Williamstown’s Rex Anderson (4) carries the ball as Ritchie County’s CaDan Campbell (54) attempts to make a tackle during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

WILLIAMSTOWN — It turned out to be an early exit for most of Williamstown’s starters here Friday night as the Yellowjackets jumped out to a 44-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 58-6 victory against Ritchie County.

Six different players found the end zone for head coach Chris Beck’s squad, which improved to 4-0 and welcomes in Poca next Friday for homecoming as the Dots are 3-1 after falling 28-27 at Logan.

Although the Rebels of head coach Jared Shipe, who are now 1-3 and welcome in Doddridge County next Friday to Chuck Schofield Memorial Stadium, picked up a first down on their opening drive, it was the night of the Yellowjackets.

Quarterback Lynken Joy, who like most of the other starters didn’t return after halftime, found tight end Danner Hooper wide open on WHS’ first play from scrimmage for a 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown strike. Lyric Perdue converted the first of his eight extra point attempts at 8:43 of the first.

“We practiced that this week,” admitted coach Beck, who got three catches and a game-high 114 yards receiving from Hooper. “Actually it was youth night and I gave the youth three options for the first play of the game when we met them at 5:45 and that’s the one they voted for, so credit to our C, B and A teams. Credit goes to our kids. They (Ritchie County) are young and they are going to keep going, and they fought until the end.

Williamstown’s Evan Turner (10) nearly blocks a punt by Ritchie County’s Braiden Haught (21) during Friday’s game. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

“Our guys went out and did what we were supposed to do. We played physical and got out injury free. Everybody was healthy and got a lot of snaps tonight. For us, that’s big. Three of our four games now everybody that’s been dressed has got in the game and that’s stuff we continue to stress in our program. Our guys from one through 40 work their butts off, so they deserve a chance to get on the field if we can make that happen for them. We’re fortunate tonight that we did that.”

The lead extended to 21-0 before the end of the first as Joy hit Cooper Martin with a 43-yard touchdown pass, which was followed by a Cooper Billingsley 46-yard TD run.

Facing a fourth-and-9 at their own 15 to begin the second, Ritchie County’s punt was blocked by Christian Hoosier, which went for a team safety after the Rebels finally recovered in the end zone.

Rex Anderson, who had 84 yards rushing on five carries, ripped off a 37-yard gain following the free kick, which gave WHS a first-and-goal at the 10. On the next play, Joy found paydirt and the Rebels trailed 30-0 just 46 ticks into the second.

Following an interception by Martin of Rebel signal-caller Turner Shriver, the hosts needed just four plays to score from the 27 as Billingsley reached the end zone from 12 yards out.

Even though RCHS freshman Ayden Pittman picked off Joy late in the second, the Rebels were forced to punt. Hooper then followed with a backside screen from Joy that he housed from 36 yards away to set the halftime score.

On the final play of the first half, Hooper had a strip-sack which was recovered by teammate Ty Ott.

“It was kind of a trick play that coach Beck came up with and it was pretty much three options,” Hooper said of his first score. “Cooper Martin on the left side, me up the middle or Rex Anderson on the other sideline.

“I was the one open. This game, we played our game and played Williamstown football. Just got to keep rolling throughout the season.”

WHS freshman Breck Allen ran the second unit and led the hosts to a pair of touchdowns. He scored from 12 yards out at 3:16 of the third and Tyler Newlon’s conversion run put the Rebels in a 52-0 hole.

The Rebels, who allowed 497 total yards and had 209, finally got on the scoreboard when freshman Isaiah Poole darted 34 yards for a six-pointer at 9:18 of the fourth.

Jackson Kerr’s 4-yard TD capped the scoring as the ‘Jackets took a knee on the conversion attempt with 2:23 remaining.

“Tough assignment, but going into this game we started five players with little to no game experience,” admitted coach Shipe. “We were shelled last week by injuries. However, I do think that the young men, freshmen and newcomers to the team, stepped up huge against a stiff Williamstown team. We felt that we moved the ball well against them, but didn’t capitalize in those scoring situations. Huge point of emphasis moving forward for our program.”

Billingsley carried five times for 82 yards and Kerr chipped in 66 stripes on seven attempts. Joy, who threw his first pick of the campaign, finished 4 of 8 for 157 yards.

“They are big. They are powerful and coach (Seth) Ramsey does a great job,” coach Beck said of the Dots coming to town. “It’s a big points game for us and certainly a challenge.

“Homecoming, which there’s a lot of good with that and we want to embrace it, but there’s also a lot of distractions, so we have to be focused because we know we have a good ball club coming in.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com