WHAT WE SAW: Williams Runs Wild In Powdersville Win

Jed Blackwell September 2, 2022 @ 11:20 PM

MAULDIN | Powdersville's [player_tooltip player_id='91152' first='Thomas' last='Williams'] models his game after a dynamic, versatile NFL back.   "I try to compare myself to Le'veon Bell," he said. "I try to play like him, to be patient, and then when the hole opens for me, hit it and go. Mauldin had a great defense tonight, and I couldn't be as patient as I want because they were putting pressure on me. I had to hit the hole a little faster than usual, and I guess that worked."   It certainly did. Williams rushed for 158 yards and three TDs in the Patriots' 41-20 win over Mauldin, adding one catch for 44 yards and another score.   "It feels good," Williams said of the win. "I know in our Week 0 game against Broome, I wasn't the greatest. I told everybody that was on me, and that I'd bounce back. Last week, and again tonight, I showed out. I'm not planning to stop."   Williams' scores showed off some of the things he's capable of. On the screen pass, he made a defender miss within a couple yards of the line of scrimmage, then split the heart of the defense for 44 yards. He had a 40-yard run that saw him get quickly to the corner and pull away from defenders in just a couple feet of space. His 13-yarder was straight off-tackle and cashed in on a huge special teams play, and he capped his night with a 20-yard run, sidestepping two Mauldin players at the line and scampering into the end zone.   Oh, and he had five tackles on defense.   "I get tired here and there," he said. "It's not too bad."   Several other players had big impacts on both sides.   [player_tooltip player_id='1253958' first='Elijah' last='Huggins'] had 144 all-purpose yards, and never touched the ball on offense. Huggins gave Powdersville the lead for good in the first half, answering a Mauldin score that made it 14-14. He took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a score and a 20-14 advantage that the Patriots would never relinquish. He almost broke a 46-yard punt return later, setting up Williams' 13-yard score.   Powdersville LB [player_tooltip player_id='89333' first='Jalen' last='Rambert'] had a monster night. He racked up eight tackles and three tackles for loss, and routinely blew up plays in the middle of the Mauldin line.   Mauldin RB Kelvin Johnson showed combination of speed and power that's going to be tough to deal with. Jones rushed for 147 yards on the night, including a 48-yard off-tackle scamper in the first half that tied the game at 14-14.

MAULDIN | Powdersville's Thomas Williams Thomas Williams 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Powdersville | 2023 State SC models his game after a dynamic, versatile NFL back.