Known for its passing game, the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets were forced to the ground Friday night against the Oneida (Tn) Indians. The Jackets proved they could run the ball when need as the Jackets scored two touchdowns by junior quarterback Thomas Fraizer to beat the Indians, 13-7.
“This was a good test for a young team,” said Williamsburg coach Jim Black. “We overcame adversity throughout the game. We played a great ballgame against a good opponent.”
Williamsburg rolled up 164 yards on the ground led by Frazier. He also had 130 yards through the air with most of those passes going to Chase Hamblin.
The test came in the fourth quarter for the Jackets. With the score 0-0 entering the final quarter of play it looked like overtime might be the answer. “It was a great football game, I thought it would end up in overtime.”
However, Oneida’s Jonathan Lewallen broke through the Williamsburg defense for a 57 yard run to the end one and put the host ahead, 6-0. The Indians tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Indians touchdown sparked the Williamsburg offense and the Jackets responded. A 34-yard pass from Frazier to Hamblin gave the Jackets a first-down at the Indians 23 yard line. On the ensuing play, Frazier made his way into the end zone. Hamblin’s kick tied the game and overtime looked possible once again.
With Oneida controlling its own dystany late in the game, the Indians fumbled the ball with just over two minutes left. Frazier opened the series with a 20 yard run across midfield, then hooked up with Hamblin for a pass play to the 18 yard line.
The junior quarterback didn’t waste much time as he rambled his way into the end zone for the go-ahead TD. The Jackets went for two points but the point after failed and Williamsburg owned a six-point lead with less than a minute to go. The Jackets defense was called upon to stop one final drive by the Indians. It was Hamblin who intercepted the ball with :34 left to give Williamsburg its third win of the season.
A third Tennessee team will come calling this week as the Jackets take on the Highlanders of Cloudland High School. “They are big and strong and like to run the football,” said Black.
“They are not making any bones about it, they are going to try and run over us.”
According to Black, they have two big backs, a fullback and a tailback over 200-pounds. “Their line averages well over 200-pounds,” said Black.
The Highlanders are 3-1 after opening the season wth wins over Sullivan East (18-7), West Greene (41-0) and Cosby (41-7). Their first loss came last week to Cherokee, 20-12.
Williamsburg 0 0 0 13- 13
Oneida 0 0 0 7- 7
Fourth Quarter
O-Jonathan Lewallen, 57 run, (kick good)
W-Thomas Frazier, 23 run (Hamblin kick)
W-Frazier, 18 run, (PAT failed)
