WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. — In all likelihood, the 2019 season will end in the same place that the previous nineteen seasons have wrapped up for Williamstown… in the playoffs. After winning a pair of postseason road games last fall and advancing to the Super Six, the Yellowjackets return a strong nucleus of veterans to tackle a difficult slate of opponents.
“The key is that the guys work hard and they expect to do well,” said Williamstown head coach Terry Smith. “They work hard in practice and I don’t have to talk them into things. I think pretty much everybody is in.”
Williamstown will be breaking in new starters at quarterback and running back. Leading rusher and second team all-state back Donathan Taylor transferred to Parkersburg South in the offseason. First team all-state selection Carter Haynes graduated, leaving the Jackets in search of a new signal caller.
“Brayden Modesitt is a junior and Trevor Oates is a sophomore. Those two guys have been battling it out,” Smith said. “They are getting better but neither one of them has really separated themselves. That’s the main position we are looking at. And we are trying to find a tailback. We think we have one but Jarrett Frazier seems to be stepping up.”
“I don’t necessarily think we are having much of an issue refilling their shoes but we are definitely going to miss them,” said Williamstown senior linebacker Eric Brown. “I really liked those guys and they did a really good job last year.”
Senior Ty Moore will likely see more time in the backfield alongside Frazier. Defensively, senior Eric Brown returns as the man in the middle of the linebacking core after a first team all-state junior season.
“He is probably one of our best players if not the best player,” Smith said. “He has been doing good and he always works hard. I just can’t ask for any more out of him.”
Over two decades have passed since Williamstown suffered a losing season. None of the current Yellowjackets were alive during that 1998 season.
“I love being a part of Williamstown football,” said WHS running back/defensive back Ty Moore. “I have always been out there since I was a little kid watching on the sideline and giving players water. So it is kind of fun being a senior now. It is kind of crazy. I am really looking forward to it. It is going to be a great year.