Musselman - lost 40-14
9/4 at Frederick - won 25-8
9/11 Sherando - lost 44-24
9/18 Warren County - won 41-7
9/25 Hedgesville - won 19-14
10/2 at Princeton - won 21-8
10/9 at Allegany - lost 28-18
10/23 at Jefferson - lost 45-26
10/30 Fort Hill - won 14-7
11/6 at Greenbrier East - won 42-21
11/13 at Huntington(playoff) - lost 19-13
Martinsburg Football - 2001 Season Review(12-2), Fifth year under Dave Walker and the first-time ever going past the 1st round of the playoffs and to a state championship game.
8/24 at Musselman - won 41-13
8/31 Woodrow Wilson - won 26-7
9/7 Oak Glen - won 32-15
9/15 at James Wood - won 51-22
9/21 at Hedgesville - won 59-7
9/28 Greenbrier East - 42-19
10/5 Sherando - won 38-17
10/12 at Southern Garrett - lost 14-13
10/19 Jefferson - won 30-9
10/27 at Fort Hill - won 10-0
11/9 Philip Barbour(playoff) - won 47-6
11/17 Parkersburg South(playoff) - won 43-21
11/23 at Morgantown(playoff) - won 19-8
12/1 Parkersburg(state championship) - lost 28-17
Martinsburg Football - 2003 Season Review(13-1), Seventh year under Dave Walker.
8/29 at Hedgesville - won 56-14
9/5 at Riverside - won 30-14
9/12 Westminister - won 54-0
9/20 Park View Sterling - won 45-7
9/26 Woodrow Wilson - won 56-14
10/3 Hammond - won 69-14
10/10 at Hampshire - won 55-7
10/17 Jefferson - won 63-0
10/24 at Fort Hill - won 41-2
10/31 at Musselman - won 48-0
11/15 Robert C. Byrd(playoff) - won 53-12
11/22 Huntington(playoff) - won 21-7
11/29 Cabell Midland(playoff) - won 28-14
12/6 Parkersburg South(state championship) - lost 26-20
Martinsburg Football - 2004 Season Review(12-2), Eighth year under Dave Walker.
8/27 Hedgesville - won 41-7
9/3 Riverside - won 28-21
9/10 at Westminster - won 42-17
9/16 Hampshire - won 52-7
9/24 at Princeton - won 56-36
10/1 at Bluefield - lost 31-28
10/8 at Bassett - won 37-19
10/15 at Jefferson - won 35-21
10/22 Fort Hill - won 7-6
10/29 Musselman - won 42-0
11/12 University(playoff) - won 33-13
11/19 Jefferson(playoff) - won 35-34
11/26 Parkersburg(playoff) - won 31-28
12/4 Morgantown(state championship) - won 38-12
Martinsburg Football - 2006 Season Review(12-2), Tenth year under Dave Walker.
8/25 Hedgesville - won 48-16
9/2 at Rockbridge County - won 27-20
9/15 Urbana - lost 30-7
9/21 at Broad Run - won 42-14
9/29 at Potomic Falls - won 35-7
10/6 Park View Sterling - won 14-7
10/13 Calvin Coolidge - won 49-0
10/20 Fort Hill - won 26-14
10/27 Musselman - won 39-3
11/3 at Jefferson - won 24-13
11/11 Brooke - won 49-7
11/18 South Charleston - won 13-2
11/25 Fairmont Senior - won 40-0
12/2 Parkersburg - lost 34-6
As you see, Coach Walker and The Bulldogs first suffered a (1-9) season in his first season in 1997 and then would go (6-5) in 1998, (9-2) in 1999, (8-3) in 2000. In 2001, The Bulldogs would find themselves in the state championship for the first-time ever and would also be in it in 2003, 2004, and 2006 with all 4 appearances coming in defeats. The Bulldogs would spend the next 3 years going (7-4) in 2007, (9-3) in 2008, and (9-3) in 2009. Despite not winning any state championships from 1998-2009, Coach Walker led The Bulldogs to no less than 7 wins from 1998-2009. However, we would see a eye opening dynasty starting in 2010 as The Bulldogs(14-0) won their first state championship against Brooke(11-3) 30-0. The following year in 2011, The Bulldogs(14-0) would go on to defeat Ryan Switzer and George Washington(13-1) 35-27. In 2012, The Buldogs(13-1) would meet David Gaytosz and Cabell Midland(13-1) in the state championship game winning 38-14. The dynasty didn't stop there as in 2013, The Bulldogs(13-1) faced their toughest in-state test against a very hungry Nick Tubbs and Huntington(13-1) barely sliding past The Highlanders 9-7. The Bulldogs would not make it to the state championship in 2014 and 2015 but having records of (11-2) and (8-3) losing to in-state foe Capital twice. The Cougars has been the only in-state team to beat The Bulldogs since South Charleston in 2009. The Bulldogs(14-0) would come back in 2016 to defeat Spring Valley(12-2) 49-7. The Bulldogs would go on to beat The Timberwolves 2 more consecutive times in 2017 and 2018 44-16 and 31-7. So far, The Bulldogs are off to a (5-0) record and it looks as if the dynasty will continue in 2019.
Bluefield Football - 1986 Review(2-8), 1st year under Fred Simon.
8/29 Graham - won 10-7
9/5 Tazewell - lost 14-0
9/12 at Greenbrier East - won 7-0
9/19 Pulaski County - lost 31-6
9/25 at Richlands - lost 33-7
10/3 at Woodrow Wilson - lost 40-21
10/10 at Mount View - lost 12-7
10/17 Princeton - lost 28-6
10/24 Fairmont Senior - lost 32-13
11/7 at Parkersburg - lost 23-6
Bluefield Football - 1987 Review(7-3, still missed playoffs), Second year under Fred Simon.
8/28 at Graham - won 34-0
9/4 at Tazewell - won 23-12
9/11 Greenbrier East - won 13-12
9/18 at Pulaski County - lost 10-6
9/25 Richlands - lost 21-13
10/2 Woodrow Wilson - won 14-0
10/9 Mount View - won 31-6
10/16 at Princeton - won 37-7
10/23 at Logan - won 30-13
11/6 East Bank - lost 34-21
Bluefield Football - 1988 Review(6-4, still missed playoffs), Third year under Fred Simon.
8/26 Graham - won 14-7
9/2 Tazewell - won 7-3
9/9 at Greenbrier East - lost 39-16
9/16 Stonewall Jackson - lost 28-21
9/23 at Richlands - won 33-12
9/30 at Woodrow Wilson - lost 28-22
10/7 at Mount View(1OT) - won 34-28
10/14 Princeton - won 28-21
10/21 Logan - won 23-13
10/28 at East Bank - lost 28-13
Bluefield Football - 1989 Review(6-4, still missed playoffs), Fourth year under Fred Simon.
8/25 at Graham - lost 25-0
9/1 at Tazewell - lost 20-7
9/8 Greenbrier East - won 13-7
9/15 at George Washington - won 23-22
9/23 at Elkins - won 43-0
9/29 Woodrow Wilson - lost 20-0
10/6 Mount View - lost 24-9
10/13 at Princeton - won 22-13
10/20 at Logan - won 14-12
11/3 North Marion - lost 31-22
Bluefield Football - 1990 Review(1-9), Fifth year under Fred Simon.
8/31 Graham - lost 17-0
9/7 at Greenbrier East - lost 29-9
9/14 at Logan - lost 28-7
9/21 George Washington - lost 12-8
9/28 at Woodrow Wilson - lost 22-15
10/5 at Mount View - lost 21-0
10/12 Princeton - won 7-0
10/19 Parkersburg - lost 29-8
10/27 East Bank - lost 32-0
11/2 at North Marion - lost 26-7
Bluefield Football - 1991 Review(7-4), Sixth year under Fred Simon and playoff berth.
8/30 at Graham - won 6-4
9/7 Wheeling Central - lost 31-16
9/13 Greenbrier East - won 20-6
9/20 Dunbar - won 35-22
9/27 at George Washington - won 29-0
10/11 Mount View - lost 13-7
10/18 at Princeton - won 28-0
10/26 at Parkersburg - won 34-31
11/2 East Bank - lost 27-18
11/9 at Hedgesville(playoff) - lost 18-14
Bluefield Football - 1992 Review(8-3), Seventh year under Fred Simon.
8/28 Dunbar - won 27-7
9/4 Graham(1OT) - won 20-14
9/11 at Greenbrier East - won 24-15
9/18 at Pulaski County - lost 20-14
9/25 George Washington - won 54-28
10/2 at Woodrow Wilson - won 24-3
10/9 at Mount View - lost 21-0
10/23 Princeton - won 44-0
10/30 Good Council - won 12-0
11/14 Man(playoff) - won 17-0
11/21 at Capital(playoff) - lost 21-7
Bluefield Football - 1993 Review(0-10), Eighth year under Fred Simon and last year in class AAA.
8/27 at Graham - lost 24-14
9/3 at Tennessee High - lost 42-21
9/10 Greenbrier East - lost 21-6
9/17 Pulaski County - lost 56-7
9/24 Barboursville - lost 20-17
10/1 Woodrow Wilson - lost 32-31
10/8 Mount View - lost 31-10
10/22 at Princeton - lost 21-13
10/29 at Milton - lost 41-7
11/5 Sullivan - lost 48-7
Bluefield Football - 1994 Review(8-4), Ninth year under Fred Simon.
8/26 Tennessee High - won 26-20
9/2 Graham - won 7-0
9/9 at Greenbrier East - won 34-6
9/16 at Pulaski County - lost 24-6
9/23 at Nicholas County - lost 48-29
9/30 at Woodrow Wilson - lost 21-0
10/7 Hedgesville - won 28-14
10/14 Tazewell - won 28-22
10/21 Princeton - won 41-6
11/4 James Monroe - won 19-6
11/12 Tucker County(playoff) - won 28-7
11/19 Ritchie County(playoff) - lost 27-23
Bluefield Football - 1995 Review(10-3), Tenth year under Fred Simon and first state championship appearance.
9/1 at Graham - lost 26-20
9/8 Greenbrier East - won 28-7
9/15 Dunbar - won 28-13
9/22 Nicholas County - won 21-14
9/29 Pikeview - won 30-0
10/13 at Tazewell - won 32-16
10/20 at Princeton - won 20-0
10/27 Pikeville - lost 35-7
11/3 at James Monroe - won 25-14
11/11 East Bank(playoff) - won 32-8
11/17 Bridgeport(playoff) - won 14-7
11/24 at Poca(playoff) - won 28-7
12/1 Musselman(state championship) - lost 17-13
Bluefield Football - 1996 Review(11-2), Eleventh year under Fred Simon.
8/30 Graham - won 34-20
9/13 at Greenbrier East - won 41-7
9/20 at George Washington - won 42-6
9/27 Tazewell - won 51-6
10/4 at Pikeview - won 38-0
10/11 at Poca - lost 28-21
10/18 at Mount View - won 33-0
10/25 Princeton - won 44-0
11/1 Richlands - won 58-6
11/8 James Monroe - won 50-8
11/16 Ritchie County(playoff) - won 73-8
11/22 Laeger(playoff) - won 41-14
11/29 East Bank(playoff) - lost 22-14
Coach Fred Simon and The Beavers faced adversity early in his tenure going (2-8) in 1986 during his first season to having 3 straight winning seasons(1987, 1988, and 1989) missing the playoffs in each of those times to going (1-9) in 1990 and finally getting into the playoffs at (7-4) and (8-3) in 1991 and 1992. The real test for Coach Simon was when he had a (0-10) team in 1993. Do you step down or keep going? Obviously keep going as his following team went (8-4) in 1994 then (10-3) the next year to be in the state championship games just 2 years removed from not winning 1 game. After that, he would lead The Beavers to a (11-2) semifinal season in 1996 before ending the 1997 season (14-0) along with a state championship to show for it beating Grafton(13-1) 42-13. The Beavers would struggle again going (4-6) in 1998 and then the very next year being in the state championship again, but this time losing to Tank Tunstalle and Wyoming East(14-0) 57-21. Coach Simon would go (4-6) in 2000 and (2-8) in 2001 before being in the state championship game 4 years in a row including 2002(9-5), 2003(11-2) losing those 2 to Poca(11-3) 27-7 and Poca(12-2) again 21-20 in overtime. In 2004, The Beaver would win their 2nd state championship under Fred Simon over Wayne(13-1) 69-24. They would once again be back in the state championship during 2005, but falling to Weir(13-1) 40-0. 2006 would be a (7-4) season for Bluefield, but the following year going (14-0) winning the state championship against James Monroe(12-2) 20-12 with future Kennedy Award winner Will Cole. Coach Simon and The Beavers would see a (7-4) season the following year, but would once again make it back to the state championship beating Wayne 27-7(13-1). The Beavers wouldn't find themselves in the state championship again until 2017 beating Fairmont Senior(12-2) 29-26. Their records 2010-2016? (10-2) in 2010, (4-6) in 2011, (9-3) in 2012, (10-3) in 2013, (9-2) in 2014, (9-2) in 2015, and (4-6) in 2016. They finished their 2018 season (12-2), but in the state championship game again against Fairmont Senior losing 23-13. It's safe to say that Coach Simon has kept the winning tradion alive at Bluefield following in some of the greats footsteps in Merrill Gainer and John Chamara who both coaches at Bluefield winning state championships. The Beavers are off to a (3-1) start this season looking promising not to lose another regular season game. The Beavers lone loss came to Lord Botetourt(4-0) 20-13.
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