He also had a smile on his face.

He had plenty to be happy about.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back/punter played critical roles in all three phases to help No. 2 Jamestown to a come-from-behind 33-15 victory over No. 7 West Seneca West in a Section VI Class A quarterfinal on a chilly night on the city’s southside.

The win vaults the defending sectional champs — winners of seven straight — into the semifinals next Friday against No. 6 Kenmore West, a 15-12 winner over No. 3 McKinley.

Jamestown’s Jack Carlson returns an interception 59 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of Friday’s Section VI Class A quarterfinal against West Seneca West at Strider Field.

“They always have size, they’re always physical, they’re always big and they have a nice back,” Red Raiders head coach Tom Langworthy said of the Blue Devils. “We’ll have our work cut out for us, but we’re looking forward to the challenge, and the winner goes to the stadium.”

Were it not for Melendez’s play, however, a game that was tight at halftime may have taken on an entirely different tone and could have jeopardized any thoughts of Jamestown extending its postseason.

First, he intercepted a first-quarter pass by Indians quarterback Cayden Stupak and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown and then — after West Seneca West scored on back-to-back possessions — he caught a 9-yard TD pass from quarterback Trey Drake to pull Jamestown to within 15-14 late in the second quarter.

“You just never really know who is going to have the hot hand,” Langworthy said. “Colin had the big night tonight. He played well and played hurting a little bit, and that really showed his toughness.”

After halftime, it was all Red Raiders.

Jamestown’s Sean O’Brien attempts to get away from West Seneca West’s Dustin Thompson during Friday’s Section VI Class A quarterfinal at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

Of course, Melendez had a hand in that, too.

Standing in punt formation deep in Jamestown territory early in the third quarter, Melendez saw the snap sail over his head.

He retrieved the ball near the goal line and somehow lofted a pass that was caught by teammate Darius Freeney for an apparent first down. But the Red Raiders were flagged for an illegal man down field and pass interference, so they lined up in punt formation a second time.

And, fittingly, Melendez took center stage again as he snagged another high snap with one hand and booted the ball away. Except this time, West Seneca West was flagged for running into Melendez, which gave Jamestown a first down at its own 29.

“Colin is just a very good athlete,” Langworthy said. “He has really big hands and catches stuff with one hand all the time. I really think he treated the snap as nothing different than a high throw, palmed it and was able to make a play on it. You don’t really draw it up that way, but sometimes you let athletes be athletes and hope for the best. Tonight it worked out.”

Three plays later, Drake connected with Carson Panebianco on a 29-yard pitch and catch to get the Red Raiders into Indians’ territory. Carsen Bane followed with runs of 4, 29 and 9 yards, the latter burst for a touchdown. The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, but Jamestown had the lead for good, 20-15 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.

West Seneca West’s ensuing drive took it to Jamestown’s 33, but Stupak’s fourth-down completion was short of a first down and the Red Raiders took over. Thirteen plays later, Bane found the end zone again, this time from 10 yards out, pushing their lead to 26-15 with just under 10 minutes left in the game.

And for good measure, Jack Carlson put the game away on the Indians’ next possession when he stepped in front of an Indians’ receiver and returned the interception 59 yards for Jamestown’s second pick-six of the night.

Langworthy could finally breath a sigh of relief.

Because in the first half, West Seneca West (6-3) was giving the Red Raiders fits with its passing game as Stupak threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns to Bernard Freeman, one from 48 yards and the other from 36, the latter on third-and-28.

After halftime, though, Jamestown fixed whatever ailed its coverage in the secondary and they lived to see another week in the postseason.

“They gave us some fits on both sides of the ball,” Langworthy said. “At halftime, we really settled everybody down. We said that we took their best punch.”

Now the Red Raiders’ fight to defend their sectional crown can continue for another week.

NOTES: Bane finished with 99 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns. … Drake completed 12 of 24 passes for 153 yards and the TD to Melendez. … Panebianco caught six passes for 85 yards and Sean O’Brien had four receptions for 51. … O’Brien led the Red Raiders with 17 total tackles, including five for loss, and two sacks; Bane had 10 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks; and Mason McVinney and John Torres added eight tackles apiece. … Former Jamestown assistant coach Ryan Calkins was honored during a halftime ceremony for his years of service to the program.

West Seneca 15 0 0 0 — 15

Jamestown 7 7 6 13 — 33

JHS — Melendez 64 interception return (Propheter kick)

WSW — Freeman 48 pass from Stupak (Stupak run)

WSW — Freeman 36 pass from Stupak (Roberts kick)

JHS — Melendez 9 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

JHS — Bane 9 run (pass fail)

JHS — Bane 10 run (kick fail)

JHS — Carlson 59 interception return (Propheter kick)