With the game still scoreless inside the 10-minute mark of the second quarter Friday night at Red Bank, senior Mario Willis was called to the side and asked to deliver a spark for the home team by taking over at quarterback.
Willis made a significant impact for the Lions, matching classmate Shawn Carter with a game-high 94 rushing yards and contributing 71 passing yards, including a 9-yard touchdown to senior Marcus Jones on his first drive.
The decisions and playmaking ability of Willis helped propel the No. 1-seeded Lions to a 15-7 victory over fourth-seeded Livingston Academy in the first round of the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs through this journey, but more than anything I am proud to be a part of this team,” Willis said. “I love these guys, and it’s a good feeling to help us win. We are moving to the next round, and that is all that matters.
“That’s the main goal for everybody. Just keep moving.”