Dual-Threat Star Was Catalyst For Bulldogs' Success

The Dayton Bulldogs football season came to end a couple weeks too short but that didn't take away from the historic ride they took all of its Bulldog backers. 

Their 9-2 record concluded the school's deepest post-season run this millennium and has now made outsiders take notice that the back-to-back playoff appearances weren't a fluke. Dayton rode a nine-game winning streak following its opening game loss and beat opponents all sorts of ways, conquering foes by an average score of 29-13. The Bulldogs used a staunch defense, a tremendous triple-option running game and a surprise downfield aerial attack to keep opponents off balance.    

Of all the offensive weapons at their disposal, however, none was more versatile and potent as Aaron Williams. The 6'3" senior receiver was a dual threat as a downfield playmaker and substitute running back, as well as a devastating blocker in the run game. Also a linebacker on the best defense in the conference, Williams was one of the mainstays that yielded the least amount of points in Union County. Whether he was tackling ball carriers for a loss, intercepting passes, or forcing fumbles, Williams was usually around the ball when the play ended.      

Offensively, Williams was the downfield threat for quarterback Anthony Cioffi. Williams proved to be a weekly mismatch because he was usually – and quite literally – head and shoulders taller than opposing defensive backs. He said there's nothing like scoring on a touchdown reception but added his creative juices flowed more when he was toting the rock as a running back.    

"It feels great to not have to rely on where the ball is being placed," he said about the advantage of being a running back over a receiver. "But when I'm running the ball, I get to make a play as soon as I get the ball in my hands, cutting and stuff, being creative."                  

Such well-rounded play earned him the respect of his teammates and praise from the coaching staff. When senior running back Jesse Bell and backup Savonn Maye went down with injuries, it was Williams who stepped up and divided his playing time between receiver and running back. Such versatility is what made head coach Joe Goerge put so much trust into Williams.          

"If you watched those last couple of weeks, Aaron was instrumental down the stretch," said Goerge. "Jesse [Bell] went down [in the Belvidere game back in October] and we moved Aaron [to halfback some] to get him the ball a little bit more. He could be special. But like I say, big players make big plays in big games."            

When asked which side of the ball he preferred most, Williams hemmed and hawed and said he actually likes best whichever position he's playing at the time.       

"They're both up there in their own right," Williams said when asked which act he likes better – scoring on offense or making a huge play on defense. "There's nothing like stopping a quarterback or running back on fourth down or catching an interception to completely change the game around. But it's also nice to score because this year is the first time I scored at the varsity level, so each time I got the ball I was determined it get in the end zone."        

Now that Williams has had time to reflect on the season, and the pain of their 42-14 playoff loss to Lincoln High School has subsided some, he can fondly look back on what he and his team accomplished.  

"It was great. My group of seniors had preached all season to not be satisfied – that was our motivation," he said, adding that the finality of the playoffs was what made the time spent together so special. "Even when we were playing [in the playoffs] it was always in the back of your mind that this could be the last time playing together but we couldn't focus on that."      

Once the season ended, Williams said he could sit back and appreciate all the hard work he and his team put forth.     

"I hadn't been able to enjoy it really during the season because I was trying to stay focused on the season," said Williams. "But it was nice knowing that all my hard work was paying off."      

Williams's hard work may have in fact paid off with a college football scholarship. Still undecided about where he wants to take his talents next, Williams said he's gone on visits and will start sorting through the offers soon.       

"I enjoyed it. It's real nice. It's a nice stable D-IAA program. And it's not that far from home," Williams said of his recent visit to Staten Island-based Wagner. "I liked it but I'm trying to keep my options open and get my [highlight] film together and see what I can get [scholarships] from other schools."       

He added that his dad, along with teammate Kareem Jackson's dad, filmed every game and actually broke down the highlights so colleges can see their exploits.      

"My dad records all the clips with his camera and then we'll see Coach Goerge's game film and put it all together," Williams said. "My highlight film last year was done by Kareem's dad. Last year, the highlights were more a defensive film but this year's film will be of both sides of the ball."       

Williams, who's also a star basketball player, said other schools have come sniffing around but he wants to see which school will offer a football scholarship, basketball scholarship, or perhaps even let him play both.      

"I've been visited by other schools but nothing really serious yet," he said. "But I have to keep pushing and get it to the level where it's an actuality. They don't really say [which position he'd play in college] but I'm pretty sure wherever they put me, I'll play wherever."       

He's been coy about what sport he likes best or which he'd prefer to play in college but Williams said wherever he goes or whatever he plays, he'll be happy – and try to excel so he can ultimately get noticed by the pros.      

"That's been a dream of mine and a goal because I love sports," Williams said. "Every kid says it but as you get it older it's becoming more realistic and it's exciting."     

He then smiled, despite knowing that the prospect of reaching such a lofty dream is about one-in-a-million for any prep athlete.      

"Right now I'm just focusing on football [in college], but it all depends on how the season [basketball] goes, too," he said with a smile.

Download the movie