A big-play offense that has helped Williamsburg win district championships 13 of the past 16 years often starts on the middle school level and the seventh- and eighth-grade Jackets rolled to a 36-8 win Saturday at Harlan with an explosive offensive attack.
Quarterback Reece Hatcher threw for three touchdowns in the first half as the Jackets wasted no time taking control. Connor Vanover took the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown, then added the two-point conversion.
Harlan moved the ball on its first possession as Jaxson Perry teamed with Boss Bryson for one first down, then Bryson ran for another before the drive ended when Vanover picked off a pass.
Facing a fourth-and-two play, the Jackets scored when Hatcher teamed with Lane Jeffries for a 20-yard TD pass. The two-point conversion pushed the lead to 16-0.
Hatcher teamed with Noah Jones for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 left in the first half, then Jeffries went in for two points and a 24-0 lead.
Perry found Jonah Sharp for a first down on the Dragons’ next drive, but Williamsburg got the ball back in time for one play. Hatcher found Chase Meddles on a swing pass to his left that opened up for a 65-yard touchdown to close the half.
Harlan broke up the shutout when Perry went in from the 15 and Bryson added the two-point conversion.
The 2-3 Dragons will play at Pineville on Thursday and close the regular season on Sept. 26 at home against Jackson County.