Calling plays has never been more enjoyable for Washington football coach Sport Sawyer. How could it be? With a senior quarterback that’s capable of throwing, running and catching touchdowns the possibilities were endless for the Pam Pack as its offense operated in Madden-like fashion.
That’s the effect Jimmy Williams had on his team this year as the explosive QB presented fans with PlayStation-style highlights on a weekly basis and finished the year leading the team with 937 passing and 1,225 rushing yards, while hauling in five passes for another 95 yards to account for a total of 27 TDs.
That effort enabled Washington to post a 10-4 record and reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1956 and led to Williams being named the Washington Daily News Offensive Player of the Year.
“I really wanted to go further than that, but making history is always good in my book,” Williams said of the Pack’s historic season.
This year Williams was good in anybody’s book and the 6-1, 160-pounder turned in performances that have already become Pam Pack lore.
There was the night the Pack played against White Oak when he ran for two scores, threw for another and caught a 52-yard TD pass to complete the cycle in the team’s 34-0 victory. Then, there was the night he rushed for 224 yards on 12 attempts to lead the Pam Pack past Ahoskie in the second round of the playoffs.
Of all the “did-you-see-that moments” Williams has compiled this year you will be hard pressed to find one better than the time he scored five touchdowns to lead the Pam Pack over West Craven.
“When we played at home in the first round of the playoffs against West Craven I felt like that was my best game because I had never played at home in a playoff game and to do that in front of all those people out there and to score five touchdowns in the first half made it probably my best game,” Williams said.
Playing in Washington’s first home postseason game since 2008, Williams did not disappoint as he returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, then scored on runs of 76 and 10 yards and threw TD passes of 50 and 44 yards to deliver a 48-6 victory over the Eagles.
“Whenever we needed a play I just tried to call something where we could put the ball in his hands and let him do something,” Sawyer said.
Williams was never more dangerous than on QB roll outs where the decision to run or pass was put in his hands.
“When we run the waggle sometimes guys would be covered but he has great vision on the field and he could just tuck it and run and he’d be gone,” Sawyer said.
Of all Williams attributes, Sawyers said it’s the senior’s personality that sticks out in his mind the most.
“He’s just a very polite and well respected person,” Sawyer said. “Anything I’ve ever asked him to do he’s done. This year he really became a leader. He worked hard and brought this team to another level and I think these young guys on the team see that and want to be the next Jimmy. He’s a very good young man.”