Alabama opens second half with 75-yard trick play to Ryan Williams
By David Wasson
Published:
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer cracked open the trick play section of the Crimson Tide playbook to open the second half against Wisconsin, dialing up a jet sweep-reverse-flea flicker that superstar sophomore Ryan Williams converted into a 75-yard touchdown.
Williams, who missed last week’s Alabama game against UL-Monroe with a concussion, was on the tail end of a wild sequence that began with 1st-and-10 at the Tide 25. Ty Simpson handed off quickly to Williams moving left on a jet sweep, who then pitched it behind him to receiver Germie Bernard coming back right – who then pitched it back to Simpson near the 10.
Simpson then connected with Williams near the Wisconsin sideline on what essentially was a screen pass to the 20, and the electrifying Williams had almost the entire Crimson Tide offensive line shifted in front of him to block. He eluded a shoestring tackle at the 30, and outraced the rest of the Badgers secondary to the end zone.
“Here goes Hollywood!” screamed ABC play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore as Williams hit the goal line to give Alabama a 28-0 lead.
The reception was Williams’ fourth of the game Saturday for 124 yards, notable as he had just five catches for 30 yards in Alabama’s season opener against Florida State.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
