Photo by Nikki Allen Wheeling Central’s Braden McWreath runs to the outside during the Maroon Knights’ game on Friday against Williamstown.

WILLIAMSTOWN –Williamstown’s quest for a possible third straight state championship remained intact after the fourth-seeded Yellowjackets defeated No. 4 Wheeling Central, 29-21, in a Class AA quarterfinal state playoff game Friday night at Williamstown High School.

The Yellowjackets (10-2) await the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup between No. 8 Bluefield at No. 1 Frankfort.

Similar to the formula they used to erase a 19-point deficit in a win over the Maroon Knights during the regular season, Williamstown overcame two second half turnovers which Wheeling Central turned into touchdown drives.

After Wheeling Central quarterback Nico Kusic scored on a 15-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter and put the Knights in front 21-14, Williamstown freshman Jackson Fulton returned the ensuing kickoff just over midfield. The Knights were flagged with a late-hit, 15-yard penalty on the play and the Yellowjackets were in business.

“Last time we played Wheeling Central we had three turnovers and were down 19-0; Marietta we were down two touchdowns and we came back,” Williamstown coach Chris Beck said. “Even the Frankfort game, that was a good game until the end. Our guys will not quit fighting.

“Bad things happen, we try to make the next play. Jackson Fulton gave us a spark and we were able to finish.”

Williamstown quarterback Lynken Joy called his own number six of the next seven plays with the final carry resulting in a 1-yard score.

Joy scored all four Yellowjacket TDs and finished the game with 233 yards rushing on 41 carries.

“Lynken is phenomenal,” Beck said. “He is as hard-nosed as they come. Tough, nothing flashy about Lynken. He is going to run hard and play hard. He is one of the best players in double-A. He’s proven that over his career. He stepped up tonight.

“On plays they know he is getting the ball, he finds a way to get yards. But he will be the first to tell you it wouldn’t happen without the guys up front. I thought they did a great job most of the night controlling the line.”

Instead of trying to tie the game with an extra point, coach Beck felt momentum was on his side and elected to go for two. Joy found the end zone without much fight, and with 9:02 still remaining in the fourth quarter Williamstown moved in front to stay at 22-21.

“We are always aggressive,” Beck said. “With time left on the clock, I thought we would have another chance to score. And I like to control our own destiny a little bit.”

Wheeling Central had issues securing the ball on the ensuing kickoff and started its drive backed up at its own 15. On third-and-13, Joy nearly had himself a pick-six but could not hang on for the interception just as he started booking for the end zone.

Following a punt and a Wheeling Central goal-line stand on defense, Wheeling Central took over at its own 5. Again, the Maroons Knights made no headway and turned the ball over on downs at their own 3.

On third down from the 1, Joy crossed the goal line to put the Yellowjackets in front 29-21 with 3:17 remaining in regulation

“(Joy) is a force to reckon with,” Wheeling Central coach Mike Young said.

Wheeling Central had one lifeline left when a double personal foul for a late hit while the quarterback was sliding to the ground moved the ball to the Williamstown 28. On third-and-17, Kusic threw deep into the end zone. Williamstown’s Cooper Martin was the only player in the vicinity and intercepted the pass.

“It was a tough loss for us because we battled back hard,” Young said. “Some key plays and some key penalties definitely put us in an awkward position.

“We were limited offensively there in the fourth quarter. Williamstown did a good job handling us up front. That was the difference in the game. They controlled the line of scrimmage and that’s where the game is won and lost.”

Williamstown killed the final 2:14 off the clock for the win. The Yellowjackets called a total of three plays. The first 26 plays from scrimmages were run plays.

“We felt like our linemen had great skill, so we went heavy,” Beck said. “We tried to pound the ball and play keepaway. They are a very explosive offense, and what we were doing was working. And the way we were able to move the ball, we stayed with it.”

For the better part of three quarters, Kusic’s short drops out of a spread formation gave Williamstown fits.

The sophomore connected 16 of his first 19 pass attempts for 126 yards and two touchdowns — one for 5 yards to Max Olejasz which opened the scoring at the 6:07 mark of the first quarter and a 6-yarder to Joey Hall which tied the game at 14-14 with 4:33 showing in the third quarter.

Kusic also led the Knights in rushing with 72 yards on 16 carries.

“(Kusic) has a great future, we are looking for big things from him,” Young said.

Williamstown eventually kept Kusic in check and allowed just one completion in the final 16 ½ minutes.

Between Fulton providing a spark on the kickoff return or getting battle-tested as defensive back and senior running back Rex Anderson asking to stay in the game as a lead blocker despite injuring his left shoulder, the subtle moves made by Williamstown paid off in the end.

“That was a huge return by Jackson,” Beck said. And what they were trying to do offensively, went to our quarters package. And that’s two freshmen.

Breck Allen is another freshman in the defensive backfield.

“To put freshmen on this stage, that is asking a lot, but we asked them to do things during the season to prepare for that moment,” Beck said. “They live for these moments. Both Jackson and Beck will have great careers as long as they keep working hard.

“We weren’t really expecting the spread and then throwing it around. For the freshmen to come out here and make plays, that’s a good job for them.”

In Anderson’s case, the coaching staff had to be careful how much time he spent on the field and what situations.

“Wasn’t at a 100% by any stretch of the imagination but finished the game,” Beck said. “Rex is a fighter. The senior class are fighters. He wanted to be involved tonight more than we wanted to let him be in there at the end. We were kind of picking and choosing our spots with Rex.

“Phenomenal, gutsy effort by Rex.”