Mark Williams had no idea he had just run for 316 yards–in the first half.
The 5-foot-9-inch, 165-pound Richards running back had only two carries in the second half–both for touchdowns–and then sat out to enjoy the rest of last week’s 55-6 victory over Thornton Fractional North.
“I didn’t know I had the school’s single-game rushing record until someone told me after the third quarter,” said Williams, who rushed for 348 yards and six touchdowns, including breakaway runs of 58, 63 and 74 yards.
“I had some great blocking from my offensive line.”
Williams eclipsed the marks of ex-Richards standouts such as J.C. Love, Joe Montgomery, Demetrius Smith and Wisconsin running back Dion Foster.
“It feels great,” Williams said. “I’m not one of the best ever at this school, but I’m pretty good. The only thing I’m lacking is the size.”
But being built so close to the ground allows him to hide behind a huge offensive line that will attack Thornton Fractional South (7-0, 6-0) on Friday night in Lansing in a battle for the SICA Orange title.
No. 16 Richards (6-1, 6-0) features an offensive line averaging 6-2, 280 per man that will oppose a T.F. South defensive line averaging 5-10, 181. The biggest mismatches are Jim Moore (6-5, 305) versus Denny Sidkey (6-1, 190), Mike Hettiger (6-2, 275) vs. Erik Hansen (5-7, 155) and Mike Ferrin (6-2, 290) vs. Glynne Hill (6-2, 175).
“It’s definitely going to be David vs. Goliath,” T.F. South coach Tom Padjen said. “And that Williams kid is so explosive. He gets behind those big guys and disappears. He is fun to watch, but not so much fun to coach against.”
Williams has rushed for 1,393 yards and 22 touchdowns–including scoring runs of 60, 68 and 70 yards in addition to last Friday’s TDs. He is averaging 10.5 yards per carry and also had an 80-yard touchdown catch against Morgan Park.
“I feel that I have an elusive style of running,” said Williams, who sprints 40 yards in 4.48 seconds and ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes in track his freshman and sophomore years. “I’m an agility back, and once I cut back, I’m gone.”
Williams transferred to Richards after his freshman year at Crete-Monee, played running back on the sophomore level and receiver and defensive back last year while biding his time behind Foster.
“I’m going to do something special for my linemen after the season,” Williams said. “For sure, I’ll take them out to eat. But I also want to do something extra for them.”
———-
bsakamoto@tribune.com
