RINGGOLD, Ga. — Early in the second half of Ringgold’s 49-7 win over Catoosa County rival Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe last Friday, head coach Robert Akins was talking to his offensive staff about what it would take to get star running back Peyton Williams to the 1,000-yard mark.
Nearly before Akins received his answer Williams took care of it with a 79-yard touchdown run — his third of the night — to reach exactly 1,000 yards. It would be his final carry in a game that saw the senior light up the Warriors for 236 yards on just 17 carries.
For his effort Williams is this week’s Times Free Press Best of Preps Player of the Week.
“It’s funny that we were trying to figure out what it would take because we didn’t want to leave him in too long, but he took care of it,” Akins laughed. “Peyton just means so much to us — even though we have other weapons — that we need to keep him healthy.”
Health, or in this case a shoulder injury, is the only thing to slow Williams down this season. After opening the year with a 173-yard rushing effort against Heritage the Tigers’ staff moved him to receiver to protect the shoulder. He returned to the backfield against LaFayette a month later and went for 194 yards (and nearly 100 receiving).
His next start in the backfield came in a critical win over Coahulla Creek in which Williams ran for 186 yards and followed that up with a 108-yard, four-TD effort against Ridgeland in just over a quarter before last week’s career-best effort vs. LFO.
“Peyton hasn’t complained one bit about moving him to receiver because he only cares about the team,” Akins said. “He’s extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands, but he also helps us just by being out there because teams have to account for him.
“He’s got a lot of God-given talent, but the key is he’s humble about it and he will do whatever he’s asked and never complain.”
Asked to add some bulk to prepare for a bigger role after serving as the No. 2 tailback behind Kori Dumas the past two seasons, Williams put on 25 pounds. The extra weight has, according to Akins, made him a complete back.
“He added the weight without losing any speed, so he can now run over people if it’s the best path to the goal line, or he can bounce it and use his speed to run away from people,” Akins said of the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder. “He’s always had great hands and he’s a very willing blocker.
“I like to watch him play, but I would hate to be on the other side having to defend him.”
Of course, as Akins points out, a great deal of Williams’ success comes from the play of Ringgold’s offensive line, a group that includes Clint Carlock, Myles Hudson, Jack Mealor, Jaden Parks, Nolan Burchfield and Travis Tilley.
“People right now are changing defensive fronts on us, but that group up front seems to adjust to whatever they face,” Akins said. “Clint, Jaden and Myles are all seniors, so they know what it’s about. That group has really come on and they were really consistent the other night against LFO, even though the defensive fronts were a little unusual.”
Williams will likely have a few options collegiately in the coming weeks. Charleston Southern has offered and UTC and Kennesaw State have shown interest. Bigger schools, Akins says, are taking notice.
“I talked to Georgia assistant Will Muschamp recently and he said he thinks Peyton is definitely a Power 5 (conference) kid,” Akins said before adding with a smile, “personally I would like to see him stay close to home so I could watch him.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com; follow on Twitter @youngsports22
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Peyton Williams (7) follows his blocking. The Ringgold Tigers hosted in the Coahulla Creek Colts in a Region 6 AAA, GHSA, football game on October 7, 2022.