IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
Matt Williams doesn't speak many words. Doesn't mince 'em, either.
Ask the 6-4, 275-pound Williams, star senior tackle for Cardinal O'Hara High's football team, about the satisfaction he gets from blocking, and listen to him say, "Beating that guy across from you. Totally dominating him."
That's always your goal?
"Absolutely."
Williams, who is receiving Division I-AA interest, spoke Saturday afternoon at Frankford after O'Hara bested North Catholic, 23-6, in a nonleague game.
By definition, linemen are busy on every play. But in the second half, Williams, also a staunch defender, was particularly active.
Coach Danny Algeo, mostly dissatisfied with how a wider-based attack was going, opted primarily for the old-fashioned, ground-it-out approach. And there was little trickery. Williams lines up on the left side, next to guard/classmate Kardell Pressley, and most of the plays went there.
"I told him, 'Be ready. We're running up your alley,' " Algeo said.
The Lions were not spectacular. Hey, there was a pretty good defense out there. But they picked up respectable chunkettes of yardage, thanks mostly to Corey Brown, coming off a recent commitment to Ohio State, and the lengthy possessions made the difference.
"It was a mental test for us. We had to get after it," Williams said.
Did he remember Algeo's halftime comment?
"I don't think there was one," he said. "It was implied. It's a big responsibility, knowing that how the offense goes is falling on you. Everything starts and ends with us. We have to execute.
"Corey and I have a connection. He knows how I block while trying to help him and he's always expressing his thanks. 'The hole was there.' Like all the guys do."
Brown finished with 21 carries for 101 yards, with 74 coming in the second half. His lone score came on a 23-yard, fourth-quarter pass from junior quarterback Ryan Laughlin, who accompanied Brown on his visit last weekend to Ohio State.
Laughlin finished 8-for-15 for 128 yards and two TDs - the other, a 55-yarder, went to Adam Dempsey - and he scored one himself on a 1-yard sneak. For North, Anthony Reid passed 8-for-17 for 150 yards and a 87-yard score to Dave Sherman (4-132).
Williams was also a defensive force. On a first-half series, he made stops on three consecutive plays (with a 5-yard TFL among them) and even burst up the middle to partially deflect a punt.
Favorite side of the ball?
"Doesn't matter," he said. "I like 'em both."
Williams, who lives in Glen Mills, has received offers from James Madison, Richmond and New Hampshire, and Pitt is remaining in contact. No official visits have been made, but Williams attended a camp at Pitt and he has checked out JMU and Richmond unofficially.
"I'm taking my time," he said. "When it's right, I'll do it."
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