Sports
Williamstown Makes Late Comeback Against Magnolia
By: David Holman
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In a thrilling night of week two West Virginia high school football, the Williamstown Yellow Jackets booted the Magnolia Blue Eagles into the night with a last minute field goal to prevail, 15-14.
With only 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, Williamstown possessed the ball at midfield, down 14-10 on fourth-and-long. Faced with a tough decision, Coach Smith chose to punt. On the ensuing punt, the Yellow Jackets pinned the Blue Eagles inside their own 20. After a series of false starts, the Magnolia offense found itself in a fourth-and-long situation, stuck inside its own five-yard line. Lined up in punt formation, Magnolia decisively took a safety to remain on top, 14-12.
Succeeding a Magnolia free punt, the Yellow Jackets put on their best two-minute drill routine. Senior quarterback Jake Tracewell led Williamstown down the field with in-and-out routes to Junior wideout Hunter Neely, who had three receptions for 25 yards on the final drive. Junior kicker Kade Kiselica clinched it for the Yellow Jackets with a 26-yard field goal with 44 ticks left on the clock to edge Magnolia.
In the Blue Eagles’ opening drive, the Yellow Jackets forced a three-and-out that included two sacks on senior quarterback Jacob Brill totaling for a net loss of 14 yards. Following a Magnolia punt, Williamstown set out on a five-play, 54-yard drive, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown pass from Tracewell to senior fullback David Hastings. Tracewell finished 14-for-21 with 198 yards, 148 of which went to Hastings on five receptions.
Magnolia responded with a seven-play, 55-yard drive to reach the Williamstown 8-yard line. The Yellow-Jacket defense held down the curtain, forcing Magnolia into a fourth-and-6. In hopes of tying the game, the Blue Eagles elected to go for it, a decision they paid for by way of another Williamstown sack, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Eventually, Magnolia would respond midway in the second quarter when Brill completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Eric Smith to knot it up at 7-7. Williamstown and Magnolia would remain in a stalemate until Kiselica succeeded on a 25-yard field goal attempt to put the Yellow Jackets up, 10-7, in the third quarter. Magnolia answered with a rushing touchdown by senior Drew Keller, who finished with 193 yards on 25 carries.
Despite the defeat, Magnolia outgained Williamstown in total yardage 294-253.
Magnolia falls to 0-2 and looks to rebound at Tyler (W.Va.) next week. Williamstown improves to 2-0 and will face Marietta in week three.