Frankfort, led by head coach Kevin Whiteman, enters the state championship game seeking their second consecutive title, having won 27 straight games since their first-ever championship in 2024. Whiteman, initially satisfied with one title, admitted he is now eager for a second and is surprised by his team's success after replacing much of their offensive and defensive lines, crediting the buy-in and hard work of his players and coaches. Junior Braydn Tyler is a key playmaker for the Falcons, leading the team with 1,122 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, while quarterback Blake Jacobs is highlighted as a smart, natural-born leader who makes excellent decisions. Facing them is Bluefield, guided by five-time state champion coach Fred Simon in his 40th year, who expressed satisfaction with how his young team has responded to a challenging early schedule. After a 3-2 start, the Beavers ran off eight straight wins, fueled by the elevated play of sophomore quarterback Max Simpson, who has passed for over 3,100 yards and 36 touchdowns. Fellow sophomores and twins, Jeremiah and Jaleel Jones, have also made significant impacts, with Jeremiah stepping up as the leading rusher after an injury to a teammate, and Jaleel contributing on both offense and defense, including collecting three turnovers in the semifinal. Whiteman and Simon, who share a mutual respect, are set to face off in the championship after meeting for the first time in last year's semifinal, realizing a long-held dream for Whiteman to play Bluefield for the state title, while Simon embraces the opportunity to continue Bluefield's strong football tradition.