Joe Williams took the nation by storm with one of the finest rushing performances in college football history.
No. 19 Utah has put together its finest offensive performance of the season. They took a 52-38 lead over the UCLA Bruins in the fourth quarter after yet another dominant run by running back Joe Williams. Williams has given the Bruins defense fits throughout the whole day. He has rushed for 315 yards and four touchdowns shortly after returning from a month-long retirement.
Williams will go down as one of the top players of the week with this performance. Williams began his scoring against the Bruins with a three-yard touchdown. This gave the Utes a 14-0 lead over the Bruins.
However, the Bruins did plenty of scoring of their own in the second quarter. Williams took matters into his own hands once again by blazing past multiple UCLA defenders for his second touchdown. Williams took it 43 yards to the house to give the Utes a lead before halftime.
"Joe Williams is back like he never left! #UTAHvsUCLA https://t.co/UlWFp3LJXF— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2016"
UCLA continued to fight back in the third quarter though. Utah and UCLA eventually found themselves tied at 35 before the Utes took the lead back. Williams came through with one of the most clutch runs of the day with his third touchdown. This one went for 64 yards, tacking on even more yards to his remarkable day. Williams easily found the end zone after recognizing a clear path.
"See. You. Later. Joe Williams is putting on a show! #UTAHvsUCLA https://t.co/4gougqbl7E— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2016"
Williams found himself with over 200 rushing yards right then and there. However, he was far from satisfied or finished. The Utes reached 52 points after Williams burned a Swiss cheese UCLA defense again. This time, Williams ran for 55 yards while Bruins defenders were not quick enough to catch this speed demon.
"Joe Williams just got to 315 rushing yards for @Utah_Football.The @pac12 single-game record is 366.📺: FS1https://t.co/lOLo2aVdml— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 22, 2016"
Williams fell just short of the Pac-12 record of 366 rushing yards. However, he broke the Utah school record by finishing with 332 rushing yards.