Williamstown head coach Chris Beck, right, speaks with quarterback Lynken Joy between plays during Friday’s game against Scott. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

MADISON – Scott’s defense kept Williamstown’s ground game to a hush as the Skyhawks defeated the Yellowjackets 17-7 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Friday night.

As the third-ranked team in Class AA entering the Scott contest, Williamstown (8-2) learns its postseason fate on Sunday when the WVSSAC releases the brackets for all four classes. Scott, already ranked at No. 8, improved to 8-2 after turning in its seventh straight win.

In only the third meeting between the two schools, the only points mustered in the first half occurred on Scott placekicker Tucker Breedlove connecting on a 24-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

Williamstown’s best opportunity at scoring points before halftime occurred midway in the first quarter. On first down at the Scott 21, Yellowjacket quarterback Lynken Joy rolled out on the play-action, couldn’t find an open receiver and intended to throw it away. Before the ball could reach the sidelines, Scott’s Cayden Sharps picked off the pass for the interception.

After the first quarter came to an end, Scott’s first play from scrimmage in the second period turned into a long-gainer on a completion from Nathan Easterling to Braden Clark which put the Skyhawks on the Williamstown 3.

Williamstown’s Cooper Billingsley (5) carries the ball during Friday’s game against Scott. (Photo by Nikki Allen)

The Yellowjackets defense made a stand and forced Scott to opt for a field goal on fourth-and goal from the 7 with 10:33 still remaining in the first half.

Williamstown’s offense took the field to open the second half, but turned the ball over on a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.

Starting from the Yellowjacket 38, Scott needed just two plays to finish off a scoring drive as Easterling found David Fennessy on the swing pass, who then covered 11 yards for the TD reception. The extra point put Scott in front 10-0 only 39 seconds into the third quarter.

Scott suffocated Williamstown’s ballcarriers throughout. The Yellowjackets went deep into their fourth series of the second half before recording a first down.

The second first down in the books rested on the arms of Martin, who took the pitch from Joy and found Carson Haines open for a 51-yard TD completion. Following the extra point, the deficit was three at 10-7 with 2:57 remaining in the third period.

Scott worked the clock in scoring its final TD of the game. Over the course of eight plays, the Skyhawks drove 72 yards – capped by Easterling’s 33-yard TD pass to Clark, who straddled the sidelines for the majority of the way to the end zone. With 9:35 left in regulation, Williamstown trailed 17-7.

The final two Yellowjacket drives of the game resulted in a failed fourth down conversion at the Scott 37 and an interception by Cole Elkins near midfield. After the pick, Scott converted enough first downs to kill the clock.

“We watched Williamstown come back against Wheeling Central, and even though they lost to Frankfort we knew we had to play until the very last second,” Scott coach Jeremy Dolan said. “There was no time to celebrate, and we knew we had to keep our foot on the gas.”