SARAH J. GLOVER / Staff photographer
Chester's Ronell Williams has caught Villanova's attention.
Joseph Santoliquito: Team comes first for Chester linebacker Williams
RONELL WILLIAMS talks a lot of us and we. Never in the singular, as in the Chester 6-1, 225-pound senior middle linebacker is a singular talent who is a one-man wrecking machine. No, it's always in the plural, about what "we" have to do to win, and about "us" coming together as a team.
Williams is a refreshing change in the me-first, I'm-the-only-who-counts mentality that permeates sports and has seeped down into the high school level. What's more, Williams is in a special place, as a Chester High football player who is garnering interest from colleges like Villanova.
A prominent Chester basketball player catching Villanova's eye would be understandable. But for a football player in a program that has lacked the kind of success Chester's traditionally strong basketball program has garnered through the years, the attention from a school like Villanova is a welcome change. And Williams deserves it.
In successive weeks, Williams had 25 tackles in a 19-2 loss to Downingtown West on Sept. 18, and in a 13-0 loss to Interboro last Saturday, Williams was all over the field again, with a game-high 22 tackles. He's averaged just over 16 tackles in the Clippers' first four games.
But it hasn't been easy for Williams, a fierce competitor who prides himself on preparation, since the Clippers have started this season 1-3.
"No, it hasn't been easy," said Williams, who carries a 3.75 GPA and a 1,100 SAT score. "The mistakes have been killing us and we all know we're a better team than our record shows. We won't give up, though. We can turn this around."
His uncanny ability to read, react and find a ballcarrier will continue to be a big key for the Clippers in their quest to rebound.
"I think what drives me is the will to get there and make the play and stop the guy," said Williams, who was supposed to visit Villanova last Saturday but couldn't make it because the starting time of the Chester-Interboro game was pushed back. "Before anything else, the will has to be there. Anyone can make a tackle. You have to want to make the tackle, and I'd be nothing without Laquan Robinson behind me in the secondary and Aaron Payne up front on the defensive line. Our defense works because we trust each other."
Chester coach Willie Bates certainly has a great deal of trust in Williams.
"Here's the unique thing about Ronell, he is the ultimate team player," Bates said. "He was a quarterback when he started playing high school football as a freshman, was switched to fullback as a sophomore, and the last 2 years he's been our center and middle linebacker. The kid wants to go to school and be the best. He's very determined. Villanova is very high on him."
So, it seems, is everyone else.
Back and intact
Through the first three games this season, Garnet Valley coach Mike Ricci had to play it piecemeal, with a little pinch here and a little dash there, in putting together his offensive line. Some semblance of stability finally arrived last Friday night in the Jaguars' dramatic, 28-27, Central League victory over Penncrest.
For the first time this year, Ricci had a chance to see what his projected starting offensive line could do, and the results were impressive.
Left tackle Dave DiGravio, left guard Joe Cenatiempo, center Kendrick Stradley, right guard Julian DiGiacomo, right tackle Brendan Walsh and tight end Benny Baiocco helped the Jags amass 357 yards of total offense (189 yards rushing; 168 passing).
"The guys who were in there did a nice job for us, but what it allowed us to do is get the seniors in there, since Walsh and Baiocco are the only juniors," Ricci said. "The offensive line is where it's important to have senior maturity. Our seniors worked hard to be in this position. Having the seniors up front comes with a better understanding of game speed. For the first time this season, they played with confidence and with a sense of urgency that needed to make this happen."
Center of attention
Malcolm McNair never played organized football before arriving in high school. That's hard to tell by the way Penn Wood's 6-foot, 280-pound senior center plays. A transfer this year from John Bartram, McNair has been a driving force in Penn Wood's 4-0 start.
McNair makes all of the offensive line calls. He's constantly reading and rereading blocking schemes, and almost always makes the right call. That's a rapid learning curve for someone who hasn't played the game very long.
"You need to be the brains of the line, and somewhat the whole offense," said McNair, who has a 3.0 GPA and a 1,170 SAT score. "What I'm hoping to do is bring a new attitude to this team, and that's being more aggressive, and when we're up, we need to put our foot on their throat.
"We're 4-0 and I don't think we've played our best. It's the mental mistakes that have hurt us, but mistakes that can be corrected. What I'm hoping to be is a more vocal leader. I had to watch myself early, because I was the new guy. I think I have my teammates' respect now."
He certainly has that from Patriots coach Sam Mormando. Every year, Penn Wood would welcome a new player, but rarely a lineman.
"We really got lucky with Malcolm," Mormando said. "He doesn't panic. We can deal with two or three guys in his area and he'll always find the right guy to block. He's been tremendous in knowing what to do." *
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