Williams’ 350 rushing leads Milton by Chattahoochee

Stopping Milton running back Toney Williams proved nearly impossible for Chattahoochee from the very first snap of Friday’s season opener.

The University of Tennessee recruit ran for 64 yards on the game’s first snap and finished with six rushing touchdowns, as well as another receiving, in Milton’s 51-49 victory over host Chattahoochee.

“We’ve got to contain his big plays,” Crowder had said moments before the game. “We’ve got to gang tackle and zero in on the football.”

The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Williams ultimately gained 350 yards, including runs of 64, 43 and 40 yards. He scored on four plunges of less than 2 yards, in addition to bursts of 5 and 9 yards and a 27-yard pass from Wil Perry.

Rushing 40 times, Williams wasn’t stopped for minus yardage until 7:50 remained in the third quarter, when he was halted a yard behind scrimmage on second down. Eight plays later, however, he scored his fourth touchdown from 2 yards out.

But Williams wasn’t the only key to Milton (1-0) beating Chattahoochee (0-1) for the first time in its last 10 tries. Blake Fegan intercepted two passes, returning the second to Chattahoochee’s 1-yard line with 2:52 left in the third quarter. On the ensuing snap, Williams cashed in a 1-yard run to put Milton ahead for good, 38-35.

Even though Chattahoochee departed from Milton’s Region 6-AAAAA to 7-AAAAA this season, Eagles coach Scott Walker considered the game an emotional first step toward his team’s first playoff appearance since 1999.

“It’s still a big to-do,” Walker said. “It’s still Milton versus Chattahoochee.”

Offense overpowered defense from the start, as Williams had 213 yards and three touchdowns by halftime. Both teams generated 570 yards and scored nine times in the first two quarters alone. Neither team punted in the game.