WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. — Williamstown reclaimed the top spot in Class A hierarchy a season ago, winning its second football state championship with a 33-32 triple-overtime title win over rival St. Marys.
It was the perfect ending for a Yellow Jackets team led by gritty quarterback Dakota Watson who anchored the dramatic title game comeback win.
“It was just very special,” said veteran Williamstown coach Terry Smith. “The last two games we played really well and it doesn’t get much better than that, playing in triple-overtime against your rival in a title game. We just clicked at the right time – our offense came together and our defense played really well at times. Everyone was so happy and I just feel good about it.”
Watson finished his senior year with 2,363 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, to go along with 1,132 passing yards and 15 more scores. He also collected five interceptions defensively, returning two of those picks for touchdowns, ultimately finishing sixth in the MetroNews Player of the Year vote — the highest finish for a Class A player.
“I don’t think you can replace Dakota (with one player),” Smith said. “Everyone is going to have to do their share because (Watson) did so many things for us – he had some help along the way. Everyone will have to pick it up a little bit and I think they’re anxious to do that.”
The Yellow Jackets overall return six starters on offense and seven starters on defense. It’s junior Trenton Tallman who moves from running back to quarterback, taking over for Watson. Tallman finished last season with over 700 yards rushing.
“Trenton is a very good athlete,” Smith said. “He’s very smart and makes good grades. He’s been throwing the ball pretty well right now and we like to run the ball. Dakota wasn’t a great thrower, but he always seemed to come through when we needed it. So, we’ll rely a lot on Trenton’s athleticism.”
Also expected to carry part of the load this season for Williamstown will be 6-foot-5, 205 pound tight end/defensive end Trevor Hoosier who led the Yellow Jackets in tackles a season ago. Senior Mike Beck will also have a more prominent role at running back with Tallman’s move to quarterback. Beck, who stands in at 6-foot, 295 pounds, rushed for 450 yards as a junior and finished second on the team in receiving.
Williamstown also receives a boost along the offensive and defensive lines in senior Ty Ankrom who Smith said stands in at 6-foot-2, 265 pounds. Ankrom recently moved to Williamstown from Texas.
“He looks like he’s going to be pretty good,” Smith said. “He’s very strong and he’s going to start. I think he’s that good, he just moves right into (a starting spot). But we still have to see just how good he is, I think the jury is still out a bit on him.”
And the jury is also still out on Class A overall this season as Williamstown figures to be right back in championship contention again.
“I just want to remind guys that we have to move on (from last year),” Smith said. “That was a great time and certainly one of the high points of my coaching career – we enjoyed the success and get to wear a championship ring and all that. But that’s over and it’s a new team. I thought we worked really hard last year and we just kept improving and improving for 15 weeks.”
Williamstown has a couple of intriguing matchups right out of the gate this year in home dates against Tyler Consolidated and Magnolia. The Yellow Jackets also added a game on the road against Clay-Battelle on September 18. The Cee Bees are coming off of a semifinal playoff run where they were edged by St. Marys.
“Clay-Battelle beat us in 7-on-7s this summer and they have a few guys back (from last year),” Smith said. “Tyler (Consolidated) played us tough last year and they’ll be fired up again. Magnolia is always good. That will be tough right off the bat with those two.”
2015 WILLIAMSTOWN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| WEEK | TEAM | DATE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
vs. TYLER CONSOLIDATED |
August 28 | |
| 2 |  |
vs. MAGNOLIA |
September 4 | |
| 3 |  |
at MARIETTA (OH) |
September 11 | |
| 4 |  |
at CLAY-BATTELLE |
September 18 | |
| 5 |  |
vs. RAVENSWOOD |
September 25 | |
| 6 |  |
at ST. MARYS |
October 2 | |
| 7 |  |
BYE WEEK |
October 9 | |
| 8 |  |
at WIRT COUNTY | October 16 | |
| 9 |  |
at PARKERSBURG CATHOLIC |
October 24 | |
| 10 |  |
vs. BRAXTON COUNTY |
October 30 | |
| 11 |  |
vs. ROANE COUNTY |
November 6 | |
OTHER 2015 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS