Jerry Herron has brought several high-powered passing attacks to the Joe Gilly Athletic Complex in his 20 seasons at the helm of the Williamsburg football program. None were quite as dominant as sophomore Reece Hatcher and company on Friday in a 56-8 rout of the Green Dragons.
Hatcher threw for four touchdowns in the first quarter as the Jackets built a 36-0 lead to start a running clock. He added one more in the second period for a 50-0 halftime lead on the way to a 56-8 rout. Hatcher completed eight of 11 passes for 207 yards and five touchdowns in one half of action.
Herron was happy with the way his Jackets bounced back from a tough 22-14 loss last week against Middlesboro for the District 7 championship.
“He threw the ball well,” said Herron. “I thought we played hard last week but had some things go against us. I’m happy with the way we went back to work and got ready to play tonight. We were focused and executed very well.”
The Green Dragons fell to 1-8 and were held to one touchdown or less for the eighth time with only eight yards of offense in the first half. Harlan also struggled to stop the Williamsburg passing game with receivers running open in the secondary.
“They are a good football team, but it took them a while to build it,” Harlan coach Brian WIlliams said. “We made a lot of mistakes, but it wasn’t just the secondary. We have a very young team with no seniors, and I was proud of how they continued to battle and showed some grit in the second half.”
Williamsburg wasted no time blowing the game open, beginning when Chase Meddles returned the opening kick 87 yards for a score.
The Jackets recovered the ensuing onside kick to start Hatcher’s highlight reel, beginning with a 46-yard TD pass to wide open Noah Jones on the first offensive play. Eli Meadors added the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead with only 32 seconds gone.
Hayden Kleinert recovered the next kickoff near the sideline as a Harlan player watched the ball bounce, but the Jackets were unable to capitalize this time after three incomplete passes.
Williamsburg got the ball back four plays later, and Hatcher needed only two plays to team with Peyton Hamilton for a 46-yard TD pass. Hatcher threw to Trenton Cornett for a two-point conversion and 22-0 lead.
Hatcher teamed with Cornett for a 23-yard touchdown with 3:16 left in the opening period and Meddles for a 21-yard touchdown with 1:01 to play to start a running clock with a 36-0 lead.
Hatcher threw to Lane Jeffries for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 9:30 left in the second quarter, then Meadors added the two-point conversion for a 44-0 lead. Isaiah Sizemore added a 29-yard touchdown run on the final play of the half after the Jackets got the ball tackling Elijah Caudill on fourth down as he was unable to handle the snap on a punt. The Jackets covered 95 yards on the ground in four plays despite a clipping penalty.
Boss Bryson provided a highlight for the Harlan offense early in the second half as he took a huge hit from a Williamsburg defender, going back several yards before recovering and breaking loose for a 42-yard touchdown run with 7:50 to play in the third quarter. Bryson added the two-point conversion.
Kleinert teamed with Landon Michael Miller for a 32-yard touchdown pass to cap a five-play, 46-yard drive on the final play of the third quarter.
Landon Kirby and Bryson each had runs for first downs in the fourth quarter in a drive that ended on the Williamsburg 13 after a Bryson fumble on fourth down.
The Green Dragons will close their regular season schedule Friday at home against East Ridge before traveling to Middlesboro for the first round of the Class A playoffs on Nov. 7. The 6-3 Yellow Jackets will play at Knox Central on Friday.