Football programs love to build a tradition of winning for their fans, but a community also revels at an opportunity for a Cinderella season-ending run at a title.

When Class A top-ranked Williamstown plays host to No. 9 Man at 7:30 tonight in a Class A playoff quarterfinal, one team will keep those playoff hopes alive.

Both teams sport five-game win streaks, and each seems to adhere to the claim that defense wins championships.

Williamstown (10-1) has been a perennial addition to the state playoffs. The Yellow Jackets have progressed to the Class A title game each of the past three seasons, losing each time to the budding dynasty of four-time defending champion Wheeling Central. 

The Jackets' only loss came to Class AA No. 2 Grafton midway through the regular season. Since that loss, Williamstown has outscored opponents 233-27.

"Our defense has helped our offense by getting us good field position," said Williamstown coach Terry Smith. "It takes a little longer to get your offense clicking, but with the extra games and practices, I feel we've gotten better and better."

Out of the 10 opponents Williamstown played in the regular season, five made it to the playoffs, including two AA teams still alive in the quarterfinals.

Man (8-3) is competing in the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Hillbillies played four playoff teams, including two Class AA squads. Since a loss to AA Chapmanville, the Hillbillies have given up only 24 points in their last five games.

The Hillbillies last week contained Mount Hope's Da'Von Marion, West Virginia's regular-season rushing and scoring leader, in a 27-6 opening-round win. Marion had 155 yards, his second-lowest output of the season. That earned Man a three-hour bus ride to Williamstown.

Football programs love to build a tradition of winning for their fans, but a community also revels at an opportunity for a Cinderella season-ending run at a title.

When Class A top-ranked Williamstown plays host to No. 9 Man at 7:30 tonight in a Class A playoff quarterfinal, one team will keep those playoff hopes alive.

Both teams sport five-game win streaks, and each seems to adhere to the claim that defense wins championships.

Williamstown (10-1) has been a perennial addition to the state playoffs. The Yellow Jackets have progressed to the Class A title game each of the past three seasons, losing each time to the budding dynasty of four-time defending champion Wheeling Central. 

The Jackets' only loss came to Class AA No. 2 Grafton midway through the regular season. Since that loss, Williamstown has outscored opponents 233-27.

"Our defense has helped our offense by getting us good field position," said Williamstown coach Terry Smith. "It takes a little longer to get your offense clicking, but with the extra games and practices, I feel we've gotten better and better."

Out of the 10 opponents Williamstown played in the regular season, five made it to the playoffs, including two AA teams still alive in the quarterfinals.

Man (8-3) is competing in the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Hillbillies played four playoff teams, including two Class AA squads. Since a loss to AA Chapmanville, the Hillbillies have given up only 24 points in their last five games.

The Hillbillies last week contained Mount Hope's Da'Von Marion, West Virginia's regular-season rushing and scoring leader, in a 27-6 opening-round win. Marion had 155 yards, his second-lowest output of the season. That earned Man a three-hour bus ride to Williamstown.

"It was more than a big win,'' coach Harvey Arms said. "It gave us the confidence to believe we can win against anyone and hopefully we can carry over the momentum."

Smith sees two squads that like to run the ball and play defense.

"They beat a good team in Mount Hope," said Smith. "We're similar, but they might be a little quicker."

Man will look to free running back Khris Tolliver, who's run for 15 touchdowns and nearly 1,500 yards. Senior quarterback Cory Spence has rushed for five scores and thrown for 10, with his favorite target being Ryan Crum (155 yards, four TDs). Tight end Cody Harvey has the most receptions for Man, giving the Hillbillies a viable short-yardage passing option.

The Man defense is led by linebacker and leading tackler David Johnson (85 tackles).

Williamstown has two backs who split carries. Matt Hendrickson and Cameron Powell each recorded three TDs in the opening playoff game against Parkersburg Catholic.

First-year quarterback Adam Kerns has thrown for eight TDs and over 700 yards, with most of his completions going to Micah Wood, who averaged 16.9 yards per catch with seven TDs.

On defense, the Jackets are led by inside linebacker Robert Wigal and defensive backs Powell and Woods, who combined for 11 interceptions during the regular season, with two returned for scores.

Reach Nicholas Haynes at                 ontheroad1...@yahoo.com.