Freshman Williamstown High School band members Austin Locke and Dylan Nicholas were standing just outside the practice hall after school late Thursday afternoon.

Not far away the stadium lights were glaring as the Yellowjackets football team worked in one more practice session before tonight's playoff game against Wheeling Central Catholic.

"A lot of people say this could be the last game, but I think we'll do good," Locke said.

Nicholas agreed.

"Everyone's getting excited about this game," he said. "And we'll be playing the fight song in the hallways Friday afternoon to get them pumped up. Hopefully it won't be as close as last year's game (against Wheeling Central)."

That contest ended in a narrow 14-13 victory for the Yellowjackets who went on to take the state championship in 2008. That followed three season-ending playoff losses to the Maroon Knights from 2005 to 2007.

"We're excited about this game and that Williamstown is in the playoffs," said Martha Rabatin, who said she and husband, Jeff, rarely miss a Yellowjackets game. "If they can get past Wheeling Central, I look for them to go all the way to the state championship again."

The match with Wheeling Central is coming early in the playoffs for Williamstown this year, but it's the only playoff game scheduled in Wood County and is expected to draw a large crowd.

Tickets for the game were selling briskly, according to Jeff Givens, Williamstown's athletic director.

"We had already sold between 600 and 700 advance tickets by noon (Thursday)," he said.

Advance tickets were $5 for students and $7 for adults. All tickets sold at the gate tonight will cost $7.

"We'll have a big crowd," Givens said. "We can expect a couple thousand people to show up, so it will be packed."

Williamstown police Chief B.D. Atkins believes the city will be able to handle parking for the game.

"But we're reminding everyone not to leave purses in cars, and to be sure and lock their vehicles," he said.

Dr. Steve Eddy is among the Yellowjackets' biggest fans.

"I'm speechless," he said. "This is kind of like having the Super Bowl two weeks before the Super Bowl is supposed to take place.

"But this team is humble and playing it cool," Eddy added. "You would never know that they were the state champs last year. The coaching staff has really kept them focused on taking one game at a time."

He said the stands will be bulging with spectators, not only from Williamstown and Wheeling, but other areas as well.

"People are ecstatic about this game, and I've been getting a lot of phone calls asking if tickets are still available," Eddy said.

"Wheeling Central isn't a local team, but they've turned out to be a good adversary in the last few years," said Williamstown athletic boosters President Jeff Depuy.

"We're expecting a huge crowd as there's a lot of interest in this game," he said. "Anytime you have two powerhouse teams it generates a lot of enthusiasm."

Williamstown Councilwoman Barbara Lewis agreed.

"We feel these teams are pretty evenly matched," she said. "And there's been a lot of pre-game ticket sales, so the stadium should be jam-packed."

Williamstown Mayor Jeanne Ford said the whole town seems to be primed for tonight's game.

"It's creating so much excitement, and I'm sure it will be sold out," she said.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m.