Scranton quarterback Jack Cabets (12) throws under pressure from Williamsport’s Kason Ulmer in the second quarter of the first round of the district play-offs at Williamsport Friday. MARK NANCE / Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Scranton’s Reece Whitman (20) runs the ball against Williamsport in the first quarter. MARK NANCE / Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Scranton’s Reece Whitman (20) avoids a tackle from Williamsport’s Kason Ulmer (13) in the first quarter. MARK NANCE / Sun-Gazette Correspondent
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Scranton quarterback Jack Cabets (12) throws under pressure from Williamsport’s Kason Ulmer in the second quarter of the first round of the district play-offs at Williamsport Friday. MARK NANCE / Sun-Gazette Correspondent
BY GARRETT CARR
Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Williamsport quarterback Tevin Williams took the shotgun snap, looked to his left and couldn’t find any daylight. He decided to reverse field and try to create something out of nothing while in the shadow of his own goal line.
That’s when Williams’ sensational athleticism took over.
He shook off two tackles, broke through the pile, extended his stride and was off to the races for a 96-yard touchdown run to put the Millionaires up by 20 en route to a 43-16 win in the District 2-4 Class 6A semifinals Friday.
“On the snap, I read how they were coming off the ball and went left. My O-line did an amazing job blocking, but they had more numbers than us. He came up the middle, I saw him cut back, and Brayden Ungard had a great block on the corner, and it opened up a wide lane.” Williams said. “It just felt really good knowing that I was going to score on a big play, and we really needed it. The game was still close. It was 14-0 and that just sealed it. Our energy was high.”
That was far from Williams’ only highlight on the night, as he totaled 315 total yards.
“Tevin is a great kid. His energy is unbelievable. His athleticism is unbelievable. He’s fun to watch on the football field, he’s fun to watch on the basketball court and on the track. He’s a very special kid. I think he represents the best qualities of this school and this town,” Millionaire coach Mike Pearson said. “He makes plays that other people can’t make. He extends plays. His speed is a game-changer. His speed is phenomenal, but he also makes a lot of plays with his brain, and he’s very smart, and he sees things before things happen. And, the best thing about Tevin is he’s very coachable.”
Williams was simply too much for the Scranton Knights defense.
“He’s a great athlete. He creates with his legs, and he has a great arm, too. It was 14-0, we had them backed up, and then he just makes a great, great play. We miss a couple tackles, and that was that,” Scranton coach Steve Shumbres said.
It wasn’t just Williams excelling in a game Williamsport led, 43-0, at one point. The first-team defense forced four turnovers, plus another on special teams, en route to pitching a shutout before being removed with the mercy rule in effect.
Williamsport forced their first turnover of the game, one of four fumbles they recovered, on the opening drive. It didn’t take them long to cash in, as Williams used his arm and legs to get into the red zone before running in from seven yards out to put the Millionaires on the board.
After stopping Scranton again, Williams found Lucas Naughton behind the defense as the two hooked up for a beautiful pitch-and-catch for a 79-yard touchdown as Naughton made an adjustment on the deep ball.
Following the long Williams run, Austin Beaghley blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone for another Milliionare touchdown with 3:07 left in the half.
After Scranton fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Millionaire running back Gio White capped the scoring in the first half, as he caught a backward lateral on a swing pass from Williams for a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:43 left in the second quarter, as Williamsport led, 36-0.
Williams struck again for his fourth and final touchdown, as he broke off a 37-yard scramble untouched on the left sideline midway through the third quarter.
Scranton scored 16 points in the fourth quarter against the Millionaire reserves. Kamani Sterling led the Knights with 88 yards rushing on six carries and four catches for 19 yards.
Williamsport will travel to take on Wilkes-Barre Area for the subregional title next Friday.