Williamstown Yellowjackets ready to face Silver Knights
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PARKERSBURG --In a must-win scenario, Tyler Consolidated faces its toughest test. At the same time, Williamstown has the biggest target on its back as the top team in Class A. Like all of Williamstown's 2022 home games, this one takes place on the road. With action kicking off at 7 p.m. Friday at Stadium Field, this Little Kanawha clash has major playoff implications. The game plan for the Silver Knights (4-2) is, to put it simply, all about executing properly.
"Well, we went down to Buffalo, and their record doesn't show what they had," TCHS head coach Ryan Walton said of his team's last opponent. "They play a tough schedule. They have a quarterback who threw it around really well, and our kids did a pretty good job of bending and not breaking, defensively. We made some plays when we had to and played pretty physical. That was our game plan, and we were fortunate enough to go down there and execute it."
As for the unbeaten Yellowjackets (6-0) head coach Chris Beck respects Tyler Consolidated at what it brings to the table. He's also happy with how his team responds to adversity.
"I'm really proud of our guys. We had a couple guys out with some bumps and bruises against a very big and athletic team. For us, it's about all 40 of us, not just one of us. I think the team embodies that selflessness, so I'm happy with how they responded. I'll say (quarterback Maxwell Molessa) is probable (after being out with a shoulder injury). We'll see, as we get closer. He's doing so much better, but we're just being really cautious. We're probably being overly cautious, but we'd rather have him back at 100 percent rather than at 85 or 90. We're just trying to look at the long term here. We want to make sure he's healthy, so he can compete later in the season."
Whether the starter for Williamstown is Molessa or Colt Hesson, the Silver Knights are ready for whatever happens. A pair of losses have them on the Class A border line, and it'll be up to TC's usual suspects to pull off a monumental upset. Tyler Consolidated hasn't beaten Williamstown since 2000 (a 32-6 win in Kidwell).
"Nothing on our schedule is a gimmie. We've got to play with our A-game, or we're going to get blown out of the water," Walton said. "This is going to be a tough week, and we're preparing for it and getting a game plan together. Williamstown is tough to keep up with. They're going to stack the box, I'm sure. They're going to make us throw the ball. They do a good job inside and have linebackers that can run. They're a well-coached team and are fundamentally sound. We're going to have to go down there and play error-free football. We have to execute when we have to, and make plays. Hopefully, we'll come out on top."
While WHS's Rickie Allen racked up more than 200 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his team's victory over Weir, Tyler Consolidated's Sean Winfrey has the ability to break off big plays of his own. It's what he did against Buffalo, as W'town's defense looks to match up. Down Wideout Jayden Helmick, Tyler's running game will be paramount to its success.
"You always need to be on top of your game when the other team is backed in a corner. They can't afford more losses if they want to get to the playoffs, but they're a playoff team," Beck said. "They have the talent to be a playoff team. They just play a really challenging schedule. Knowing where they're coming from, I think that's where teams are at their most dangerous. Our guys have got to understand that, and we've got to play with a greater sense of urgency than what they're playing with."
Should the Silver Knights pull off the upset, next week's game on the road at Magnolia is certainly winnable. Then back-to-back home contests to close out the year against Valley Wetzel and St. Marys are the last big hurdles. Williamstown's next couple games test its strength as the No. 1 team in Class A, as Ohio powerhouse Fort Frye welcomes them. The road tests don't stop, as before the regular season finale at Magnolia, Williamstown travels to West Union to take on the Doddridge County Bulldogs.
Contact Josh Hughes at jhughes@newsandsentinel.com