Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Raiders advance to state quarterfinals
Defensively, it was a Matt Matthes masterpiece.
Williamsburg’s rookie defensive coordinator put together a solid game plan for last Friday night’s first-round playoff game against Humboldt, and his players executed it to perfection.
Led by junior linebacker Rayce Heitman, the Raiders gave up just four first downs and 72 yards of total offense to the Wildcats, including 11 negative yards rushing, while shutting them out, 23-0.
The victory improved Williamsburg’s record to 9-1 and sent them into Friday’s Class 3A state quarterfinals at home against Mount Vernon (9-1). Both teams lost to Solon earlier this year — the Mustangs by a 37-20 score at Mount Vernon, and the Raiders 21-14 at Solon.
Heitman was all over the field, roaming sideline to sideline and making 11 tackles, including 10 solos, 3.5 for lost yardage and 1.5 sacks.
The junior standout even scored the first points of the night for Williamsburg when he sacked the Humboldt quarterback in the end zone for a safety with just 80 seconds gone off the clock.
That play led to good field position for the Raiders and 12 seconds after Heitman’s safety, Williamsburg scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run by Derek Weisskopf.
Logan Rethwisch kicked the point, after and only two minutes into the game, the Raiders led 9-0. Not a good situation to be in if you’re the Wildcats, and things didn’t get any better for the visitors.
A 16-yard touchdown pass from Weisskopf to Heitman just before halftime, and Rethwisch’s second PAT kick put Williamsburg up 16-0.
The Raiders opened the second half with a drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock and culminated with Weisskopf’s second TD pass, a five-yard strike to Grady Wetjen.
Rethwisch booted the point after for a 23-0 lead and, later in the fourth quarter, the senior place-kicker would make a 25-yard field goal to complete Williamsburg’s scoring.
While Humboldt finished the night with little, if any, offense, the Raiders totaled 276 yards — 167 rushing and 109 passing.
Both teams were penalized seven times, Williamsburg for 55 yards, Humboldt 70. The Wildcats had one turnover, a fumble recovered by Weisskopf.
Kickoff for Friday’s game against Mount Vernon is 7 p.m. The winner advances to the state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 11, at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.
