Williams Runs Wild; Mustangs Edge Trojans

Downers South went into Carstens Field Friday night for its annual crosstown battle against Downers North short-handed, to say the least.

Injuries kept seven of 22 starters out of the Mustangs' lineup. But it didn't seem to matter because Josh Williams was a one-man wrecking crew for Downers South.

Williams carried the Mustangs on his back, rushing 38 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns—while catching four passes for 38 yards—as Downers South held off the Trojans, 17-14.

Downers North (1-3) took a 7-0 lead with 9:20 to go in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Riley McGinnis to Tyler Mason, which completed a 15-play, 66-yard drive.

But the Mustangs (2-3) knotted the game at 7-7 on the first of Williams' two touchdowns—this a one-yard run with 6:33 remaining before intermission.

Williams gave Downers South a 14-7 advantage with a 33-yard TD run in the third quarter. Anthony Farinella's 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter ended up giving the Mustangs their margin of victory.

However, the Trojans made things interesting in the fourth quarter. McGinnis connected with Mason again for a 40-yard gain, and then hit Ryan Henry with a pass that covered 28 yards to put Downers North on the Mustangs' 6-yard line.

One play later, Fred Palma took it in from 5 yards out to put the Trojans within three points.