Williamstown ballcarrier Louis Goodnow (5) puts on the brakes in front of Tucker County’s Racer Chennell (34) and Owen Knotts (62) during Friday’s game in Parsons, W.Va. (Photo by Aaron Lee)

PARSONS, W.Va. — It was a muddy one Friday evening when the Yellowjackets traveled to Parsons to take on Tucker County. Despite a slow start, Williamstown would go on to win in convincing fashion by a score of 45-8.

This marks Williamstown’s third title game appearance in three years. Yellowjacket coach Chris Beck said that, “To get there three times is a testament to these seniors. A special group of kids. I’ve said from the outset, they have a chance to be remembered as the best class to come through our program, and we’re a step closer to that. All the credit goes to them, and our community should be incredibly proud of them.”

Williamstown got the ball to start the game, but was slowed by penalties on its first drive. The Yellowjackets ended up giving the ball to Tucker County on a turnover on downs at the Mountain Lion 32.

The ‘Jackets’ held Tucker to a punt, and then drove down the field. The drive was capped off by a 6-yard run by Maxwell Molessa, who ran in the conversion as well to give Williamstown an 8-0 lead.

Mountain Lions quarterback Ethan Rosenau started off the next drive with some nice completions, but ended up throwing an interception to William Sites of the Yellowjackets.

Williamstown quarterback Maxwell Molessa (7) runs past Tucker County’s Jared Reall (30) and Marky Phillips (60) during the Yellowjackets’ 45-8 win over the host Mountain Lions during Friday’s Class A state semifinal game in Parsons, W.Va. (Photo by Aaron Lee)

Williamstown took advantage of that possession, scoring on a bruising two-yard run by Rex Anderson. Lynken Joy ran in the two-point try, making the score 16-0 Yellowjackets.

The next drive for Tucker County ended on a sack by Aiden Corbett and Jensen Burge of Williamstown. After the ensuing punt, it only took the Yellowjackets four plays to add to their lead. Molessa ran one in from 29 yards out for Williamstown’s third touchdown of the night. Joy once again ran in the conversion to make the score 24-0.

The Mountain Lions then managed to drive into Williamstown territory, but were faced with a fourth and 15 on the 37 yard line. Danner Hooper managed a sack on the play to give the Yellowjackets one more chance with the ball before halftime.

The turnover on downs caused by Hooper’s sack allowed for some shots at the end zone, but none were successful. Colt Hesson stepped in for Molessa on the final play of the half and threw a jump ball into the endzone, where it was nearly brought in by a Williamstown receiver.

The Mountain Lions started with the ball in the third quarter. Their drive was aided by multiple 15-yard penalties on Williamstown. Despite advancing the ball down the field, Tucker County’s drive ended in a sack by Anderson and a turnover on downs.

Chunk runs by Joy and Molessa set up a 16-yard touchdown pass by Molessa to Landon Dodrill. Molessa got into the endzone on the conversion to give Williamstown a 32-0 lead.

Two plays into Tucker County’s next drive, the Mountain Lions prevented the shutout via a 65-yard receiving touchdown by Jared Reall on a screen pass thrown by Rosenau. Rosenau connected with Garrett Wilfong on the two-point try to bring the score to 32-8.

The ‘Jackets responded with a four-yard jet sweep by Louis Goodnow for six. The conversion was no good, making the score 38-8.

On the first play of the next drive for the Mountain Lions, Goodnow made a leaping grab to secure an interception.

Williamstown scored the final touchdown of the night on a 28-yard run by Molessa. Brylee Jones nailed the extra point to give the Yellowjackets a 45-8 lead.

There was a running clock all of the fourth quarter, and neither team managed to score. The game ended on a kneel by Hesson.

Williamstown head coach Chris Beck gave his thoughts after the game, “I thought we had to be physical, and our guys did that. We were physical up front, controlled the line of scrimmage, really limited their passing game. I thought the back end of our defense did a phenomenal job all game. They popped one screen on us, but besides that, they got a great quarterback, three good receivers, for our guys to go out and execute like that and play as physical as we did, to score 45 points on a field like this, I’m just proud of our guys.”

Beck said of the field conditions, “A mudbowl is just a different kind of game, and I love mud. I think it’s great. I’m a lineman, the skill guys don’t like it as much, but us linemen we love it.”

Hesson, a first team all-state defensive back last season, made his return to the field in this game after an ACL tear left him unable to play up until this point. The Yellowjackets brought him in for two plays in the semifinal match, both coming at the end of each half. Beck said of giving Hesson the opportunity to come onto the field, “Colt is a program kid. Got hurt, and has been to every practice since he got hurt. He comes to every game. He’s getting healthy enough to do a couple different things for us, and we’re excited about that. No one deserves it more than Colt. Colt is one of the best players we got. Even injured, he’s a leader. I hope it means as much to him as it does to me. It’s just a small token for us to say thank you.”

Hesson commented on the opportunity to come back onto the field, “It felt great. We’ve been practicing that, and they said if we ever got the chance, he’s gonna put me in, so I figured I’d make the most of it. I guess it (the pass at the end of the half) didn’t go our way, but it was great to be back out there.”

Williamstown advances to the title game in Wheeling, where they will take on the winner of Greenbrier West and James Monroe.