Doddridge County’s Josh DeHaven (8) lays out for a pass as Williamstown’s Breck Allen (7) defends during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

WILLIAMSTOWN — In a showdown of Class AA ranked programs here Friday, Doddridge County owned the line of scrimmage and finally managed to solve Williamstown as the Bulldogs spoiled homecoming for the Yellowjackets following a 40-26 victory.

No. 19 Williamstown, which dropped to 3-5 and plays next week at Wayne, held a 183-175 total yards advantage at intermission but trailed 24-13 on the scoreboard.

No. 5 Doddridge County, which was playing without leading rusher Lyric Blake and a couple of other starters, improved to 8-0 for head coach Bobby Burnside as the ‘Dogs snapped a seven-game losing skid to WHS.

“This is the first game he’s been eligible,” Burnside said of senior tailback Caleb Hall, who toted 15 times for a game-high 126 yards and raced 63 stripes to paydirt early in the first as the ‘Jackets never led. “We don’t have our leading rusher and one of the top scorers in the state of West Virginia. It was nice to get him back. A special athlete. Of course, the guys in front of him, the backs and linemen, did a phenomenal job.

“I’ll tell you, during those seven straight losses, that’s some of the best Williamstown football teams I’ve seen. Two state championships, a state runner-up and we beat them twice in ’19. We knew how that felt to go to the championship game. It’s a special win. We knew we were going to have to battle to the end and we did.”

Doddridge County’s Brysen Dixon (3) looks to pass during Friday’s game against Williamstown. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

Hall’s six-pointer came on the first snap of Doddridge County’s second series and it was 8-0 at the 7:51 mark when Brysen Dixon, who hit 8 of 14 for 132 yards, connected with Landon Thomas on a fade in the corner of the end zone where he made a leaping one-handed grab.

Head man Chris Beck’s ‘Jackets weren’t able to answer on the ensuing drive, but Colin Jones recovered a Brandon Davis fumble to put the hosts in business.

After taking over at the DCHS 39, the ‘Jackets faced a fourth-and-6 and Breck Allen found Mason Kern for what turned out to be a 35-yard gain to the 1 as Kern lowered his shoulder on a defender at the 20 before getting tackled. Allen, who completed 18 of 27 for 217 yards, ran it in on the next play, but the conversion pass failed with 2:47 left on the first quarter clock.

Davis made up for his fumble as he returned the ensuing kickoff 68 yards to the WHS 22. A 24-yard pass to Hall converted a third-and-13 and three plays later Brycen Eidel made it inside the pylon for a 2-yard TD run. Hall’s grab on the conversion put the ‘Jackets behind 16-6 just five ticks into the second.

Williamstown, which was without the services of leading wideout Carter Haines, answered right back as Allen had a 16-yard gallop to convert a third down and get the ball across midfield. Staring at a fourth-and-6 at the Bulldog 44, coach Beck went for it as Allen hooked up with Jackson Fulton for a 26-yard completion. Two plays later, Allen found tight end/homecoming king Jenner Burge for a 17-yard scoring strike and it was 16-13 with 8:37 to go in the half following Carter Hoops’ extra point.

Doddridge County’s Brandon Davis (4) carries the ball during Friday’s game against Williamstown. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

It appeared the hosts would get the ball back as the ‘Dogs had a fourth-and-2 at their own 34. However, the punter Davis started to go toward his right with a rugby style kick only to take off running. He gained 7 yards for a first down. Now facing a third-and-1 at the WHS 32, the ‘Jackets had a blown coverage that allowed an easy touchdown from Dixon to Thomas. Dixon then hooked up with Josh DeHaven on the conversion to give DCHS an 11-point cushion.

Jackson Kerr, who carried 18 times for 64 yards, helped the ‘Jackets go from their own 37 to first-and-goal at the 3. He had a key 17-yard burst and Allen added a 10-yard rip, but on third and fourth down both of Allen’s pass attempts were batted at the line of scrimmage by Samuel James.

“I think the way we stopped the run game. Hats off to the defense. That was goal number one,” coach Burnside said of trying to keep Kerr in check.

“He’s an explosive player. Those guys upfront (on defense) get after it. Enjoy this tonight, but we got to get healthy. We are down some bodies and that’s a really big deal this time of year.”

Jacob Britton’s sack of Allen forced a ‘Jacket punt to start the second half, but it was shanked.

Williamstown’s Jenner Burge hauls in a pass during Friday’s game against Doddridge County. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

Williamstown defense managed to hold the ‘Dogs to zero points once they got into the red zone as the visitors turned it over on downs, but the Yellowjackets once again were forced to punt.

Jerod Trent’s 21-yard reception converted a third-and-7 at the WHS 46 and on the next play Dixon was chased from the pocket, but managed to find a wide open DeHaven in the end zone. Thomas once again hauled in the two-point conversion as the ‘Jackets fell behind 32-13 with 2:59 late in the third.

Fulton, who had seven catches for a game-high 129 yards, had touchdown receptions of 42 and 34 yards while Dixon had a 9-yard scoring scamper in between.

“Not where we wanted to be,” admitted coach Beck, whose squad held a 17-10 advantage in first downs and finished with 290 yards compared to the Bulldogs’ 296. “It’s all the little things we talk about. They executed a little bit better in those little things. They controlled the line of scrimmage.

“Week to week if you control the line of scrimmage you got a pretty good shot to win the game.

They controlled it. They won the game. Hats off to them and good luck to them the rest of the year. We got to regroup and keep learning, keep getting better and finish strong. We definitely don’t control our own destiny, but the goal is to win out and find a way to slip in there.”

Doddridge County will look to continue its winning ways when Lincoln comes next Friday to Cline Stansberry Stadium.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com