Williams shook off two tackles, broke through the pile, extended his stride, and was off to the races for a 96-yard touchdown run to put the Millionaires up by 20 en route to a 43-16 win in the District 2-4 Class 6A semifinals on Friday.

“On the snap, I read how they were coming off the ball and went left. My O-line did an amazing job blocking, but they had more numbers than us. He came up the middle, I saw him cut back, and Brayden Ungard had a great block on the corner, and it opened up a wide lane.” Williams said. “It just felt really good knowing that I was going to score on a big play, and we really needed it. The game was still close. It was 14-0 and that just sealed it. Our energy was high.”

That was far from Williams’ only highlight on the night, as he totaled 315 total yards on the night and played a near-flawless football game. The sophomore is frequently the best athlete on the field, and is learning how to take advantage of that week-by-week.

“Tevin is a great kid. His energy is unbelievable. His athleticism is unbelievable. He’s fun to watch on the football field, he’s fun to watch on the basketball court and on the track. He’s a very special kid. I think he represents the best qualities of this school and this town,” Millionaire coach Mike Pearson said. “He makes plays that other people can’t make. He extends plays. His speed is a game-changer. His speed is phenomenal, but he also makes a lot of plays with his brain, and he’s very smart, and he sees things before things happen. And, the best thing about Tevin is he’s very

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kason Ulmer(13) prepares to bat down an attempted pass by Scranton's Jack Cabets (12) in the second quarter.

coachable.”

Williams was simply too much for the Scranton Knights defense.

“He’s a great athlete. He creates with his legs, and he has a great arm too. It was 14-0, we had them backed up, and then he just makes great, great play. We miss a couple tackles, and that was that,” Scranton coach Steve Shumbres said.

It wasn’t just Williams excelling in a game that Williamsport let 43-0 at one point. The first-team defense forced four turnovers, plus another on special teams, en route to pitching a shutout before being removed from the game with the mercy rule in effect. On a cold, windy night, The Millionaire’s open-field tackling was especially impressive.

“We had a good night tonight, and I’m very proud of our defense and our defensive coaches and our kids. We just want to keep getting better every week. That’s our goal. And in many ways, we did get better tonight, and I thought they did a very, very nice job as a defensive unit,” Pearson said. “When you’re in the playoffs in our district, you have to be a really physical and tough tackling team, because that is the nature of coal region football, and that’s what we’re playing right now, coal region football.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Austin Beaghley (24) tries to recover a fumble after Scranton's Ian McAndrew (17) was stripped of the ball in the second quarter.

Williamsport forced their first turnover of the game, one of four fumbles they recovered on the evening, on the opening drive of the game. And, it didn’t take them long to cash in, as Williams used his arm and legs to get into the red zone before scampering in from seven yards out to put the Millionaires on the board.

After stopping Scranton once again, Williams found Lucas Naughton behind the defense as the two hooked up for a beautiful pitch-and-catch for a 79-yard touchdown pass as Naughton made a slight, but difficult adjustment on the deep ball, switching his head to find the football.

Following the long Williams run, Williamsport’s Austin Beaghley blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone for another Milliionare touchdown with 3:07 left in the half.

And after Scranton fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Millionaire running back Gio White capped the scoring in the first half, as he caught a backwards lateral on a swing pass from Williams for a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:43 left in the second quarter as Williamsport led, 36-0.

Williams would strike again for his fourth and final touchdown of the game, as he broke off a 37-yard scramble untouched on the left sideline to put Williamsport up 43-0 mid-third quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Robert Davis (75), Anthony Manley (34) and Austin Beaghley (24) block an attempted punt by Scranton's Ben Campbell (2) in the second quarter. The ball was recovered in the end zone for a Williamsport touchdown.

Scranton was able to score 16 points in the fourth quarter against the Millionaire reserves.

Williamsport will travel to take on Wilkes-Barre for the Subregional title next Friday.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport quarterback Tevin Williams (11) scrambles 90+ yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Trey Damschroder (4) pulls down a pass for an interception within the 5 yard line. On the next play Williamsport quarterback Tevin Williams ran 90+ yards for a touchdown.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Trey Damschroder makes a reception on the side-line in the second quarter of the first round of the district play-offs at Williamsport Friday night.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport quarterback Tevin Williams(11) celebrates with Jaxson Thompson(65) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Lucas Naughton (19) is wide open to make a pass reception before running for a touchdown in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport quarterback Tevin Williams (11) runs the ball for a gain on a quarterback keeper in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Brayden Ungard (3) runs the ball against Scranton in the first round of the district play-offs at Williamsport Friday night.