Williamstown Football Team Makes History with Back-to-Back State Championships
Williamstown’s Max Molessa (7) throws a pass during Saturday’s Class A state championship game against Greenbrier West in Wheeling. (Photo by Neal Smith)
The Williamstown Yellowjackets football team created history by winning their second consecutive state championship in the Class A division. The 42-12 victory over Greenbrier West in Wheeling marks the first back-to-back championship wins in the program’s history. While the entire team deserves credit for this achievement, it’s the senior class that left an indelible mark.
Leading the charge was Maxwell Molessa, who earned the Most Outstanding Player Award for the third consecutive year. Molessa’s exceptional performance in the final game of the Super Six, including 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns, attributed his achievement to the team and coaching staff. He humbly stated, “The MVP is the team and the coaching staff. I just did my job and did everything I could to help us out, but I’m truly blessed.”
Molessa expressed his gratitude for the senior class, stating, “The seniors, we’ve been striving for this moment since we were in elementary school. To finish it out like this and actually accomplish our goal is just truly a blessing.”
Aiden Corbett, one of the senior linemen, shared his observations on the game, saying, “We came out and played hard, we played fast, we played physical like we wanted. We minimized errors, and I think we played great defense.”
Williamstown’s Louis Goodnow (5) makes a move during Saturday’s Class A state championship game against Greenbrier West in Wheeling. (Photo by Neal Smith)
Colt Hesson’s senior season didn’t go as planned due to a torn ACL. However, he was able to make a fitting end to his high school journey. Hesson rejoined the team for the final play of the game and took a knee, relishing the unique opportunity of being part of the final play across the entire state of West Virginia. He described it as “really special” and expressed his appreciation for the coaches and players who supported him throughout his injury.
Hesson reflected on the passage of time, stating, “It’s great. I’ve been with these kids since kindergarten. It’s been great growing up with them, and I can’t believe it’s here already.”
Lynken Joy, a junior running back and linebacker, acknowledged the incredible impact of the departing senior class and their leadership. While their absence will be felt, Joy has confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back and maintain the program’s standard.
Head coach Chris Beck expressed his happiness for the senior class, praising their work ethic, character, and competitiveness. He acknowledged their rare and special camaraderie and commented, “To have so many in one class being able to do that is just a special group.”
For more news and updates, contact Aaron Lee at [email protected].