Hannibal’s Williams breaks single-game record with eight touchdowns in victory over Jeff City

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The No. 1-ranked all-purpose back in the nation used all of his tools to get the Hannibal football team back on track.

Aneyas Williams did so in record-setting fashion.

The junior capable of doing anything and everything broke the single-game school record Friday night when he scored eight touchdowns Friday night in the Pirates’ 53-28 victory over Jefferson City at Pete Adkins Stadium.

Wentric Williams II originally set the single-game touchdown record with six scores in a 53-20 victory over Mexico in 2000. Logan Hicks tied the mark with six touchdowns — five rushing and one receiving — in a 49-6 victory over Mexico in 2011. Shamar Griffith had six TDs in a 51-7 victory at Boonville in 2015. Aneyas Williams tied the mark with six touchdowns in last season’s 56-35 victory at Fort Zumwalt West.

Aneyas Williams, who was tabbed the No. 1 all-purpose back in the Class of 2024 by Rivals.com and picked up a scholarship offer from defending national champion Georgia this week, helped Hannibal erase a 21-7 second-quarter deficit as he scored half of his touchdowns by halftime.

Williams scored three touchdowns in succession — a 70-yard run, a 1-yard run and a 13-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Waylon Anders — to give the Pirates a 28-21 halftime lead.

He opened the second half with a 63-yard touchdown reception before scoring the final three TDs of the game on a 15-yard reception, a 2-yard run and a 24-yard run.

His first touchdown of the game had been a 15-yard run.

Williams also kicked five PATs as he accounted for all 53 points.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Williams finished with 182 yards rushing on 17 carries and caught eight passes for 131 yards, giving him 313 yards of total offense. He also had five tackles on defense.