Southwind needed everything senior Khamoni Williams could bring on Sept. 4.
For the three-star running back committed to Auburn, that meant lining up at defensive end in the fourth quarter of a one-score game against Houston.
Even on defense, Williams delivered when his team needed him.
With 4:09 left, Williams turned the edge and sacked Houston quarterback Canon Day. The Mustangs (1-2) still found the end zone with 22 seconds to play, but it failed to convert the two-point conversion, and Southwind (3-0) came away with a 28-27 win.
“In a road game like this, the atmosphere is big. Everything is loud. I’m glad we came out with the win,” Williams said. “I’m always trying to lift my team up and set the tone.”
role once held by a Southwind football legend
Williams didn’t dominate the ground game like he did against Ridgeway in Week 2. Southwind managed only 107 rushing yards. But Williams picked his moment, running in a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Explosive plays gave Southwind momentum at different points in the night. Quarterback Malcom Jack bought himself time in the pocket and made impressive throws even when plays appeared to be lost. He finished with 263 yards passing.
“Malcom is getting a little bit better every week,” Southwind coach Jerome Griffin said. “He’s still learning the offense, and he made some really big plays tonight.”
As Williams’ effort off the edge showed, the night was stamped by defensive moments.
Southwind has survived two one-score games heading into Region 8-6A play. Griffin’s program is still working through its kinks but winning ugly has given him hope for what’s ahead.
Junior wide receivers Jeremiah Taylor and Princton Butler both played marquee roles Sept. 4. Butler scored the first touchdown, diving over the edge.
“Our skill players are really young,” Griffin said. “We’re kind of letting them develop some. We’ve got a new quarterback, and we’re letting him develop some, so it’s going to help us in the long run.”
While the team continues through the season, it will remain dependent on Williams regardless of how the game goes. He didn’t receive many touches in the first quarter, and the same was true in the fourth. But his impact when he was on the field was obvious.
After the game, the celebratory showmanship was kept to a minimum as the players understood the team narrowly escaped with their third win of the season.
In a road game against Houston, winning is all that matters.
“It’s for sure preparing us a lot,” Williams said. “We’ve got to go through adversity, and then we see everything that we’ve got to pick up. The small stuff.”
Reach The Commercial Appeal's high school writer, Ryan Myers at ryan.myers@commercialappeal.com and on the X platform @RyanMyers_23.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Auburn football commit Khamoni Williams used defense to seal dramatic win
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