Have a night, Justin Williams.
With seven total touchdowns scored, five of which came on the ground, in the Buchholz Bobcats’ 63-22 win over 6A-District 3 foe Tocoi Creek on Monday, it is now believed that Williams is the school’s new record-holder for touchdowns in a game, according to head coach Mark Whittemore.
“Obviously, 13 (Williams) worked really well,” Whittemore said. “He’s a player we knew we had to get the ball in his hands.”
Whittemore explained that the junior receiver split his time on Monday between both receiver and running back, where he replaced a banged-up Jasiah Powell. He unofficially accounted for over 140 rushing yards and over 130 receiving yards in the win.
“It was just a great game plan. I trusted my coaches, and they said this game they were going to give me the ball. They were going to let me ride it out,” said Williams, who also hit the thousand-yard mark in receiving yards for the second-straight season.
It didn’t take long for him to strike, and he did it often.
Williams took the Bobcats down the field for 61 yards on the game’s first play and then scored from one yard out on the very next play. He added a 15-yard score, a 2-yard score and a 16-yard score over the next three drives. All four scores came on the ground.
“I used to play running back in middle school, and I have the body type. So, two and two go together,” Williams said.
Buchholz’s defense, however, had some early struggles.
The Bobcats gave up a 72-yard touchdown on a double pass on Tocoi Creek’s first offensive play, but the score was negated due to a penalty. The Toros were able to chop into the lead with a touchdown run from Vincent Galella and a reception from Zack Lloyd.
The scores came as the teams traded punches throughout the first half with Buchholz eventually holding a 28-14 lead with 2:14 left in the half. From there, the Bobcats completely dominated
Chris Johnson blocked a punt with less 20 seconds left, and Trace Johnson hit Williams for a 40-yard touchdown as time expired. Johnson threw for over 300 yards on the night with three total scores and no turnovers.
In the second half, Buchholz outscored Tocoi Creek 28-8 with a 38-yard touchdown reception from a 5-yard run from Williams, and fourth-quarter scoring runs from Johnson and Josh Menefee.
With the win, Buchholz remains in contention for a district title despite an earlier loss to Nease.
“We all believe here we’re the best team in the state, and we showed that tonight,” Johnson said. “A big district win that puts us in playoff contention. Just win these next two games, and when we play awesome, we’re cooking.”
The Bobcats will wrap up district play on Oct. 25 on the road at Bartram Trail (St. Johns).
Monday, Oct. 14
Buchholz 63, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) 22
Leesburg 35, Gainesville 34
Lafayette (Mayo) 40, Branford 7
