Photo by Neal Smith
Williamstown’s Trevor Oates (8) finds an opening and runs through it during a high school football game against St. Marys Friday night at Bill Hanlin Stadium.

ST. MARYS, W.Va. — Rickie Allen’s 47-yard touchdown run early in the third period proved to be the game winner as the visiting Williamstown Yellowjackets edged the St. Marys Blue Devils 17-13 Friday evening.

St. Marys had taken the lead in the third period when Josh Roush scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run.

The Devil defense rose to the occasion as they stopped the powerful Williamstown offense three times on fourth downs in the game including early in the final period which gave them possession of the ball near midfield with the lead.

St. Marys gave the ball right back to the ‘Jackets on what would be there third turnover of the game and one play later Allen broke free for the game-winning score.

“Rickie deserves everything he gets because he is one of the hardest workers we have got,” said WHS head coach Chris Beck. “It was a counter and Rickie made a play and then was able to run away.”

St. Marys jumped out to the early lead on a Roush 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before the ‘Jackets tied it up on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Maxwell Molessa to tight end Kent Wigal midway through the second.

The ‘Jackets took their first lead of the game on the final play of the first half when Isaac Joy booted a 20-yard field goal as time expired.

Roush led the way for St. Marys with 116 yards on 24 carries including his four-yard run late in the third period which gave the Devils their second lead of the game.

Quarterback Luke Powell completed 5-of-9 pass attempts for 70 yards for the Devils who slipped to 2-3 on the season.

Allen led the winners in rushing with 107 yards on 15 carries while Molessa carried the ball 22 times for 98 yards.

The Jackets improved to 4-1 with the win and will travel to Weir next week while the Devils visit Wirt County.