Williamstown’s Danner Hooper (13) runs with the ball during Friday’s Class AA state semifinal game at Frankfort. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

SHORT GAP, W.Va. — It was a night of jubilation and celebration at Frankfort Stadium on Friday night.

The Frankfort seniors — nine starting on offense and eight on defense — won their final home game.

Carder Shanholtz and Uriah Cutter eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground and through the air, respectively, with teammate Jullian Pattison having reached the 1,000-yard mark last week.

No. 1 Frankfort (13-0) racked up over 400 yards of offense, with 345 coming in the first half.

The Falcons’ last order of business was a drubbing of No. 4 Williamstown (10-3), 49-7, to reach the state title game for the second time in school history and deny the Yellowjackets a fourth straight state title game appearance.

Williamstown’s Carson Haines (21) carries the ball during Friday’s Class AA state semifinal game at Frankfort. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

“I love Frankfort, I love Frankfort football,” Falcons head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “I’ve always wanted to win the state championship. The last time I was content just making it, I didn’t think we had that great of a shot to win. This time I know we have a shot if we get out and play the way we’re capable.

“It just means the world to me. I’m so happy tonight. … I got a great group of kids. And I’m just thrilled to death that their hard work has paid off and they’re gonna make it down to Charleston.”

Frankfort finished with 441 yards of offense — 421 coming with the starters in the game — while limiting Williamstown to 200 yards.

“I think they’re the best team in (Class) AA,” said Williamstown head coach Chris Beck. “I thought that all year. They showed that tonight. I thought they played great. They have a bunch of seniors. They’re big and strong.

“Hats off to a team that can beat them. They’re the odds-on favorite. I thought that from the beginning. You can’t make the mistakes that we did tonight.”

The Falcons took little time to leave their mark, with Keiton Nester’s 27-yard opening kickoff return setting up the Falcons near midfield.

Blake Jacobs capped off a nine-play drive — the Falcons’ longest of seven drives with the starters in the game — with a 4-yard TD run at 6:24.

Frankfort forced the Yellowjackets backward on three successive offensive plays, forcing a punt to the Frankfort 45.

Three plays later, Pattison put the pedal to the metal with a 52-yard touchdown scamper.

Trailing 14-0, Williamstown punted on fourth-and-8 from its own 44 on the first play of the second quarter. Shanholtz ran 77 yards on the next play for a score as the Falcons were off to the races.

“I’ve been saying it all year, our offensive line is where it starts,” Whiteman said. “They’re big, they’re strong, they’re physical, and they just play great. They play hard football. They practice hard, they play hard. And I say it all the time, I’m most proud of the fine young men they are on and off the field. They’re great kids, and they deserve this.”

Jacobs ran in his second touchdown on a 7-yard run midway through the second, finishing with four carries for 19 yards and two catches for 47 yards.

Cutter connected with Jacob Nething on touchdown passes of 35 and 64 yards before the break for a 42-0 halftime lead.

Cutter capped off the scoring with a 64-yard run in the third. The senior QB went 4 of 6 for 146 yards along with his lone run of 64 yards.

All in all, it took the Falcons 22 plays to score 49 points, averaging 19.1 yards per play.

Shanholtz led the ground game with 99 yards on three carries while Pattison had eight totes for 93 yards.

Frankfort was a perfect 3 for 3 on third downs, while Williamstown was 3 of 9 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth down.

“They’re a very determined group of kids,” Whiteman said of his team’s mentality on third down. “They’ve gotten so much better since Week 6 or 7 defensively. And they’re hungry to get turnovers, to stop other teams.

“You can see in practice, you can see them when they’re out on the field. It’s awesome when they make those stops and get the ball back so I can start calling some offensive plays.”

The win was a stark contrast to Frankfort’s Week 7, 27-7, win over Williamstown, which included a long Pattison touchdown run midway through the fourth to ice the game.

“I just thought we were just totally locked in tonight, laser-focused,” Whiteman said of the difference from the teams’ last meeting. “We played a really physical game. I think we were more physical tonight. When they’re locked in and they’re focused like they were tonight, we’re a pretty good football team.”

Quarterback Lynken Joy led the Yellowjackets with 20 carries for 97 yards and 33 yards on 4 of 11 passing.

“Super proud of our seniors,” Beck said. “Tonight was our 15th playoff game. You can only play 16 your whole life, they played 15. A runner-up, two championships and a semifinal appearance. Very proud of them and their leadership. What do you do? You’ve got to get better. That’s the only answer I know. Our underclassmen work, and they get better.”

Frankfort’s only other state title game appearance came 10 years ago, also with Whiteman at the helm, which ended with a 43-7 loss to Bridgeport.

This time around, in West Virginia’s new four-class look, it will be a battle of unbeatens when the Falcons take on No. 2 Roane County (13-0), who trounced No. 3 Independence (8-4), 42-7. Kickoff at UC Stadium at Laidley Field on Friday is slated for 7 p.m.

“I really honestly have not watched them,” Whiteman said of Roane County. “I just know that they’re a physical run team like we are. It’s gonna be a heck of a battle.

“I do talk to their coach a decent amount. He’s a good dude, and I’m happy for him (to) make it down there. (The game is) probably gonna last about an hour with two running teams like that. But it’s gonna be a fun night, for sure.”