STATE-BOUND

 The Williamsburg Middle School 8^th grade Yellow Jackets have advanced to the Kentucky Middle School state football semifinals in Lexington Saturday. The Yellow Jackets turned back Cumberland Middle School, 38-14 in a regional game and will play Russellville in the semifinals at 11:15 at Lexington Catholic High School.

Williamsburg (12-1) had to come from a first quarter deficit to beat the Redskins. The young Jackets trailed 8-6 at the end of the first quarter, but scored a touchdown in the second period to take a 12-8 lead at the half.

“In the first half we started a little rocky,” said coach Andrew Klineman. “But, once we got to rolling they turned it on in the second half.”

“There’s a lot of excitement right now for the players, coaches and fans,” said Klineman. “It was just a tremendous effort by the team. Cumberland has a great team, they are very big and solid.”

“We just came out and made plays when we needed to,” said Klineman.

Williamsburg got on the scoreboard first when the Jackets scored on its second series of the game. After holding Cumberland to a three-and-out on their first series, the Jackets got the ball at their own 48-yard line. Skyler Griffith, the team’s quarterback, took the first down around the right side for a 49-yard run to the Cumberland two-yard marker. Two plays later he went in for the score. The Jackets missed the conversion but led 6-0 with 1:03 in the first quarter.

Big Fred Massey of Cumberland took the kickoff back 55 yards for the touchdown. Zack Jenkins added the two-point conversion, the Redskins led 8-6.

Williamsburg answered with the go-ahead touchdown. Williamsburg pounded on the on-side kick at their own 49-yard line. Griffith was hit with a seven-yard loss back to the 42-yard line on the first down play.

Griffith retaliated with a 13-yard run before throwing an incomplete pass. On fourth-down the Jackets were called for holding. They faced a fourth-and-15 when Griffith hit Cory Shelton on a 51-yard pass play to the 11-yard line.

Griffith connected with Shelton once again, but was called down at the one-yard line. Griffith went in on the following play to put the Jackets ahead, 12-8.

Neither team would score until late in the second quarter. Williamsburg put together an eight-play drive that saw Chase Lowrie score with 2:55 left in the third quarter. Lowrie scored on a six-yard run up the middle. Griffith added the two-point conversion and the Jackets had a 20-6 lead.

Seconds later, an alert Shelton recovered a Cumberland fumble the Redskins first down at the 48-yard line. A quick pass to Michael Dillon Rose gave the Jackets a first-down at the Cumberland 27-yard line. Rose then carried for a yard and followed that with a 26-yard touchdown as Williamsburg exploded for a 26-8 lead. Lowrie added the PAT and the lead was 28-8 with 2:02 in the quarter.

Cumberland went to Massey twice on its ensuing possession and that was enough for a touchdown. Jenkins hit Massey on a 25-yard pass play to the 22-yard line then followed with a touchdown to put the Redskins on the scoreboard with 7:48 left in the game.

Williamsburg put the final touches on the victory with a 12-play drive that started at their own 31-yard line. The big blow came with 2:28 left in the game when Griffith hit Lowrie on a 42-yard play for six. Griffith added the conversion for a 36-14 score.

Williamsburg recorded a safety when a fourth-down snap went over the punter’s head and into the end zone.

“Our defense played well,” said Klineman. “I have to give our D-line a lot of credit. That was the reason we stopped them. I don’t think they had a first down in the first half.”

“Our offense was struggling a little, they had some speed and our defense really pulled through for us,” Klineman said just before the traditional water bath by the players.

Williamsburg rolled up 408 yards while holding Cumberland to 96 total yards. Griffith carried the ball 20 times for 153 yards while Lowrie added 68 on 12 carries. Griffith was 9-of-15 through the air for 165 yards. Shelton had four catches for 73 yards, Rose had two catches for 48 yards and Lowrie had three catches for 44 yards, giving him 112 yards for the day.

•Corbin a 39-14 winner over T.K. Stone will get a chance to repeat as state champions. The Redhounds won the Kentucky Middle School Seventh Grade title last year and have earned a trip to the Division II final four where they will play Caldwell County at 1 p.m.

Tanner Powers scored three touchdowns to lead the Redhounds to an easy win over T.K. Stone last week in Campbellsville.