Following a disappointing performance on Sept. 3 against South Carolina, the fifth-year senior quarterback bounced back to lead the North Carolina football team to a convincing 53-14 victory over North Carolina A&T.
Williams filled the stat sheet, completing 15 of 20 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns and adding 53 rush yards and another score on the ground.
After an extended week of practice and a few phone calls of encouragement from fellow quarterbacks — most notably Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning — Williams took full advantage of his next chance on the field.
Williams said he was able to play freely, relax and just have fun on Saturday night, which wasn’t the case against South Carolina — when he threw three red-zone interceptions.
“I was excited on the way here,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “I was more pumped today, and I don’t think I had that edge last Thursday. I didn’t have that edge like I usually have of going out, having fun and competing.”
Williams’ focus Saturday was on protecting the ball, and he did exactly that with zero turnovers.
“Just focusing on not turning the football over, that’s been the motto for us since I’ve been here,” he said. “It felt good to not turn the ball over tonight.”
Williams said he woke up on Saturday morning and was immediately excited to get back on the football field. In a lighthearted moment with the media, he shared that singing along to country music all day kept him hyped for the game.
