Versatile Marin Catholic football star Charles Williams ready to make one last mark
There’s so much to appreciate about Marin Catholic-Kentfield senior Charles Williams on the gridiron. The elusive moves as a running back. The soft hands as a receiver. His length — 6-foot-2, 180 pounds — and nimble feet as a lockdown cornerback. The change of directions at top speed, which makes Williams a dangerous game-breaking return man.
Mazi Moayed, in his 14th season at one of the Bay Area’s top programs, marvels at all of Williams’ seemingly effortless traits and gifts, calling him perhaps the best all-around player he’s coached “or seen in the Bay Area.”
“He just has this very, very large skill set,” Moayed said. “It’s allowed him to play multiple positions at a very high level.”
Yet, when discussing the four years coaching Williams, and what he’ll remember most, Moayed gets most animated when discussing his prized pupil’s un-animated nature. His lack of ego. Selflessness.
“He’s very low-key. He’s humble, funny, heartfelt,” Moayed said. “He really cares about the people around him. He loves his teammates and community. He leaves nobody out.”
In that sense, he’s the perfect leader for a Wildcat team that won its third CIF Northern California regional title last week with a 35-28 Division 3-A win over McClymonds. They play Mayfair-Lakewood in Saturday’s 7 p.m. state championship at El Camino College in Torrance.
Charles Williams (3) rushed for two touchdowns in Saturday's 35-28 win over McClymonds.
Photo: Eric Taylor
Williams was at his versatile best Saturday, rushing 19 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel 61-yarder that locals were still talking about four days later.
He swept right, somehow shook a pair of Mack would-be tacklers, and broke all the way to other side of the field before going in untouched the final 40 yards. That gave Marin Catholic back the momentum that McClymonds seemed to have after cutting the lead to 14-7.
“I just used a spin move to get away from the tacklers and cut back,” Williams told the Marin County Independent Journal. “I saw (quarterback) Peter (Macaulay) leading the blocking down the left side. I was getting a little winded by that time and just dove into the end zone.”
He took the wind away from another McClymonds push with a spinning 6-yard TD run in the third quarter, extending a 21-14 lead to 28-14.
Williams sealed the win with one of his two interceptions, a leaping grab near midfield between three players. It gives him a whopping nine interceptions on the season, three that he’s returned for touchdowns. He’s rushed for more than 1,500 yards on the season and scored 26 touchdowns.
Through all his personal glory, you’ll never see Williams bringing undue attention to himself, Moayed said. He barely likes to bring up even his recruiting, which includes eight college offers: San Jose State, Wyoming, San Diego State, Oregon State and Fresno State.
“Every touchdown is a team accomplishment,” Williams said. “Everyone who threw a block or carried out an assignment is part of it.”
Long gone: Charles Williams en route to his 61-yard touchdown run.
Photo: Eric Taylor
There was plenty of team play Saturday when Macaulay, recently inserted into the starting QB spot, accounted for three touchdowns, Marin County Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year Mario Crocitto had 11 tackles and three sacks and safety Zach Taylor contributed 10 tackles.
Besides doing his part, Williams cheered on his squad. He’s a team guy through and through and Moayed noticed it right away watching Williams as a freshman.
“I was more impressed with his character and his desire to grow as a person and as an athlete,” Moayed said. “He really challenged himself.”
Those are all traits he learned from his parents. He picked up others watching and cheering on Kobe Bryant, Bo Jackson and Adrian Peterson. Lately, he’s tried to pattern himself after New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardiner.
His dad, Charles, is a former three-sport star at nearby San Rafael High School.
“He always told me to be humble,” he said. “He always said I don’t have
to impress anyone or show them up or be flashy. He just encouraged me to be myself.”
So do all of the Wildcats.
Asked what he’s going to miss most when Williams plays his final game for Marin Catholic and Moayed said: “His genuineness. I just love the kid.”
Even his own teammates still watch in amazement at what Charles Williams sometimes does on the football field.
Photo: Eric Taylor
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