There have been a ton of great players that have worn the black and gold of Buchholz, many have gone on to play college ball and even the NFL. But in the more than 50 years of the program's existence, no one had ever scored 7 touchdowns in a single game, well at least until last week. Junior wide receiver and now running back Justin Williams had a night for the record books against Tocoi Creek as he scored early and often helping the Bobcats put 63 on the scoreboard and cementing himself as this week's UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine High School Athlete of the Week.
"I felt like I could do anything out there. I really saw the field well, my teammates were creating space, and all I had to do was find the end zone and I guess I did that a bunch," said an extremely happy Williams.
Williams was one of the best receivers in the state a year ago but was told he was going to have to help out at running back this week after the starter was a little banged up. The plan was to get the ball in his hands a bunch and right from the opening whistle, the plan worked to perfection. Williams scored 4 times on the ground, 1 from the wildcat, and two more thru the air to get the record setting 7 and give Buchholz their second straight victory.
Justin epitomizes a great player, he's just a phenomenal athlete that can do whatever he wants on the football field. But maybe his greatest asset is that he puts the team first and himself second, he just wants to win and will do whatever it takes to make that happen," said head coach Mark Whittemore.
Whittemore certainly knows what talent at the WR position looks like. He has 2 sons playing at the D1 level and was a 2 sport college athlete himself. After a 3 game losing streak, all by one score, to some of the top teams in the state, the Bobcats have now put up 115 points in back to back wins and Williams thinks the offense is finally clicking on all cylinders.
"I've been with Trace (Buchholz junior QB) since we were little kids and we've developed a lot of chemistry over the years. Its really cool to see us doing our thing at a high level and these last few weeks really shows what kind of production we can put up when we do what we are supposed to. I'm excited for the rest of the season as we continue and start another playoff run," said Williams.
Buchholz only has 2 regular season games remaining and will then begin that run that will try and take them to back to the final four, a place that the Bobcats have been a bunch under Whittemore. And if Williams can keep putting up these types of numbers, they are certainly going to be tough to beat. Congrats to Justin Williams on being this week's UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine High School Athlete of the Week.