Wheeling Central's Braden McWreath runs to the surface in the course of the Maroon Knights' sport towards Williamstown on Friday.
WILLIAMSTOWN – Williamstown's quest for a potential third straight state championship remained intact after the fourth-seeded Yellowjackets defeated No. four Wheeling Central 29-21 in a state playoff sport of the Class AA quarterfinals Friday evening at Williamstown Excessive College.
The Yellowjackets (10-2) await the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal matchup between then-No. eight Bluefield at No. 1 Frankfurt.
Just like the components they used to erase a 19-point deficit in a win towards the Maroon Knights in the course of the common season, Williamstown overcame two second-half turnovers that Wheeling Central was landing drives.
After Wheeling Central quarterback Nico Kusic scored on a 15-yard run on the primary play of the fourth quarter to place the Knights forward 21-14, Williamstown freshman Jackson Fulton returned the punt beginning instantly over midfield. The Knights have been known as with a late kick, 15-yard penalty on the play and the Yellowjackets have been in enterprise.
“The final time we performed Wheeling Central, we had three turnovers and have been down 19-Zero; Marietta we had two touchdowns and we got here again,” Williamstown coach Chris Beck stated. “Even the Frankfort sport, it was a superb sport till the top. Our boys won’t quit the struggle.
“Dangerous issues occur, we attempt to make the following play. Jackson Fulton gave us a spark and we have been capable of end.”
Williamstown quarterback Lynken Pleasure known as his personal six of the following seven performs, and the ultimate drive resulted in a 1-yard rating. Pleasure scored all 4 Yellowjacket TDs and completed the sport with 233 dashing yards on 41 carries.
“Lynken is phenomenal,” Beck stated. “He's as daring as they arrive. Robust, nothing flashy about Lynken. He’ll run onerous and play onerous. He is without doubt one of the greatest gamers in Double A. He has confirmed that all through his profession. He stepped up tonight.
“Within the sport, they know he will get the ball, he finds a strategy to get yards. However he'll be the primary to inform you it wouldn't occur with out the blokes up entrance. I believed they did an amazing job many of the evening controlling the road.”
As a substitute of attempting to tie the sport with an additional level, Coach Beck felt the momentum was on his facet and elected to go for 2. Pleasure discovered the top zone with out a lot of a struggle, and with 9:02 left within the fourth quarter Williamstown pulled forward to remain inside 22-21.
“We're at all times aggressive,” Beck stated. “With time left on the clock, I believed we’d have one other likelihood to attain. And I like that we management our personal future somewhat bit.”
Wheeling Central had hassle securing the ball on the following kickoff and commenced its drive upfield at its personal 15. On third-and-13, Pleasure almost had a pick-six himself, however he couldn't look ahead to interception proper when the reserving began. for the top zone.
Following a punt and a Wheeling Central discipline purpose on protection, Wheeling Central took over at their very own 5. Once more, the Maroons Knights made no headway and turned the ball over on downs at their very own three.
On third down from the 1, Pleasure crossed the purpose line to place the Yellowjackets forward 29-21 with three:17 left in regulation.
“(Pleasure) is a power to be reckoned with,” Wheeling Central coach Mike Younger stated.
Wheeling Central had a lifeline left when a double private foul for a late hit because the quarterback slid to the bottom moved the ball to the Williamstown 28. On third-and-17, Kusic threw deep into the top zone. Williamstown's Cooper Martin was the one participant close by and intercepted the cross.
“It was a tricky loss for us as a result of we fought onerous,” Younger stated. “Some key performs and a few key penalties positively put us in a clumsy place.
“We have been restricted offensively there within the fourth quarter. Williamstown did a superb job maneuvering us up entrance. That was the distinction within the sport. They managed the road of scrimmage and that's the place the sport is received and misplaced.”
Williamstown killed the ultimate 2:14 off the clock for the win. The Yellowjackets claimed a complete of three video games. The primary 26 performs from scrimmages have been run performs.
“We felt like our linemen have a variety of talent, so we have been powerful,” Beck stated. “We tried to hit the ball and play purpose. They’re a really explosive offense and what we have been doing was working. And the best way we have been capable of transfer the ball, we stayed with it.”
For the higher a part of three quarters, Kusic's brief misses from a selection formation gave him photographs in Williamstown. The sophomore related on 16 of his first 19 cross makes an attempt for 126 yards and two touchdowns — one for five yards to Max Olejasz, who opened the scoring on the 6:07 mark of the primary quarter, and a 6-yarder at Joey Corridor, who tied the sport. at 14-14 with four:33 displaying within the third quarter.
Kusic additionally led the Knights in dashing with 72 yards on 16 carries.
“(Kusic) has an amazing future, we're searching for large issues from him,” Younger stated.
Williamstown held Kusic in examine and allowed only one completion over the ultimate 16 1/2 minutes.
Between Fulton offering a spark on kickoff returns or being battle-tested as a defensive again and senior working again Rex Anderson asking to remain within the sport as a lead blocker regardless of a left shoulder harm, the delicate strikes made by Williamstown have paid off ultimately. .
“It was an enormous comeback by Jackson,” Beck stated. And what they have been attempting to do offensively went to our package deal. And there are two freshmen.
Breck Allen is one other freshman within the defensive backfield.
“To place freshmen on that stage, it takes quite a bit, however we requested them to do issues in the course of the season to organize for that second,” Beck stated. “They dwell for these moments. Each Jackson and Beck can have nice careers so long as they proceed to work onerous.
“We weren't actually anticipating the unfold after which throwing it away. For freshmen to come back in right here and make performs, that's a superb factor for them.”
In Anderson's case, the teaching workers needed to be cautious about how a lot time he spent on the courtroom and in what conditions.
“It wasn't 100 % by any stretch of the creativeness, however we completed the sport,” Beck stated. “Rex is a fighter. The senior class are fighters. He wished to be concerned tonight greater than we wished to let him be there till the top. We picked and selected our seats with Rex.
“Improbable and courageous effort by Rex.”