Williamsburg didn’t lead until the final four minutes before holding on to win its season-opener over a much-improved Oneida, Tenn. squad with a 28-27 decision on Friday.
The Yellow Jackets (1-0) trailed throughout the contest and faced a 27-20 deficit in the fourth quarter before scoring with a little over four minutes remaining to get the one-point win.
Many expected Williamsburg to pull away early but that didn’t happen.
Oneida, Tenn. showed it was ready to play.
The Yellow Jackets fell behind 7-0 with 2:56 remaining in the first quarter after a one-yard touchdown run by Oneida, Tenn.
Williamsburg answered one minute later when Sydney Bowen connected with Ben Hale for a 53-yard touchdown connection to cut the Yellow Jackets’ deficit to 7-6 at the 1:11 mark.
Oneida, Tenn. added to its lead four minutes into the second quarter behind a 14-yard touchdown while pushing its lead to 14-6.
Williamsburg managed to tie the game right before half as Bowden broke a couple of tackles before scoring on a 33-yard touchdown run. The Yellow Jackets added the two point conversion to tie the game at 14 apiece.
Oneida’s ground game continued to roll in the third um quarter as a two-yard touchdown run with 9:19 left in the third quarter increased its lead to 21-14.
Hunter Thomas kept his team in the game by adding a rushing touchdown, a three-yarder, to make the score 21-20 after a failed two-point conversion attempt with 4:15 left in the period.
Oneida got away from the running game for its fourth touchdown. The Indians connected with a 16-yard touchdown pass to increase their lead to 27-20 with 11:24 remaining in the game.
Williamsburg took its first lead of the game seven minutes later as Bowen hard to contain.
He managed to break free from some Oneida defenders and found the endzone from five yards out while also adding the two-point conversion to give his team a 28-27 lead.
The Yellow Jackets’ defense answered the bell during the final four minutes, allowing Williamsburg to claim a one-point victory.
The Yellow Jackets will host Middlesboro Friday at 7:30 p.m.
