Williston is 0-3 against Hawthorne since October of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Red Devils will face off against the Hornets at 7:30 p.m. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Williston sitting on ten straight wins and Hawthorne on five.
Williston is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They claimed a resounding 42-14 victory over Lafayette. The result was nothing new for the Red Devils, who have now won eight games by 28 points or more so far this season.
Williston's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but J'Dyen Manneh led the charge by rushing for 75 yards and one touchdown. Manneh was no stranger to the big play, taking off on a dash that went for 68 yards.
Williston's defense stepped up as well, laying out the QB nine times. The heavy lifting was done by Ramey Webb and Player #28, who racked up six sacks between them. Williston received some extra help from Maverick Jones, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Williston, adding 12 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Manneh, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Hawthorne got themselves on the board against Branford on Friday, but Branford never followed suit. They blew past the Buccaneers 42-0. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Hornets' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Florida football rankings (they are ranked 52nd, while the Buccaneers are ranked 283rd).
Williston better focus on containing Richard Roundtree Jr and Derryek Gillins as the pair were huge in Hawthorne's win. Roundtree Jr threw for 253 yards and a pair of TDs, while Gillins rushed for 116 yards and two scores on only 15 carries. A healthy portion of Roundtree Jr's aerial production (82 yards to be exact) went to Darian Bowie.
Hawthorne didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Branford to a completion percentage of just 38.9%. The team can thank Nathan Jennings for the heroic effort on defense: he. Hawthorne hasn't an opponent to post a completion percentage of 0.57 or higher in five consecutive matchups.
Hawthorne didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Jordan Asante and Jennings. Asante got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Williston's record now sits at 10-1. As for Hawthorne, their record is now 8-1.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Williston has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 296.5 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Hawthorne, though, as they've been averaging only 83.6 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Williston suffered a grim 28-7 defeat to Hawthorne when the teams last played back in November of 2024. Thankfully for the Red Devils, Keenon Johnson (who rushed for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns while picking up 7.2 yards per carry) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
