From left, Williamsburg Academy's Teague Ward, Holdon Baylor and Layton Morris pile onto a Bethesda Academy ballcarrier Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Williamsburg Academy won the SCISA Class 2A semifinal game 38-8 at Williamsburg Academy in Kingstree.
Undefeated Williamsburg Academy seemed to be in a rush Friday to reach the SCISA Class 2A championship game for the second consecutive year.
On the Stallions’ first offensive play from scrimmage from their own 10-yard line, junior running back Teague Ward sprinted 61 yards down the left sideline on a basic off-tackle play.
“I had a good hole, and I made a good cut,” Ward said. “I thank my line for that play, and I thank them for every play I got.”
He credited Camden Moore with the key block. Ward was caught from behind at Bethesda Academy’s 29-yard line, but the Stallions were off and running to a 38-8 victory in the 2A semifinals.
“That kind of set the tone and loosened everybody up a little,” Williamsburg Academy Coach Don Shelley said.
Four plays later, Moore ran 12 yards for a touchdown, and the Stallions ran away from the opponent from Savannah, Georgia.
Williamsburg Academy will play Colleton Prep at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Charleston Southern. Colleton Prep defeated Beaufort Academy 23-20 on Friday.
“That one play does put a spark in our team, and it carries on the rest of the game,” said junior quarterback Conrad Balder, who passed for 150 yards and ran for two touchdowns that helped the Stallions take a 26-0 halftime lead.
Ward ran for two touchdowns. Moore and Ty Tilton added rushing TDs. Williamsburg Academy ran 31 times for 206 yards, an average of 6.6 yards per carry.
The Stallions are in the same position they were in a year ago: undefeated and headed to the championship game. This time, they want a better outcome. They lost to Hilton Head Christian 34-7 in the 2021 championship game.
Williamsburg Academy is seeking its first state championship since 2013. Shelley is seeking his first in four seasons at WA, but he has won 11 state championships elsewhere.
He says this team is “like a bunch of brothers.”
“They come out ready to play football,” Shelley said. “Sometimes they cuss with each other, but they play together when they go out on the field. … They support each other, they practice hard, and they play hard.”
Shelley said his team recovered quickly from last’s year loss.
“Kids get over stuff,” he said. “Kids are like hard rubber balls. You throw them against the wall and they bounce back. Old men like me? You know, maybe I'm thinking about it a little too much.”
Balder is eager to get another shot at the title.
“We have matured a lot since last year,” he said. “I think we have grown as a team. We've got great team chemistry, and I think that will help us with the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.”
Ward said the Stallions have grown since the end of last season. Literally.
“We have more size and strength,” he said, “and we have more heart than anyone.”
