RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent: Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way (15) runs keeper during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
On the final play of the third quarter against Wyoming Valley West, Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way found Kyreek Bradshaw in the back of the end zone for what appeared to be an eight-yard touchdown.
The play was called back due to a penalty, but Way and Bradshaw managed to repeat the result on the next play, this time from 13 yards out. It was a sequence that summed up the core theme of the team’s performance, as the Millionaires thrived despite holding off on flags.
On Friday night at Millionaire Stadium, Williamsport (1-0) opened the 2024-25 season with a dominant shutout victory over Wyoming Valley West (33-0) to enter the contest as the winner. Even when you reach triple-digit penalty yardage, a win is a win, and head coach Michael Pearson hopes the team can build on that.
“I’m grateful that we came out of here with the win tonight and I congratulate the guys on both teams for their hard play,” said Pearson. “It’s the first game and the start, but we still have to work on a lot of things in terms of discipline and fitness.”
As for the opening drives on both sides of the ball, the Millionaires started strong.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent Aiden Everett of Williamsport navigates past two Wyoming Valley West defenders during a high school football game, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
Although the Spartans made a few good runs early on, they were stopped by the Williamsport defense just before they crossed the halfway line.
Then, after completing his first two passes as the team’s starting quarterback, Way found Trey Damschröder completely open ten yards behind the marker and had the chance to make a big play.
It wasn’t a perfect throw, as Damschroder had to break his run to get the ball back. But Way got him in position to make a play, and that’s exactly what he did. A few moves got him back to the sideline, and his speed did the rest as the pair lined up a 58-yard touchdown pass for the first score.
Despite some missed opportunities on the next two drives – forays into opposing territory that were aborted due to penalties – the offense continued to function and the defense backed it up. Way seemed to gain composure and improve his accuracy as the game went on.
On his fourth drive into opposing territory, Way again took advantage of one of his receivers finding a gap in the secondary and this time hitting Kyreek Bradshaw for a 38-yard touchdown.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent Trey Damshroder of Williamsport catches a pass and is hit by Chase Meyers of Wyoming Valley West during a high school football game, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
And in the third quarter, he doubled his total touchdowns when Samir Williams hit a screen and Bradshaw scored his second touchdown on a wheel route.
On the day, Way completed 14 of his 23 passes for 186 yards and four touchdowns. He also proved effective as a runner, leading the team in yards in the first half and finishing the game with over 60 rushing yards.
“I was really proud of Ejijah Way and the way he played tonight. He did a really good job,” said Pearson of Way’s debut. “He ran the ball fantastically. He’s a tough kid. He’s a weight room kid and made really smart decisions running and laying down and moving the chains on a lot of his runs.”
With running backs Kahyear Whaley and Jamel Bailey similarly successful on the ground, the Spartans defense couldn’t do much to counter this offense unless they were dealing with penalties.
The two rushed for 163 yards on 14 total attempts, an average of just under 12 yards per attempt. Each Millionaire made big runs, with Whaley capping off his day with a 49-yard run that put him over the 100-yard mark and Bailey making a 30-yard run that put his team just yards away from the goal.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent: Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way passes during a high school football game against Wyoming Valley West on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
“He had a beautiful run down the left sideline,” said Pearson, speaking of Bailey. “I think it was probably one of the best plays of the game.”
Defensively, Williamsport held firm throughout the game, finishing with two sacks and allowing just 124 yards and five first downs — four of those in the first half. Their lead was never in question in the second half, as Wyoming Valley West failed to get past the halfway line in the final two quarters.
“They played really well as a team and Coach Walker, our defensive coordinator, was able to bring in some players and they just kept playing strong,” said Pearson about the defense’s performance, which did not allow a single goal.
It’s a solid start to the season and one that the team will look to build on next week. Pearson expects a tougher challenge next Friday when Williamsport faces Hazleton on the road.
“There’s a lot of footage to watch tonight. We knew there would be some bumps in the first game. The main thing we need to watch out for is penalties.” said Pearson.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent: Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way looks for a receiver during a high school football game against Wyoming Valley West, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
“We just have to get this right and get better because our level of competition is going to improve immediately next week with a really disciplined Hazleton team.”
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent: Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way looks for a receiver during a high school football game against Wyoming Valley West, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent: Williamsport quarterback Elijah Way during a high school football game against Wyoming Valley West on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent Tevin Williams (11) of Williamsport advances past two Wyoming Valley West defenders during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent Jamel Bailey, 5, and Cordoza Minor, 75, of Williamsport, try to bring down Carter Isbel, 99, of Wyoming Valley West during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent: Tevin Williamsport (11) is pushed off the field by two Wyoming Valley West defenders during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wyoming Valley West’s Tyler Mattis (3) knocks down a pass intended for Williamsport’s Kreek Bradshaw (3) during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kahyear Whaley-Berry, 23, of Williamsport is stopped by two Wyoming Valley West defenders during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent Lucas Naughton, 19, and Kai Payton, 10, of Williamsport, bring down Wyoming Valley quarterback Damien Eastman during a high school football game in Williamsport, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
