STARKVILLE — Aeris Williams’ four years as a Mississippi State running back have thrust him into some of the bigger moments in the program’s recent history. He got three carries and scored a touchdown in Dak Prescott’s final game as a Bulldog; he scored twice in a 2016 Egg Bowl rout and two more times in a chance to upset top-ranked Alabama a year later.
It seems unlikely any of them carried as much emotional significance as his final game at Davis Wade Stadium. That day came Saturday morning, and a late development made it one of the bigger opportunities his senior season has presented him. He responded with the biggest performance of his season.
The West Point native took on the task of a season-high 15 carries with a season-high 104 yards in starter Kylin Hill’s absence, out with a lower body injury. Coach Joe Moorhead decided early that MSU’s rushing attack would be what it used to beat Arkansas (2-9, 0-7 Southeastern Conference) and Williams led it to that in convincing fashion, 52-6.
“When we’re operating at our highest level offensively, it’s built off the run,” Moorhead said. “When we run the ball successfully, generally speaking it forces people to commit numbers to the box and support by pressure, and that gives you 1-on-1s outside.”
MSU (7-4, 3-4 SEC) got plenty of those and took advantage, needing just 18 pass attempts to generate five touchdown tosses. Williams made it all possible.
Saturday was a window into vintage Williams, the version MSU fans will remember when his career ends after two more games. Williams made a name for himself as the 2017 team’s feature back with both physical and crafty between-the-tackles running.
Williams’ first two carries showed the craft. On his first carry, on second-and-6, Williams saw a linebacker shedding a block in his crease and hopped to his left, dodging a block and finding four yards. Three plays later, Williams looked to his right and thought his only option was the edge; as he made his move, right tackle Stewart Reese’s block slightly leaned upfield, so Williams cut inside of it for a gain of seven.
The strength came when it was time to put a stamp on his day. The play after Williams got his 100th rushing yard, he got the ball again on third-and-2; after spinning his way out of contact and gaining the edge, he thrust himself forward into contact — exactly what was needed for the first down.
MSU scored three plays later. It was a score, much like the performance as a whole, that would not have been possible without Williams’ running ability.
“One, his physicality and his strength, and two his patience, particularly with inside zone schemes, allowing the blocks to develop and read them,” Moorhead said. “He gets downhill very quickly and he falls forward all the time. He’s not a guy that one hit is going to bring him down.
“He ran the ball hard and ran behind his pads. He responded to his opportunity this week.”
It was a satisfying chapter in what has been a tumultuous 2018. Running back carries have been few and far between — of MSU’s 421 rushes, Williams and Hill have combined for 156 of them; Fitzgerald has 183 — and Williams has been receiving the lighter end of them, the senior playing behind the sophomore Hill.
Williams’ start was not as desired: he was held out of the Kansas State game after a bad week of practice. A mere 16 carries in MSU’s first four conference games followed.
Walking off the Davis Wade Stadium turf for the final time, in that fashion, gave the story — both of the year and the career — a fitting end.
“I came in when I was 17, they came in when they were 18 and we matured together over the years,” Fitzgerald said. “To see those guys, who are leaders on our team, who are seniors, who share that feeling that this is our last game, to go out there and ball out in front of the home crowd one last time, it’s special.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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