A wiser, more mature Carlos Williams has helped the Vicksburg Gators regain their footing in the Region 3-4A race. Williams led a resurgent defense, holding Yazoo City to just 41 yards in offense in the second half and overtime as the Gators rallied for a key 12-6 win last Friday.

A week after getting pummelled by Pearl 40-13 at Memorial Stadium, the Gators (4-2, 2-1 region) appeared headed for a repeat after the first series at Yazoo City. The Indians took the opening possession from their own 16 and kept the ball for 9 minutes, 13 seconds. They overcame a holding penalty and an illegal motion penalty while converting three third-and-longs. A 4-yard TD run capped 99 yards of net offense for the Indians.

Yazoo City picked up three more first downs on its next series before Williams and his teammates decided that was enough. A blitz forced a bad exchange, resulting in a 20-yard loss. The Indians’ offense was never the same.

After giving up 128 yards in 1 1/2 quarters, the Gators’ defense allowed Yazoo City no first downs in the fourth quarter and minus-1 yard in overtime.

“We started to work our ends more to the outside and we were able to bring more pressure off the edge,” said Williams, a senior linebacker, who has topped the Vicksburg Post’s area with 81 tackles this season. He had 10 stops against Yazoo City.

“The halftime adjustments we made allowed the linebackers to get to the corners and keep that quarterback from getting around us.”

The plan wouldn’t have worked without a good push from the Gators’ defensive line.

“My defensive line really makes it good for me,” Williams said.

“We just tightened it up,” added Gators lineman Anthony Addison. “We got down and dirty with them (Yazoo City).

We had a problem with containment on that first drive. Once we solved that, Carlos could go to work.”

At 250 pounds, Williams is quicker than what meets most opponents’ eye. Yet he plays with a revved up motor.

“He’s amazing,” Addison said. “You’ve got to love playing with a guy like Carlos. He plays the game with tremendous intensity. If he’s getting his 20 tackles every game, I feel like I’m doing my job.”

Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens says the difference has been Williams’ work ethic in practice and in the film room.

“Carlos has become a real student of the game. He’s one of the best players pound-for-pound that I’ve had. When he hits people, he knocks them the other way.”

Williams definitely made an impression on Hazlehurst coach Todd McDaniel.

“That No. 5 is outstanding. He’s one of the best linebackers I’ve seen in a long time,” McDaniel said after the Gators defeated his team 17-6 in week three.

Williams came into the 2008 season with good credentials. A midseason surge landed him the Vicksburg Post’s 2007 Defensive Player of the Year award.

“I’ve gotten more mature this season. And with that, I think we are playing more as a team,” Williams said.

Williams and the Gators will now see if they can handle success when they host region foe Yazoo County on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Vicksburg won last year’s meeting at Yazoo County, 35-13.