Marietta’s Will Tornes (22) carries the ball as Williamstown’s Jenner Burge (2) tries to shake a block during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

WILLIAMSTOWN — It took a little longer than anyone wanted, but first-year Marietta head coach Mike Kupfner and the Tigers finally picked up their first win here Friday night after handing Williamtown a 14-6 setback to snap a six-game losing skid to the Yellowjackets.

In a game that featured both teams throwing an interception and losing a trio of fumbles apiece, the Tigers’ ground game and defense proved to be the difference as the orange and black rushed 63 times for 258 yards, which included a pair of victory formation snaps.

“Credit to our guys. Obviously when you got a team like Williamstown you haven’t beaten in so long and obviously we’ve struggled a little bit this year finishing games, you just had a feeling like it was going to come down to the end, but I was really proud of our guys to be able to buckle down and say ‘we’re going to finish this thing on offense,'” admitted coach Kupfner.

“Again, that’s a credit to our older guys for sticking with us and obviously sticking with me because it would’ve been really easy to walk away at 0-6. I think this is a great win for our program. A great win for our seniors and we’re not done. We’re looking to continue, but we’ve kind of found something our guys buy into top to bottom.”

MHS signal-caller Owen Riley, who had an interception and a strip for a fumble recovery, finished with game-highs of 29 rushes for 106 yards while teammate Kobe Alexander toted 15 times for 89 stripes.

Marietta’s Owen Riley, left, collides with Williamstown’s Jenner Burge (2) during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

“There was a lot of outside noise, but props to our guys for staying focused and locked in and believing as a family together,” said Alexander, who also recovered a fumble. “It’s obviously tough going into a season with a new head coach, a new offense and stuff, but everybody has done a great job. We’re a team out here and we’re a family. Hats off to our guys.”

Logan Boyd’s 16-yard sack on WHS quarterback Breck Allen, who went 8 of 16 for 74 yards and was second on the team in rushing (10-29) behind Jackson Kerr (13-47), set the tone on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

Alexander got his recovery when Allen hit Mason Kern for a 12-yard gain on a fourth-and-6 snap from the Tiger 38 late in the first quarter, but Riley was picked off by Carson Haines.

Marietta’s Yousuf Algarhy nearly had a 10-yard pick-6 on the next WHS series and although the Tigers drove to the red zone, Kingston McMahon’s 25-yard field goal was no good.

Riley’s interception and 33-yard return gave the visitors possession at the ‘Jacket 42 with 1:56 remaining in the half. A 14-yard completion to Daymeon Gulley converted a fourth-and-5 at the ‘Jacket 24 and one play later Riley found Trenton McVey for a 10-yard touchdown and it was 7-0 with 7.7 ticks left in the half following McMahon’s extra point.

Williamstown’s Carson Haines (6) hauls in a pass as Marietta’s Trenton McVey (7) defends during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

Will Tornes, who was all over the field defensively and finished with two catches for 19 yards and added 10 carries for 41 stripes, managed to haul in a pooched kickoff near the MHS sideline at the 37, but the Tigers couldn’t score.

MHS, which plays host next Friday to Fort Frye, took the second half kickoff and went on a 13-play, 77-yard scoring march that was capped by Riley’s 14-yard jaunt to paydirt, which made it 14-0 with 6:40 remaining in the stanza.

Williamstown’s ensuing drive resulted in a fourth-and-5 snap from its own 44, but Allen was pressured by Teddy Bauer and his pass fell incomplete.

Although WHS head coach Chris Beck’s squad, which dropped to 1-4 and heads next Friday to Poca, forced Marietta’s lone punt, Riley was able to strip Allen and return the ball across midfield after the hosts had moved it from their own 23 to the Tiger 34.

“Our defense is our strongest suit so at practice we work on punching that ball. You just got to be stronger,” admitted Riley, who completed 4 of 7 attempts for 43 yards while also getting a breather when Braydon Frye (seven totes, 28 yards) was in the backfield.

Marietta’s Owen Riley runs with the ball during Friday’s game against Williamstown. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

“Seniors, we wanted this one real bad. Talked about it all week and we had to go in hard-minded like we got to get this one. Everyone is down on coach Kup, you know, but this senior class we’re leaders and we’re standing behind him.”

Still trailing 14-0, the Yellowjackets got the ball back at their own 30 with 4:32 remaining following a Carter Hoops fumble recovery.

Allen hit Haines for a 17-yard completion to get the ball into Tiger territory. He then connected with Kern for a 12-yard gain before hooking up with Haines on a 25-yard scoring strike. Allen’s conversion run failed, but after the play McVey was ejected.

Tornes recovered the squib kick and the Tigers, who held a 144-55 total yards advantage at the half and finished with a 301-162 edge, managed to run out the clock.

“For as bad as we played to have a chance in the fourth quarter was surprising,” said coach Beck. “We got to get better. Our guys have to get better. Our staff has to get better.

“We got a long way to go to accomplish things we want to accomplish. The only answer I know is getting back to work Monday. Monday we will come back in, get back to work and try to address the issues that we’ll see on film, and there’s a lot of them to correct.”

When asked if there were any positive takeaways following the affair coach Beck replied, “no. None. We didn’t play well on either side of the ball.

“All three phases we didn’t play well. Credit to Marietta. They did a good job and dictated the gameplan. Congratulations to coach Kupfner on his first win. It is what it is.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com