Williamstown’s Max Molessa (7) carries the ball throughout a highschool soccer playoff sport towards Doddridge County Saturday. Williamstown gained, 49-6.
(Photo by Neal Smith)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Aiden Corbett and Gunner Henrie had tackles for loss on the primary two performs of the sport for Class A defending state champion Williamstown right here Saturday afternoon because the No. 3 Yellowjackets used a robust defensive efficiency throughout a 49-6 victory towards No. 14 Doddering County.

Lynken Joy had 15 carries for 153 yards and two brief landing runs.

Max Molessa went for 164 stripes on a baker’s dozen totes, all within the first half. He had two landing runs and a pair of scoring strikes to Danner Hooper and Cooper Martin.

“We played good upfront and the backers are getting better,” admitted Corbett, who additionally opened the second half with a TFL.

“They are coming up quick. It makes it easy when everybody is doing their job and doing what they are supposed to do, everything works out.”

Following a DCHS three-and-out together with a unfavorable 10-yard punt, WHS arrange store on the Bulldog 29 after the sport’s preliminary sequence.

Fullback Rex Anderson, who had 99 yards on six makes an attempt, took the first-down carry for 22 yards. Although Brycen Eidel had a TFL on Joy, the ‘Jackets eventually scored on fourth-and-goal from the 7 when Landon Dodrill took a pitch and then flipped it to Louis Goodnow on a reverse. Goodnow strolled into the end zone untouched and the Bulldogs trailed for good, 8-0, at the 7:55 mark after Joy’s two-point conversion run.

Williamstown, which improved to 11-0 and can tackle No. 11 East Hardy within the quarterfinals, led 43-6 at intermission.

Head coach Chris Beck’s Yellowjackets completed the sport with 496 floor yards on 55 makes an attempt. WHS amassed 355 of these yards on 31 rushes within the first half.

“Defensively I thought our effort was great,” admitted Beck, whose membership was enjoying a “home” playoff sport for the primary time in two years. “I assumed coach (Brian) Adams and employees did job getting our youngsters prepared. They performed laborious and bodily, and upfront we’re getting higher each week with Hooper and (Jensen) Burge and these guys.

“I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage and did a really good job of limiting what they wanted to do. We’re just excited to be 1-0 and the goal is to be 1-0 next week. I love these Saturday games. It’s a great atmosphere. It’s a different atmosphere. I love being at home and I thought our fans came out and really supported us, and I think our guys really fed off that energy.”

The Yellowjackets solely needed to go 34 yards on their subsequent drive to search out paydirt, which coach Beck’s squad did on all six possessions within the first half. Joy had a 29-yard run and Molessa completed it off with a 1-yard plunge. Molessa’s two-point move was snared by Bulldog Landon Thomas, however the guests trailed 14-0 simply 96 seconds later.

The hosts elevated their result in 22-0 simply earlier than the top of the primary quarter due to an 11-play, 88-yard scoring drive. Molessa linked along with his tight finish Hooper for a 43-yard achieve, nevertheless it was negated by an unlawful movement. Nonetheless, Molessa ended up breaking free for a 55-yard landing jaunt as Joy added the run for 2.

“It was a blessing to just be here playing football,” admitted Molessa, who was 9 of 12 for 67 yards. “I imply there’s solely so many video games I get to play. Same with the opposite seniors in addition to the entire workforce.

“It was just a blessing to be out here and we’re going to cherish it, but we have to get better. We got a long way to go and we’re not satisfied. Aiden set the one early as well as the whole D-line. Our line definitely helped us out setting the tone early and being physical.”

Molessa’s linked with Hooper for an 11-yard TD toss, which made it 29-0 at 9:48 of the second following Brylee Jones’ PAT. Joy added a 4-yard TD burst 4:04 later earlier than the Bulldogs, who have been beat 55-0 at WHS on Oct. 27, discovered the top zone.

Aiden James hauled in a slant move from Brysen Dixon and housed it from 72 yards out. The conversion run by Ethan Cross was unsuccessful.

The ‘Jackets were able to answer following another 88-yard scoring march thanks to Joy’s 1-yard landing run.

Molessa’s landing move of 12 yards to Cooper Martin, who was capable of haul it in along with his arms simply above the grass ultimately zone, set the ultimate rating simply 21 ticks into the third quarter. Jones’ additional level was blocked by Ty McCloud.

“I want to give credit to our senior class,” mentioned Bulldog boss Bobby Burnside, whose squad completed 6-5 and was coping with numerous key accidents. “He performed a h-llacious schedule this yr they usually gave us good management. We have been very inexperienced initially of the yr and we had a whole lot of younger gamers, however all through the season they gamed it. They received the wins they wanted to get to present us this chance.

“They had great attitudes and we had players with more injuries than I’ve ever had in one season was this year. I just want to give my hats off to them. I am every excited about the future. I think the future is bright with a good offseason and all that good stuff. It’s an honor to be the head coach at Doddridge County and I’m proud they were able to make it to the postseason for the seventh year in a row.”

One participant who hasn’t been capable of compete for Williamstown this yr is senior Colt Hesson, who was first workforce all-state at defensive again in 2022 however suffered a season-ending knee damage.

“It feels great. It may be something little, but it means a lot,” Hesson mentioned of getting the possibility to take three victory formation snaps.

He added of lastly having a real residence playoff sport once more “it feels a lot, much better. Everybody in the community is coming and it’s great to have the fans yelling and being loud.”

Dixon completed 6 of 19 for 120 yards. Brandon Hileman had three receptions for 35 yards.

“This team, the 38 guys we got and the six coaches we got, we’re only guaranteed to be together one more game,” coach Beck added. “It’s as much as us to maintain extending that.

“That’s kind of been the message in the playoffs is you only have so many more opportunities to play with this team. This team will never play together again so we want to keep extending that and that includes next weekend.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com