Williamsburg defeats Raceland in state semifinals

Quarterback Skyler Griffith tucks the ball and runs in the state semifinal game at Raceland. 

It’s official. The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets are headed back to the Class A state championship game in Bowling Green after defeating the Raceland Rams (11-3) in the state semifinals for the second year in a row. This time they had to make the long road trip up to the Kentucky-West Virginia border, but that didn’t seem to faze them as they picked up the 34-8 victory, improving to 14-0 on the season.

“This is awesome,” said senior quarterback Skyler Griffith. “It’s the greatest feeling of my life. Having the opportunity to be a part of the state championship is going to be amazing. I can’t wait to get there.”

Despite the lopsided final score, the game against Raceland was very close for the majority of the evening. Senior defensive back Zach Sanders snagged an interception to end the first Raceland offensive drive, but the ball was fumbled on Williamsburg’s first play from scrimmage. The Rams recovered, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Yellow Jacket ten-yard-line nine plays later.

Williamsburg put together a scoring drive that was capped by a Fred Massey 19-yard run with 2:00 remaining in the first quarter. Senior kicker Brently Patrick kicked the PAT to give the Jackets a 7-0 lead.

It was a defensive stalemate until late in the third quarter, when Williamsburg finally struck again, this time with Griffith scampering 29 yards to the end zone on second down. Another Patrick kick extended the lead to 14-0.

Sanders came up with his second pick of the night in the fourth quarter, but the Jackets could not turn the ensuing possession into points. Yet another interception by senior Aaron Kissinger was returned from near midfield for a score with 7:23 left in regulation, however, and a third Patrick extra point made it 21-0 in favor of Williamsburg.

The Rams finally got on the board with 5:14 remaining when senior quarterback Connor Messer found wide receiver Maverick Dixon, who took it 28 yards to the house. Messer passed to sophomore Nathaniel Davidson for the successful two-point conversion, cutting the Yellow Jacket lead to 21-8.

That would be all the scoring Raceland could muster though, with Williamsburg finding pay dirt twice more before the final whistle. Senior Chase Lowrie carried the ball 43 yards for a touchdown with 3:41 left in the game, and Griffith would find freshman tight end Darrell White in the end zone for a TD with only 25 seconds remaining. Patrick kicked one more PAT to give the Jackets the 34-8 win, sending them back to the Class A state championship for the second year in a row.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Patrick when asked about the upcoming title game. “I’m going to leave it all out on the field.”

Massey said that this is an “amazing feeling” for him, adding, “We want 15-0. We’ve worked hard to get there, and now it’s time to finish it.”

Head Coach Jerry Herron described this journey back to Bowling Green as “one of the toughest things we’ve ever done.” He said that he is proud of his team for this accomplishment, and now he is hoping that the Yellow Jackets can do better than they did a year ago.

“We have spent one year of our lives getting ready for this,” he said. “We’re excited to be back, and now we hope to go out there and give Mayfield a game in the state championship.”

Kickoff for the game between Williamsburg and Mayfield is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT/Noon ET on Saturday, December 6 at Houchens/LT Smith Stadium on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Williamsburg 34, Raceland 8

WB – 7  0  7  20  –  34

R   –   0  0   0   8   –  8

WB – Fred Massey 19 run (Brently Patrick kick)

WB – Skyler Griffith 29 run (Patrick kick)

WB – Aaron Kissinger interception return (Patrick kick)

R – Maverick Dixon 28 pass from Connor Messer (Nathaniel Davidson pass from Messer)

WB – Chase Lowrie 43 run (kick failed)

WB – Darrell White 21 pass from Griffith (Patrick kick)  

Senior running back Fred Massey breaks a tackle. 

Photos by TRENT KNUCKLES