Williams a perfect fit for GCCC’s running game|[09/26/07]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 26, 2007

RAYMOND — Seven years ago, Steve Campbell developed a mid-line veer offense that helped Delta State to its only national championship in school history.

Now, Campbell is at again, this time at Gulf Coast Community College with the spread option and it’s been a big reason why former Hinds AHS running back Albert Williams is enjoying a breakout season. The sophomore running back has gained 340 yards rushing in four games and has helped the Bulldogs to a 4-0 start.

On Thursday night, Gulf Coast handed Hinds its worst home loss ever in a 61-0 blowout at Joe Renfroe Stadium. The huge win over the previously unbeaten Eagles (3-1) moved Gulf Coast into the No. 3 national ranking by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

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Williams said Campbell’s offense has been the key.

“This is exactly the type of offense you see a lot in the SEC these days. Of course it could be the I, mid-line, or this spread and I’d be happy as long as they put the ball in my hands. I like how I’m getting it because it allows me to use my quickness,” Williams said.

For Campbell, that’s the value of the spread option. The offense allows a small back like Williams, who stands just 5-foot-7, to attack the corners of the defense. It proved to be a great fit for former Warren Central tailback Larry Warner last year as the former Viking and 2003 and 2004 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year ran for more than 1,200 yards and made All-MACJC honors. Warner is now at Southern Illinois.

“Albert can do a lot of things in this offense because it allows us to get him on the corner faster,” Campbell said.

Gulf Coast was coming off a 24-17 upset of previously No. 1 ranked Pearl River the week before the Hinds game. Williams credited Campbell’s style in not letting the Bulldogs rest on their laurels.

“He made sure we didn’t have the big head. He told us that Hinds was ranked too, 16th or so, and that we needed to come out with a positive attitude and take it to them. I felt like we got after them pretty good,” said Williams, who finished with 64 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

“The guys, Albert included, got focused early in the week and we played really well. Offense, defense, special teams, this was a total team win,” Campbell said. Thursday, Gulf Coast travels to Copiah-Lincoln.

Howard resurfaces at Hinds CC

Former Vicksburg High kicker John Howard is back in a football uniform this fall after sitting out last year at Grambling State.

Howard was signed by Grambling in early 2006 as a kicker, but the former Gator left after one semester and enrolled at Hinds.

“I just wanted to go to school and then I thought about playing soccer here,” said Howard, who handled all the kicking chores for the Gators during the 2005 season. He was a standout soccer player at VHS and former teammate Michael Cooper is enjoying an impressive freshman season.

“I went out for the soccer team and then one of the football coaches saw how hard I kicked the ball. They knew I had gone to Grambling as a kicker and wanted me to come on the team. But because soccer is played at the same time as football, I had to choose. I went with football,” Howard said.

The one time Howard got to kick off Thursday against Gulf Coast, the ball reached the goal line. The Bulldogs’ returner, however, broke off a 70-yard return and that keyed a 37-point onslaught for Gulf Coast in its 61-0 romp. Hinds will try to rebound Thursday at Jones in Ellisville.