Williamston pitches shutout against high powered St. Clair to move to semifinals

Coming into Friday night the St. Clair Saints had scored 187 points combined in wins over New Haven, Yale and North Branch. Slowing the offense down was going to be a big task for the Steve Kersten coached Williamston Hornets.

“Everybody here knew that we had a pretty good defense,” Kersten said. “We knew they had an outside game, but we prepared well.”

Kersten’s team would not allow a single point as Williamston won 28 to 0.

Along with the shutout, the Hornets held St. Clair under 200 total yards and forced two fumbles.

“It’s been that way all season long,” Kersten said. “You look back to the St. John’s game where they took to our defense and we responded well.”

Along with an exceptional showing on the defense the offense did their job as well. Senior quarterback Austin Stiffler threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns through the air and 50 yards on the ground.

“I have to give it to the o-line they really blocked their butts off tonight.” Stiffler said. “The receivers also didn’t drop anything tonight.”

Stiffler would hit fellow senior Carey Haney on his first two passes of the game and both went for touchdowns. The first for 55 yards and the second for 90 yards.

“The first one was a big momentum drive,” Haney said. “I didn’t know he was going to throw it to me until I got it and I knew I was gone.

Haney finished the game with only the two touchdown receptions and 145 yards. Haney also ran the ball three times for a total of five yards.

Williamston advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2010 when the Hornets lost in the state finals to Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

Williamston will play the winner of Chelsea (8-3) and Farmington Hills Harrison (8-3) who play Saturday at 1 pm.

The state semifinal game will be played at neutral site determined following the winner of Saturday’s game on Nov. 17.