WEST UNION, W.Va. — With Doddridge County out to limit possessions in Friday’s matchup against Class AA No. 2 Williamstown, that added to the significance of each series.
By stopping Doddridge on each of their first its series after the Bulldogs were well beyond midfield, the Yellow Jackets were able to play with a lead, and that proved to be a successful formula for Williamstown in a 27-0 victory that allows the visitors to remain unbeaten.
“They wanted to grind it out and stall it, that’s what they do, and they did a great job of it, but we felt like if we could make them snap it again, get the negative play, get them behind the sticks, get the turnover, it’s kind of a bend, but don’t break deal there,” Williamstown coach Chris Beck said. “All season, we’ve been really good and I feel like we’re playing well at all three levels.”
With the victory, Williamstown secured this year’s Little Kanawha Conference championship and ended a six game win streak from No. 7 DCHS (6-2).
The Bulldogs put together a strong opening drive with four first downs, but as they approached the red zone, Brandon Davis fumbled and Williamstown’s Jack Moore recovered at the Yellow Jackets’ 24-yard line.
WHS capitalized on the game’s first turnover with a 76-yard drive that concluded with Breck Allen’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Hall, leaving the Bulldogs with a 7-0 deficit with 1:36 to play in the opening quarter.
Doddridge offered a quality response to the first touchdown, but faced with fourth-and-7 from the Yellow Jackets’ 20, the Bulldogs got a 6-yard completion from quarterback Evan Cross’ pass to Dixon, who was brought down just short of the line to gain 6:32 before halftime.
WHS made it a two-score game with its second touchdown on as many possessions as Allen again found Hall, this time for a 50-yard touchdown pass on a play where nearly all of the yardage came after the reception. The point-after snap was mishandled, resulting in a failed run that left the Yellow Jackets on top 13-0 at the 2:21 mark, and that score stayed the same through halftime.
“The effort was good,” Doddridge coach Bobby Burnside said. “Missed opportunities are a big story of the first half, and then you get in a position where their offense is very good and they’ve already built a lead. That’s a perfect position for them. It’s something for us to learn from that when we move the ball in or near the red zone, we have to come away with points. We’ll get back to work.”
Doddridge stopped Williamstown on the opening series of the second half, but Corben Hall muffed the ensuing punt and Williamstown’s Lincoln Knapp recovered at the Bulldogs’ 33. However, Doddridge regained possession on the next play when Kyle Satterfield came up with a fumble recovery.
The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on Williamstown’s lone turnover, and after a three-and-out, the Yellow Jackets wasted no time adding to they lead, which they did courtesy of Allen’s 61-yard touchdown run for a 20-0 advantage at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter.
“The way that game was playing out, if you’re up two scores and think they’re only going to get three or four more possessions, it’s more kind of like you’re up three or four scores,” Beck said. “But offensively, we were efficient. They did a great job bottling up Danny [Daniel Cunningham], but Breck was able to hurt them.”
Doddridge was again in position to cut into its deficit, but on fourth-and-3 from the Williamstown 11, Satterfield was stopped for a 1-yard gain.
Jack Moore’s 1-yard TD run with 3:32 left in the matchup wrapped up the scoring.
It marks the sixth time this season Williamstown has held an opponent to fewer than 10 points and the Yellow Jackets have allowed 78 for the season.
“We’re flying to the football, being physical and causing turnovers,” Beck said. “That’s a point of emphasis and our guys take that to heart and were able to force a couple tonight.”
The Yellow Jackets finished with 315 total yards, including 201 on the ground. Allen rushed for 129 yards on 13 attempts and Cunningham added 60 yards on 19 carries.
Allen completed 6-of-12 passes for 95 yards and had a 19-yard catch.
“We were moving forward all the time and we were able to make some big plays on the perimeter,” Beck said.
Doddridge managed 196 yards and its 136-yard rushing output was led by Hall’s 55 yards on 14 carries, while Satterfield added 38 yards thanks in large part to a 35-yard run.
Cross completed 6-of-11 passes for 55 yards.