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Marietta football plays Williamstown in home opener

JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times Williamstown’s Donathan Taylor (5) chases Marietta’s Corbin Alkire during a high school football game last season at Don Drumm Stadium.

After two blowout wins on the road to start the season, Marietta High is excited to open at home Friday against Williamstown on the new and improved Don Drumm Stadium turf.

“We’re excited to play on new turf,” said MHS head coach Jason Schob. “I’m sure it will be packed house and a great atmosphere for a high school football game.”

The Tigers (2-0) will face a 1-1 Yellowjackets team which defeated Magnolia 20-8 last week. Williamstown bounced back from a 33-0 season-opening loss to Wheeling Central.

“It’s important we come with the same focus this week that we’ve had the first couple weeks,” Schob said. “We have to play sound, disciplined football. Williamstown does some things we need to make sure we’re fundamental with.”

The Tigers defeated Williamstown 49-14 last year at Don Drumm and currently own a two-game win streak against the ‘Jackets. Schob praised head coach Terry Smith’s squad for their effort through two weeks.

“They’re traditional Williamstown,” he said. “Their kids play extremely hard. They don’t quit the entire time and they always play to the whistle.”

Two familiar faces for Williamstown will be quarterback Carter Haynes and running back Donathan Taylor. Haynes does the bulk of the carrying, rushing for all three of the Yellowjackets’ touchdowns last week.

“Carter is just always there,” Smith said. “He’s a rock … gets beat up and keeps ticking. The problem is, we’ve got to have another play where we can take the ball out of his hands a little bit.”

Offensively for the Tigers, they’ll try to stay balanced. The first two games, Schob has “thrown the gameplan out the window” once the game started due to how the opposing defense was lined up. The Tigers are versatile enough to attack opponents through the air or on the ground.

“We’ve been pretty well rounded,” Schob said. “We’ve had different kids getting yardage and putting up points.”

Quarterback Corbin Alkire has had two solid games. Last week, the junior rushed for 91 yards and threw for 113 while accounting for two touchdowns. His top targets have been Tony Munos and Daniel Long. Munos, Chase Taylor and Kory Science lead a ground game that also has been successful.

Defensively, Marietta’s starting unit has yet to give up any points.

Williamstown is familiar with tough defenses. Week one the ‘Jackets were shut out by the Maroon Knights. Despite winning last week, Magnolia limited them to 149 total yards. Still, Smith was happy with what he saw from his team overall.

“My hat’s off to the seniors,” he said. “They worked hard (last) week and didn’t miss a beat. I’m not surprised we won, and we didn’t squeak it out.”

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