’Jackets have unfinished business on Wheeling Island | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo by Neal Smith
Williamstown’s Colt Hesson (4) dives for the pylon to score a touchdown during a high school football game against Ravenswood earlier this season.

WILLIAMSTOWN — Something is going to give Saturday night when top-ranked James Monroe and No. 2 Williamstown meet in the Class A state championship game at Wheeling Island Stadium.

James Monroe (13-0) pitched five shutouts during the regular season and limited 10 of its 13 opponents to seven points or less — including last week’s 27-7 semifinal win over Wheeling Central Catholic.

The Mavericks will have their hands full with a Williamstown unit which is averaged nearly 45 points per game while closing out the regular season at 8-1. The Yellowjackets (11-1), who lost to Ritchie County in the title game a year ago, have continued to score points in abundance in the postseason. In three postseason games, they have outscored their opponents, 151-33.

Game time for Saturday in Wheeling is set for 7 p.m.

“I really like our skill players — they are versatile and they can all make plays,” Williamstown coach Chris Beck said. “We will just have to see what works. The good thing about these guys — they are selfless.

“We just need to prep like we always do and get our kids in the best position to be successful and finding matchups that maybe give us the best chance to be successful. Our offensive line has to play at a very high level Saturday night.”

While Williamstown is seeking the school’s third state title in football, James Monroe is trying to secure its first since the football program was put into place in 1994. The Mavericks’ lone appearance in the Super 6 resulted in a 20-12 loss to Bluefield in the 2007 Class AA championship game.

This season, defense is what James Monroe hangs its hat on.

“The gameplan my defensive coordinator came up with for Wheeling Central, the kids followed it to a ‘T’ — and they have been doing that all year,” James Monroe coach John Mustain, who is in his second stint with the program. He coached from 2013-17 then retired from teaching and coaching at the school then returned last season.

“These guys are a defensive minded bunch, and I think they take a lot of pride in it,” Mustain said. “It’s kind of snowballed from the first couple of games. Thank goodness we shut out Pendleton County because we only beat them 6-0.

“Williamstown has a good defensive unit, too. They are a solid team.”

Williamstown’s path to this year’s state championship game opened with a seven-game win streak, which was snapped when Ohio Division VI Final Four qualifier Fort Frye defeated the Yellowjackets 30-20 — the fewest points scored by Williamstown in any one game this season.

Last Friday at Stadium Field in a 53-21 semifinal win against Doddridge County, Williamstown running back Rickie Allen rushed for 142 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Maxwell Molessa added another 142 yards on the ground with one passing TD in addition to one TD reception.

On the season, Allen has gained 1,228 yards and scored 20 TDs. Molessa’s numbers include 767 yards and 11 TDs on the ground while throwing for another 632 yards and seven TDs. The junior has yet to be picked off in 62 pass attempts.

In order to utilize the versatility of Molessa, Williamstown can put Colt Hesson behind center. Hesson has responded with 464 yards through the air and six TDs.

Defensively, Allen sets the pace at linebacker with his team-high 70 tackles. The Yellowjackets also rely heavily on the likes of linemen Harbor Haught and Aiden Corbett. Haught has registered 13 tackles for loss, while Corbett averages 5.3 tackles per game to go with his three sacks.

“The guys have climbed a heck of a mountain to get here,” Beck said. “They have to take that final step to the top and grab the flag, and that’s what this final week is — taking the final step.

“We won our semifinal game last year and it was quite the celebration. Everybody was excited to play in the state championship. This year, it was much more subdued. We know we have a tall task. James Monroe is ranked No. 1 for a reason. We know we are playing a tremendous team and we will have our hands full.”

James Monroe’s defense hinges on its core of linebackers (Cooper Ridgeway, Granger Gore, Ethan Ganoe and Hayden Parker).

“I’m not sure Hayden is 140 pounds soaking wet, but that kid can bring it.,” Mustain said.

The secondary of Eli Allen, Braydie Carr, Chaz Boggs, along with Nick Pitzer isn’t too shabby either.

“I told MetroNews the other day that my kids are kind of a goofy bunch and a fun bunch, too — but they know when to get focused,” Mustain said. “I can’t get a read on them. Maybe we don’t need to and just let them go play.”

Even though the respective schools are 3 1/2 hours apart, Mustain is familiar with the success of athletics at Williamstown High School and the Mid-Ohio Valley in general. For several years, he worked at the annual Reds Legend Camp in Marietta.

“I’ve known about Williamstown for years,” Mustain said “I coached against against girls basketball coach Fred Sauro some 20 years ago. I think the world of him. I think the world of the community up there.”

Both programs have proud traditions in the sport of football. James Monroe is making its 18th playoff appearance, while the Yellowjackets have not missed qualifying for the postseason since the turn of the century. Williamstown’s previous state titles occurred in 2008 and 2014.

“The guys have a very workmanlike attitude this year more so than last year,” Beck said. “Last year, I think they tried to prove they belonged. This year, they are more comfortable in their own skin and what they want to do.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at [email protected]