RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. - Williamstown overcame the red zone blues, and with the help of a school-record, 50-yard field goal from Garret Butler won its second game in a row after defeating Ravenswood 23-7 Friday night at Flinn Field.
The Yellowjackets, who play host to St. Marys next Friday for homecoming, improved to 3-2.
The Red Devils, who turned the ball over on all three second-half possessions, lost for the second week in a row and dropped to 2-2. They travel to Ellenboro next Friday to play Ritchie County.
Article Photos
MICHAEL UHL Special to The Times
Williamstown’s Garret Butler’s field goal from 50 yards broke the school record as the Yellowjackets defeated Ravenswood, 23-7.
Williamstown's ground game was in top form from the outset and finished with 335 yards rushing, including a game-high 117 yards from sophomore running back Dakota Watson.
"The offensive line played real well," Williamstown coach Terry Smith said.
Williamstown never trailed. After denying Ravenswood's attempt on a fake punt on the game's opening series, the Yellowjackets marched 48 yards in nine plays. Out of the power-I, the first back through - Chris McDuffy - plowed into the end zone from a yard out and Butler added the first of two extra points to put their club in front 7-0 at the 7:35 mark of the first quarter.
Fact Box
At Flinn Field, Ravenswood
Williamstown 23, Ravenswood 7
Williamstown (3-2) 7 6 7 3 23
Ravenswood (2-2) 7 0 0 0 7
W: Chris McDuffy 1 run (Garret Butler kick), 7:35, 1st
R: Rhys Jelich 3 run (Mason Carte kick), 0:27, 1st
W: Butler 29 field goal, 5:17, 2nd
W: Butler 21 field goal, 0:10, 2nd
W: Gage Wix 9 pass from Jake Tracewell (Butler kick), 6:27, 3rd
W: Butler 50 field goal, 2:15, 4th
Team stats
Williamstown: First downs: 16. Rushes-yards: 46-335. Passing yards: 124. Total yards: 459. Passing: 8-11-1. Fumbles-lost: 2-0. Penalties: 6-35.
Ravenswood: First downs: 14. Rushes-yards: 32-169. Passing yards: 60. Total yards: 229. Passing: 5-12-2. Fumbles-lost: 2-1. Penalties: 8-75.
Individual stats
Williamstown: Rushing: Dakota Watson 16-117, David Hastings 10-54, Trace Hart 12-36, Brad Meeks 4-25, Jake Tracewell 3-2, Chris McDuffy 1-1. Passing; Jake Tracewell 8-11-1, 124 yards. Receiving: David Hastings 2-63, Hunter Neely 3-32, Chris McDuffy 2-20, Gage Wix 1-9.
Ravenswood: Rushing: Rhys Jelich 17-97, evan Crews 9-47, Heath Burgess 3-13, Connor Jelich 5-12. Passing: Heath Burgess 4-11-2, 54 yards; Rhys Jelich 1-1-0, 6 yards. Receiving: Rhys Jelich 2-35, Patrick 2-19, Nathan Cunningham 1-6.
Next game: St. Marys at Williamstown, Friday; Ravenswood at Ritchie County, Friday.
Ravenswood answered right back, but in more methodical fashion following a 14-play, 65-yard series which concluded on a 3-yard touchdown run by Rhys Jelich. The extra point evened the contest at 7 with 27.5 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Williamstown entered the red zone on all four first-half possessions, but only had 13 points to show for its efforts. Quarterback Jake Tracewell, who completed 8-of-11 passes for 124 yards on the night, was picked off by Heath Burgess in the end zone to end one threat early in the second quarter.
The last two series before intermission resulted in field goals of 29 and 21 yards by Butler.
Ravenswood couldn't take advantage with its two offensive drives in the second quarter. The Yellowjackets limited the Red Devils to one first down and 30 yards of total offense in the final 12 minutes before halftime.
The opening drive of the second half nearly stalled for the Yellowjackets at the Ravenswood 43, but the up-man - Watson - took the snap intended for the punter and scampered 29 yards for the first down.
Three plays later on third-and-5 from the 9, Tracewell dropped back to pass and gave one pump fake before letting the ball fly toward Gage Wix in the end zone. Wix leaped over his defender and hauled in the touchdown for a 20-7 Williamstown lead with 6:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Ravenswood entered Williamstown territory on the ensuing series, but Jelich fumbled after gaining a first down on fourth-and-1 from the 15. Trace Hart recovered the loose ball and the Yellowjackets took over on their own 10.
An interception by Beau Wasmer on the Red Devils' next drive eventually set up Butler's third field goal. The senior converted from 45 yards, but an illegal procedure penalty pushed the line of scrimmage back 5 yards. The Williamstown coaching staff never hesitated about attempting another three-pointer - this time from 50 yards.
Butler's try actually cleared the crossbar by a few more inches than the play before, eclipsed the school record of 47 yards formerly held by Brad Kiger and put Williamstown in front 23-7 with 2:15 left in regulation. "I'm pretty pumped," Butler said. "This means a lot because I finally get my name in there."
