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Waconia's man of steel

By MN Football Hub staff, 09/02/11, 10:59AM CDT

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Despite injuries, Maxx Williams leads Wildcats to victory over Orono


Waconia senior quarterback Maxx Williams (15) races ahead of the Orono defense on his way to a big gain. Photo by Helen Nelson

For a guy no one expected to play because of a banged up knee, then sprained his ankle once he did hit the field, Waconia’s Maxx Williams sure made his presence felt.

Williams, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior who has committed to play at the University of Minnesota, rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, completed one of two passes for 29 yard and made a 27-yard reception in the Wildcats’ 28-14 victory over Orono on Friday, Sept. 2, at Orono High School.

Imagine if he had been healthy.

Orono coach Jeff Weiland said his intelligence reports out of Waconia indicated there was little chance Williams, who typically lines up at quarterback, would play.

“Every report that we got said that he was injured pretty bad in practice last week,” Weiland said.

Weiland’s reports were, in fact, correct.

As late as Friday morning even Waconia head coach Pat Foley had his doubts about Williams’ availability.


Waconia senior quarterback Maxx Williams (15) fires a pass as teammate Joe Wasmund blocks Orono's Gavin Winkels (59). Photo by Helen Nelson

“He injured his knee a week and a half ago,” Foley said. “He was on crutches. He missed our scrimmage on Saturday. Honest to god, I didn’t really think he would be back until maybe the second week -- we were hoping.”

Foley said Williams, who rushed for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, kept improving as the week leading up to Friday’s season opener wore on. By the time the Wildcats’ game-day walkthrough arrived, Williams, amazingly, was back at full strength.

Williams did not start the game at quarterback. Cody Clark, who had taken all of the snaps at quarterback in practices leading up to the game, got the start behind center.

Williams was shifted from tight end to quarterback in place of Clark after the Wildcats’ opening series.

Williams ran 31-yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, breezing untouched into the end zone after blowing through would-be Orono tacklers at the line of scrimmage. He also had a 26-yard run and, during another stunning run, kept his legs pumping for several yards despite being mobbed by a half-dozen Orono defenders.

“I can’t say enough about that kid,” Weiland said. “If that is the kind of kids we are going to send to the (University of Minnesota), then the U is going to be good.

"He is a tough kid, he can do everything. He is one of those difference makers. He is going to win some games for them this year.”

After spraining his ankle, Williams was taped up and returned to the game in the second quarter. He lined up mostly at tight end, but also took some snaps at quarterback.

Williams was on the sideline with the Wildcats leading 14-0 to start the second half, but he returned to the game briefly when Orono pulled to within 14-7 in the second quarter. When the Spartans tied thte score at 14 in the fourth quarter, Williams was out of the game for good.

Waconia senior Logan Bauman turned in the play of the game when he raced 49 yard down the left sideline before being shoved out of bounds at the Orono 5. Ryan Mattson ran in for the touchdown on the next play as Waconia pulled ahead 21-14.

-- Loren Nelson, MN Football Hub staff


Waconia's Ryan Mattson, right, scored the go-ahead touchdown for Waconia in the fourth quarter. Photo by Helen Nelson

Three Stars

1. Cody Clark, Waconia
When star quarterback Maxx Williams went down in the first half, Clark stepped up and delivered. Williams fended off pressure and bounced back from a fumble to manage the offense through a key fourth quarter drive, capped by a touchdown from running back Ryan Mattson to put Waconia back on top. Clark concluded the game with 4 completions for 66 yards and a touchdown. 

2. Garrett Shaw, Waconia
In the late fourth quarter, with Orono driving and Waconia only up by a touchdown, Shaw put a thunderous hit on the quarterback Grant Schoen to force an interception. The interception was returned for a touchdown which sealed the game. He was also around the ball all night and ended up with four tackles to go along with four extra points as the kicker.


3. Tom Wachman, Orono
At the halfway point of the game, Orono was down by two touchdowns and the game looked lost. Running back Tom Wachman put the team on his back with an extremely solid performance in the second half. He finished the night with 16 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown, that pulled Orono back within striking distance in the fourth quarter.

-- Walker Orenstein, MN Football Hub Staff

Statistics, Summary

Photo Gallery

Game Recap

Waconia quarterback and Minnesota recruit Maxx Williams brushed off several Orono tacklers en route to a 31-yard touchdown scamper from the pocket to open the scoring and help propel the Wildcats to a 28-14 triumph over the Spartans on Friday, Sept. 2, at Orono High School in the season opener for both teams.

Late in the second quarter Williams again drove his team down the field, eventually reaching the 12 yard line. This time, with Williams playing as a tight end, junior quarterback Cody Clark tossed a touchdown to wide reciever Wylie Ferron who was wide open in the middle to make it 14-0. 

Orono scored in the third quarter on a 2-yard rush from Tom Wachman. The fourth quarter was full of fumbles and mistakes, but early on Orono tied the score at 14 with a quarterback sneak from Grant Schoen.

Behind running backs Logan Baumann and Ryan Mattson, Waconia once again found the end zone after two breakout runs with 8 minutes remaining.

On the ensuing drive, defensive lineman Garrett Shaw hit Orono quarterback Grant Schoen to force an interception, which was returned 36 yards by Mitch Green for a touchdown.

-- Walker Orenstein, MN Football Hub staff

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