James Monroe’s Bryce Gardinier defends a pass in the end zone intended for Williamstown’s Carson Haines. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

SPENCER — James Monroe scored the first 19 points of the affair here Saturday afternoon at County Stadium, but the Mavericks of head coach John Mustain needed a blocked field goal in the waning seconds to hold on for a 26-25 victory versus Williamstown in the Ratliff Insurance Kickoff Classic.

Jackson Kerr rushed 17 times for a game-high 132 yards while ‘Jacket signal-caller Breck Allen completed 18 of 23 attempts for 192 yards, but it was James Monroe QB Ryan Mann hooking up with Bryce Gardinier on a 45-yard touchdown strike and Gardinier’s ensuing extra point that made the difference with 2:28 remaining after Williamstown had scored four straight six-pointers.

“We got to get a lot better,” said WHS head coach Chris Beck, who watched kicker Carter Hoops’ potential game-winning 37-yard field goal with 5.8 ticks remaining get blocked by a leaping Brock Parker as the ball skimmed off the top of his helmet. “I mean we are going to have like eight or nine games like that this year. It doesn’t get any easier. We got to find ways to win that game.

“We got to find a way to grow up. We got to find ways to start faster and all the little things are going to matter with this group. We just didn’t execute enough down the stretch. Our players have got to get better and as a staff we have to get better. The only answer I know is Monday, back to work, get some hard work done and see if we can’t get better.”

After both teams punted to open the season, the Mavericks dented the scoreboard first when Mann, who went 11 of 15 for 178 yards, avoided a sack and fired a 24-yard scoring strike to Kadyn Hines to make it 6-0 at the 2:22 mark.

Williamstown head coach Chris Beck looks on during Saturday’s game against James Monroe in Spencer. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown moved across midfield and faced a fourth-and-3 from the JM 27, but Allen was stopped after a gain of 2 by Maverick Tyson Meadows.

Three plays later, Parker took a toss off the left side and raced 61 yards to paydirt as Gardinier’s boot made it 13-0 with 9:30 left in the half.

WHS, which returns to action in two weeks when Wheeling Central invades, fumbled the ensuing kickoff as Moses Hopkins was Johnny-on-the-spot.

The turnover proved costly. Man hooked up with Gardinier for an 18-yard completion to get the ball to the 1. Mann bulled in for the 19-0 advantage with the clock reading 7:09.

The youthful Yellowjackets responded as Jackson Fulton returned the kickoff 74 yards to the JM 14. Three plays later, Fulton scored from the 3.

Williamstown’s Jackson Fulton is brought down by James Monroe’s Andrew Weikle during Saturday’s game in Spencer. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Coach Beck’s squad had a chance to stick in another score prior to intermission and had it first-and-goal at the 8 with less than a minute left when James Monroe jumped offside on fourth down. However, following a holding call and facing a third-and-goal at the 18, Allen’s pass was intercepted by Gardinier.

Kerr took the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter for a 71-yard touchdown burst and it was 19-12 just 16 seconds in.

The Mavericks, who also don’t play again until Friday, Sept. 12 when Bluefield invades, marched right back into the red zone. Hines, who had game-highs of six grabs for 82 stripes, hauled in a 33-yard reception. Facing a fourth-and-6 at the ‘Jacket 27, it looked like Mann would be tackled in the backfield, but he eluded a defender and gained 13 yards for a first down. However, the WHS defense held only to have Hines intercept Allen on the first play from scrimmage.

James Monroe once again had a first-and-10 at the 14, but a 4-yard tackle for loss by Christian Hoosier of Mann made it fourth down, and Carson Haines picked him off in the end zone.

A 38-yard Allen to Jenner Burge connection got WHS across midfield and Kerr eventually scored from 9 yards out to make it 19-18 with 3.6 seconds left in the third as the two-point conversion pass failed.

Williamstown quarterback Breck Allen is brought down by James Monroe’s Jayden Miller during Saturday’s game in Spencer. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown’s defense forced a three-and-out and proceeded to go on a 78-yard scoring march which was aided by a personal foul face mask.

Coach Beck’s program finally took its first lead when Allen found Mason Kern for a 10-yard touchdown and Hoops booted the extra point to make it 25-19 with 5:33 remaining.

Following the JM score to go back in front, WHS marched from its own 20 to the other 20, but came up short as Mann took one knee to run the final seconds off the scoreboard.

Williamstown held a 417-376 advantage in total yards and rushed 37 times for 225 yards. Haines (5-57), Burge (3-54) and Kern (4-30) led the ‘Jacket receivers.

Mann also added 70 yards on the ground, but Parker led the way with 11 totes for 92 yards.

James Monroe’s Brock Parker uses a stiff arm to try and avoid the tackle of Williamstown’s Mason Kern during Saturday’s game in Spencer. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)