Javoris Williams: A train that is hard to stop

Patterson. Pace. Mango. Starling. Bennett. Williams. Those are the names that synonymous with Pelham football this season. Those are the names a fan hears off the loudspeaker time and time again. Williams is the one who was named the player of the game for last week’s playoff win over Emanuel County Institute.

Javoris Williams, 5’9” 205, is a senior that plays both ways and plays almost every down. He is the teams’ leading rusher and the teams’ leading tackler. Pelham fans were understandably concerned late in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game when Williams did not get up after one of his tackles. He laid on the ground, kicking the ground in pain. When he did get up, he was obviously in pain and holding his shoulder. But good news for the Hornets is Williams was on the field playing full speed during practice Monday morning in Pelham.

While the Hornets have a number of weapons, Williams may be the one who hasn’t gotten the name recognition some of the others have. But if the Hornets keep moving in the state playoffs, that should change.

“He is definitely a cog in our offense,” said offensive coordinator Daniel Dorsey. “He has a low center of gravity and is difficult to tackle. That is why now defenses are trying to grab him around the knees or lower. That is why you see him jumping over people more and more.”

Williams doesn’t have huge statistics because Pelham doesn’t always emphasize the traditional running game, using a spread offense that moves the ball all over the field. The last two games, however, have been different. In the Mitchell County game, Williams carried 23 times and rushed for 165 yards and scored three touchdowns. Last week against ECI, he only carried nine times but gained 165 yards and hit the end zone twice. He now has 671 yards on 60 carries this season, an 11.2 average per carry and has scored 13 rushing touchdowns. He has also scored four touchdowns receiving.

“No running back is going to do well if the offensive line doesn’t do their job,” said Head Coach Dondrial Pinkins. “But once he gets going he is hard to stop. We tell the players all the time to be the train and not the car.”

“I don’t of too many guys that want to get in front of that train (referring to Williams),” said assistant coach David Johnson.

“Javoris sets the tone,” Pinkins said. “He is determined. We go as he goes, especially on defense. He does a tremendous job. He knows how to get everybody lined up and ready. Whatever it takes, he is going to be there to get it done.”

So as strong as his offensive statistics look, his defensive stats are just as impressive. He leads the team with 116 tackles, including 18 tackles for a loss and three quarterback sacks.

Williams and his teammates are not getting days off like other students at Pelham this week. The players are up and ready for practice each day this week to get ready for Greene County. But for Williams, it is just another game.

“It is just business,” Williams said. “This is what we do.” Interviewed after practice Monday, Williams was respectful and quiet but very confident. “We are going to do what it takes to win,” he said. “Even if I have to put the team on my back.”

The senior running back/linebacker doesn’t know where he will end up after his senior year at Pelham, but his performance on the football field has some schools taking a longer look. Williams is getting interest from Fort Valley State, Jacksonville State, Arizona Christian, and others. If Williams and the Hornets keep winning, he will find even more options at the end of his senior season.