Williams’ big night powers No. 2 Pahokee in shutout
Pahokee junior running back Jatarie Washington bounced off defenders, cut upfield and broke tackles on the Blue Devils’ first big offensive play late Friday night. He gashed the Boynton Beach defense for 71 yards. Then he came off the field, limping.
Pahokee coach Orson Walkes turned to his other junior running back, LaVonski Williams, and didn’t have to say a word. after several back-and-forth
“I didn’t tell him a thing,” series where neither team he said. “Internal motiva- could break through. But tion is what we’re looking Williams carried the team for from the kids. So that on the drive before punchwas all him.” ing in a 1-yard score. He did
Williams responded with it again on the next drive, a stellar game, rushing for following a diving reception 175 yards and three touch- from LonKevious McFaddowns in No. 2 Pahokee’s den that put Pahokee at the 28-0 victory against Boyn- 3-yard line. Williams scored ton Beach on Friday night on the next play. at Anquan Boldin Stadium. “It was a really a big boost,”
“We’ve always known that Williams said. “Because after he was capable of running the first one, after I ran into like that,” Walkes said. (a Boynton defender), and
Fortunately for the Blue he tried to stand me up, and Devils (2-1), Washington did not appear to sustain a major injury. They kept the junior, who racked up 90 yards on six carries, out to prevent him from aggravating his “tweaked” hamstring, Walkes said. And Williams more than picked up the slack.
“Washington’s more of a slasher,” Walkes said. “Both of them are explosive. Lavonski, as you saw tonight, is a load.”
Williams’ first score came I broke his tackle, the rest of their team just really let up.”
The junior nearly picked up his third score shortly after, but his touchdown was called back on a hold. Pahokee didn’t let the drive go to waste, though, and quarterback Deante Nelson tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zatavian Morgan. Nelson was 11-for-19 passing for 170 yards.
While the Blue Devils’ offense was racking up 308 rushing yards, the defense pitched a shutout. The unit did not allow one passing yard all night while racking up five sacks against the Tigers (1-3).
Pahokee did get one last shot with the ball in the game’s final minutes. The Blue Devils gave the ball back to Williams, and he delivered, rushing in a 12-yard score with fewer than 20 seconds on the clock.
“We’ve got to show the world that we’re back,” Williams said.