MSU’s recruitment of Bryson Williams proves he’s the best ‘player in the state’

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s offense put the ball in the hands of star senior wide receiver/running back Bryson Williams in its two biggest plays of the season Saturday in the 2024 Michigan high school football semifinal game against Birmingham Groves.

Williams, a three-star Michigan State commit, scored two game-tying touchdowns, one each in the second half and overtime, including a 10-yard touchdown run on St. Mary’s first play of overtime to set up the game-winning extra score. point to knock off Groves 28-27 at West Bloomfield High School.

The Eaglets advance to the Division 2 state championship game Friday night against Byron Center at Ford Field.

“(Williams) is the best player in high school football,” St. Mary’s head coach Jermaine Gonzalez said after the game. “I’m just going to give it up, pound for pound. I know they have Mr. Football and this and that, but if you ask me, Bryson Williams is the best football player in the state.”

After Groves scored and failed a two-point conversion thanks to an interception by Kareem Pruitt, Williams turned the ball over and carried a group of Groves defenders into the end zone. Freshman forward Brannon Hardy followed with the game-winner.

“I saw the 3-yard line and I just kept moving and couldn’t get tackled,” Williams told the Free Press.

Williams scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:30 left in the third quarter to briefly give St. Mary’s a 21-14 lead after a tied first half.

On their second possession of the second half, St. Mary’s pulled the Wing-T as their primary formation and headed into the red zone with a combination of runs from Williams and Darrin Jones.

The Eagles faced fourth-and-5 from the Groves 21-yard line, released a giant package with two extra offensive linemen and put Williams at quarterback. He took the snap, followed a column of blockers to the right and threw his arms in the air as he entered untouched for a 21-yard touchdown.

“They were expecting it, so I knew I would have to cut back a little bit first,” Williams said. “After that it was all just legs and all O-lines. I love my guys up front. They kept pushing me until the end.”

Williams finished with more than 100 all-purpose yards, eight rushes for 72 yards and two scores, an 11-yard catch and several kickoff returns of over 20 yards as the primary player in the Eaglets’ run-heavy approach. He also took safety snaps on defense.

“He’s an athlete,” said Michigan State teammate and St. Mary’s tight end Jayden Savory, who had a one-handed catch for 25 yards. “You can put him anywhere on the field and he will play. I’m excited to spend the next four years with him at Michigan State.”

Williams was the first and last player to touch the ball for the Eaglets’ offense in the semifinals that reached the final game. He took the first kick to midfield and carried it three times for 32 yards on the first possession, including a run to the 1-yard line to set up Kamari Patterson’s touchdown.

Williams picked up a first down on the next possession before Jones scored 43 yards.

St. Mary’s leaned more toward heavy sets in the second half, which moved Williams from wide receiver to the backfield, where he created enough fireworks to send St. Mary’s to its first state championship appearance since 2016.

“I mean, we’re going to Ford Field,” Williams said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22 and email him at [email protected].

MSU’s recruitment of Bryson Williams proves he’s the best ‘player in the state’

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