“I knew Wachusett’s quarterback liked to get the ball out in the first two seconds,” Williams said. “The whole defense focused on their tendencies. “I read where his eyes were going and timed it.”

On Needham’s first offensive play, Williams kicked a 45-yard field goal, then added two more scores with a program-record four field goals in the first half of a 49-13 run.

Last season, Williams led the defense, helping Needham go 10-2 and advance to the D1 state semifinals. With the graduation of all-conference running back Tate Hoffmeister (now a freshman at Trinity), the Lehigh linebacker has seamlessly stepped into a new role as a fullback, without missing a beat defensively.

“I’ve been calling (Williams) a unicorn for years,” Needham coach Doug Kopsco said. “He is a football expert who has put in the time and effort to further develop his game. When you’re a top-level athlete and at the top of your work ethic, there really isn’t much I can recommend. We try to give him the necessary tools to benefit from his natural talent. And he’s the type of player who will really benefit from having all the other players on the team around.”

Williams will compete against a defense coached by his offseason coach when Needham (9-0) hosts No. 5 Central Catholic (6-3) in the Round of 8 on Friday night.

Jason Fielding (’05) is a former linebacker for Central Catholic, in his sixth year on the staff and his second year as defensive coordinator with the Raiders. A former preseason All-American at Westfield State, he runs the Pact Performance training program in Hampstead, N.H., and North Andover.

For two years, Williams rose before dawn to head north for practices that started at 6 or 7 a.m. That dedication has helped him become an elite defender, and he still has the stamina to rush for more than 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

“I watched the film and (Williams) is still lighting people up and passing the ball and carrying the load offensively,” Fielding said. “He’s such an athlete and a well-rounded kid, so I’m not surprised by that.”

He trains with many of the area’s top defenders, so going up against one of his clients in a big matchup is nothing new.

“It’s an interesting dynamic,” Fielding said. “I want the kids to be successful, but when they play against you, the competitiveness comes out. It’s a challenge and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

Central is young overall, with safety Jefferson Morales and nose guard Mike Hoadley serving as two of the only seniors on defense. Fielding has helped a team full of sophomores and juniors shine at linebacker, with the group improving significantly since Connor Cowan returned from his foot injury.

“For years, I have admired the job Fielding has done with our linebackers,” Central coach John Sexton said. “He’s a humble guy and he’s getting better at it. “We’re really lucky to have him.”

The Raiders defensive front faces a big challenge on Friday in the form of Needham’s offensive line; That offensive line features 6-foot-1, 295-pound Charlie Simeone (committed to Holy Cross) and a 6-foot-1, 240-pound tight end. End of Will McDonald (Army) among others. With the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Williams running behind those giants, the Rockets have outscored their opponents 279-56 in nine wins.

Williams continues to meddle with the football with 50 tackles, 6 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, a fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns. His instincts developed at a young age, when he started as a quarterback at the junior level, and in high school he blended into wildcat lineups as a dual-threat option.

Now he’s leading a group of talented seniors into the later rounds of the playoffs, with the potential to face stronger private schools if they can get past Central Catholic. But Needham’s leaders, who faced champion Xaverian last year, are confident they can compete with anyone.

“Last year we were still learning how to win in big games,” Williams said. “Having a lot of seniors come back with that experience and knowing what to expect in big games makes us feel prepared to handle that pressure. We expected to be in those types of situations and hopefully we can exceed what we did last year.”