Williamsburg clinches playoffs berth

Williamsburg’s football team clinched a berth in the Class 3A state playoffs by beating Benton Community 28-7 last Friday night at Bob Murphy Stadium.

The Raiders (8-1) will face Humboldt (5-4) in first round playoff action Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

In a game dominated by the defenses, Williamsburg got on the board early, scoring on their first offensive possession on a 35-yard run by Derek Weisskopf. Logan Rethwisch kicked the point after.

Neither team would score again until late in the third quarter when Kellen Cockrell hooked up with Rayce Heitman for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Rethwisch’s point after put the Raiders up 14-0,

The Bobcats trimmed Williamsburg’s lead to 21-7 to start the fourth on a one-yard run by Carson Bruns and Caleb Glessener’s point after, but they wouldn’t get an closer.

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Clayton Steckly got behind the Benton defense to haul in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Cockrell, and Braylon Wetjen intercepted his second pass of the night and returned it 12 yards for a TD as time expired.

Rethwisch made both PAT kicks.

Williamsburg welcomed the return of Cockrell to the lineup after he missed his last three games due to a high ankle sprain. He completed 15-for-25 passes for 244 and three TD’s.

Williamsburg outgained Benton 351-193 in total yards. Steckly had the best night of his career at receiver with eight catches for 148 yards.