Williamsburg Moves Closer to Playoffs

The Williamsburg High School football team is getting healthy at the right time with the District 6 Class 1A playoffs on the horizon.

Behind junior quarterback Lambert Palmer's three touchdown passes, the Blue Pirates rolled to a 42-0 win at Claysburg-Kimmel on Friday, Oct. 9.

WHS improved to 2-3 while C-K dropped to 1-4. The Blue Pirates are ranked eighth in the District 6 Class 1A rankings with 240 ranking points. The top 12 will advance to the postseason.

Palmer tossed his touchdown passes in the first half while senior Tyler Clark ran for two scores as WHS built a 36-point cushion at halftime. Palmer threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to junior Caymen Hughes then followed it up with a 45-yard strike to Jahmarea Wansley.

Clark found the end zone on runs of 13 and 40 yards in the second quarter. Palmer's 10-yard pass to freshman Andrew McMonagle followed by the 2-point conversion capped the first-half scoring.

Sophomore Colton Verbonitz closed the scoring with a 12-yard run in the third quarter.

"We obviously were excited to get a win against Claysburg, WHS coach Ryan Hileman said. "Lambert Palmer was throwing the ball well, and we were able to make some big plays through the air. We had success moving the ball on the ground, with Tyler Clark scoring twice. Both offensive and defensive lines played extremely well, and allowed us to control the line of scrimmage."

Palmer threw for 162 yards on 9-of-16 passing. McMonagle had three receptions for 58 yards and Wansley had two catches for 54 yards. Clark ran seven times for 76 yards.

"Our players have stuck together through a few difficult weeks, but now the hard work is paying off," Hileman said. "We were able to get several players healthy, which is always good when you are at a small school. The fact that they missed time allowed for other players to be productive and get valuable playing time.

"Now that everyone is healthy, it allows us to have a little more depth than we have had over the past few weeks. What impresses me is how the team has come together after tough losses, with the seniors, (especially Captains Shane Brantner, Tyler Clark, Ian Crouch, and Wes McCall) leading the way. Everyone has one goal, and are working together to achieve it."

Senior Presten Bush led C-K with 15 carries for 60 yards. Junior Wyatt Buell had two receptions for 12 yards.

"Going into our preparations with Williamsburg, we knew they were a much-improved team from last year," C-K coach Matt Bilchak said. "Looking at their previous games, they played hard and beat Juniata Valley. We knew they were not going to be an easy match up.

"We are still searching for an offensive identity as we have many players injured right now. As the season winds down, we are hoping to continue growing as a team and understand it takes consistent play by all 11 guys to move the football rather than waiting for one guy to step up and make every play."

WHS will play West Branch (1-4) on Friday, Oct. 16, at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium. C-K will entertain Northern Bedford (4-1). Both games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.