headtopics
Demond Williams Jr. made his presence felt throughout Spartans Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, on Saturday night. The Washington quarterback was a constant figure—directing the offense in the huddle, interacting with the crowd, and ultimately celebrating on the winning side alongside his teammates.
Williams delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, guiding the Huskies to a gritty 21-14 victory over Michigan State, the school where his father, Demond Sr., played cornerback in 2005 and 2006. The elder Williams joined the Spartans after a stint at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, and was known for his explosive, speed-driven plays—much like his son.
During his time at Michigan State, Demond Sr. returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Indiana in 2005 and took an interception 62 yards to the end zone against Illinois in 2006. Saturday's game sparked plenty of conversation within the Williams family, as the quarterback's parents made the long trip back to Michigan to watch their son face his father's alma mater.
"It feels good because I know he's got my back," Demond Jr. said. "I know there weren't any spies around here."
The younger Williams turned in one of his most efficient outings of the year, completing 22 of 33 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns to Chris Lawson. He was sacked just once and added eight carries for 19 yards, using his legs to keep the Michigan State defense off balance. His performance helped the Huskies become bowl eligible.
Williams guided Washington to a 14-14 tie at halftime before orchestrating an eight-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in Jayden Limar's 1-yard touchdown run with 2:24 remaining—the decisive score of the game.
Key Analysis
Reflecting on his recruitment, Williams recalled that Michigan State waited until the last moment to offer him a scholarship. By then, he had already committed to Arizona under coach Jedd Fisch and later followed Fisch to Washington. On Saturday, Williams overcame considerable negative energy directed his way to deliver a memorable performance in the heart of the Michigan countryside, making his father proud.
Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, where he served as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades, during which he has covered University of Washington football and basketball extensively. He has attended the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, and countless Final Fours and bowl games in a professional capacity.
Originally reported by headtopics.