‘First one feels good’: Hannibal’s Williams scores touchdown during Notre Dame’s spring game

Hannibal product Aneyas Williams, here speaking at a press conference earlier this spring, scored on a 7-yard touchdown run during Saturday's Blue-Gold Game in South Bend, Ind. | Submitted photo

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Aneyas Williams’ smile said it all. The Hannibal product’s first touchdown run in front of a crowd in Notre Dame Stadium felt as electric as it looked. “First one feels good,” Williams said in a brief interview on the sideline posted on the University of Notre Dame football team’s social media…

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Hannibal’s Williams named Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year

Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams has been named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year. | Photo courtesy Rick Ulreich

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The best player in the area has been named the best player in the state. Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams recently was named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year, becoming the first player in school history to receive the nationwide recognition.  The Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in…

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Hannibal’s Williams caps career with fourth all-state honor, four other Pirates receive recognition

Hannibal senior running back Aneyas Williams was named a first-team all-stater by the Missouri Football Coaches Association for the third straight season. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Missouri Football Coaches Association recognized what anyone who squared off against Hannibal during the past four seasons came to know. Aneyas Williams is the most dynamic player on the field. The senior all-purpose back was named the Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection by the…

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Never say never: Pirates trim four-touchdown deficit to one score, unable to finish comeback

The Hannibal football players react to their season-ending 70-61 loss to Lutheran North in the Class 4 state quarterfinals Friday night in St. Louis. | Photo courtesy Rick Ulreich

ST. LOUIS — The lead seemed insurmountable. It nearly wasn’t. Trailing Lutheran North 62-33 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal, the Hannibal football team refused to lay down. Three touchdowns in a nine-minute span pulled the Pirates within 62-55 with 3:55 to play in regulation. However,…

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Four-peat: Unstoppable offense carries Pirates to fourth consecutive district championship

Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders dives into the end zone for one of his three touchdown runs during Friday night's 55-32 victory over Warrenton in the Class 4 District 4 title game at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Who’s next? Hannibal continued its scorched-earth approach to postseason football with its third straight one-sided victory Friday night. The Pirates won their fourth straight Class 4 District 4 championship in record-breaking fashion, torching previously unbeaten Warrenton 55-32 before a crowd of about 1,700 at Porter Stadium. Fueled by all-purpose back Aneyas Williams’ …

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Full-time return to backfield for Williams catapults Pirates into district championship game

Hannibal's Aneyas Williams takes off on a run during Friday night's Class 4 District 4 semifinal game against Wentzville Holt in Wentzville, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

WENTZVILLE, Mo. — This was Aneyas Williams at his absolute best.  Williams, the all-purpose wunderkind whose marvelous four-year football career at Hannibal is rapidly winding down, proved Friday night he may be saving the best for last. Williams’ performance in the third-seeded Pirates’ 48-27 defeat of second-seeded Wentzville Holt in the Class 4 District 4…

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Four Pirates earn all-conference football honors on both sides of ball

HANNIBAL, Mo. — To no one’s surprise, the North Central Missouri Conference’s best football team dominated the all-league selections. Hannibal, which went 5-0 and outscored its opponents 275-28 in league play, landed seven players on the first-team offense and six players on the first-team defense. The Pirates had five others earn second-team plaudits. Four players…

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Pirates, Williams make quick work of another opponent, waltz into district semifinals

Hannibal’s Kane Wilson gets up after tackling St. Charles’ Ezequiel Lopez during the first half of Friday night’s Class 4 District 4 quarterfinal at Port Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — On the surface, Hannibal’s most recent blowout football victory was little more than another Friday night stroll on the plastic grass of Porter Stadium. The potent Pirates’ steamroller-like offense was its usual productive self, and so was Hannibal’s stifling defense. By midway through the second quarter, an overmatched St. Charles team was…

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Williams helps Pirates remain NCMC’s top team after smothering Spartans in state-ranked battle

Hannibal football coach Jeff Gschwender addresses his team following Friday night's 28-8 victory over Moberly in North Central Missouri Conference play in Moberly, Mo. | Ben Marth photo

MOBERLY, Mo. — Aneyas Williams enjoys the spotlight, but he’s happy to share it.  “That’s what I want to do, do anything I can to help the team win,” the Hannibal senior running back and University of Notre Dame commit said. If the Hannibal football team can replicate the balance it displayed Friday night, the…

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Williams, Pirates uses efficient approach to overwhelm Bulldogs in first half of NCMC victory

Hannibal senior running back Aneyas Williams scored three touchdowns on four offensive touches Friday night against Mexico in North Central Missouri Conference play in Mexico, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

MEXICO, Mo. — Aneyas Williams’ play gets described in a variety of ways, often with adjectives such as electric or dazzling. Friday night, a new one was added to the list. Efficient. Williams had only four touches offensively during the Hannibal football team’s 61-7 victory over Mexico in North Central Missouri Conference play, but the…

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Williams, Pirates let stout offensive line pave way to victory over Trojans

Hannibal’s Waylon Anders hands the ball off to Aneyas Williams during Friday night’s game against Troy Buchanan at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams did not have to think twice about an answer to the question of whether or not he ever feels like a marked man on the football field. Williams considered his answer for a few moments, then smiled politely before responding.  “For about four years now I’ve felt like I’ve had…

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Coming through loud and clear: Pirates rebound from Week 1 setback by overpowering Jays

Hannibal’s Mike Ferreira runs the ball during the Pirates’ 42-21 victory over Jefferson City on Friday night at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Smarting from a lopsided road loss to Jefferson City Helias in its season opener, the Hannibal football team was out to make a statement before its home crowd Friday night at Porter Stadium. The message was received loud and clear. Mike Ferreira ran for 177 tough yards, quarterback Waylon Anders threw for…

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2022 Year in Review: Top 10 videos on Muddy River Sports

Hannibal junior all-purpose back Aneyas Williams chose the University of Notre Dame, making his commitment to the Fighting Irish known on December 16. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — An announcement drawing national attention. Game-winning shots. Highlights of rivalry games. An inaugural all-star event. Throughout 2022, area student-athletes and teams provided thrills that needed to be captured on video. Here is a look at the top 10 most viewed videos on Muddy River Sports throughout the past year: 1. Aneyas Williams picks…

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Keeping everybody on their Tippy Toes: Williams uses family dog to help make Notre Dame his college choice

Aneyas Williams adjusts a Notre Dame hat on his head while holding Tippy Toes, the family dog, following the announcement of his college commitment on Friday night in Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. At left are his mom, Sarah Williams, and his brother, James Branch II. At right is his sister, Olivia Williams. | Photo courtesy of Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A plastic baggie filled with marshmallows helped keep quiet the biggest secret in Hannibal a little bit longer. Aneyas Williams, the No. 1 all-purpose back in the 2024 recruiting class according to Rivals.com, and Tippy Toes, the family dog dressed like a leprechaun, combined to announce Williams’ decision to attend the University…

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Humphrey carries load for Hannibal football team after Williams exits with injury

Hannibal's Kane Wilson, left, sheds a defender during Friday night's game against Columbia Battle at Porter Stadium. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Markahl Humphrey ran for a career-high 193 yards and scored three touchdowns Friday night, triggering the Hannibal football team’s hard-fought 27-21 victory over Columbia Battle at Porter Stadium. The spotlight was thrust on Humphrey, a senior running back, following a first-quarter injury to junior all-purpose back Aneyas Williams, a major NCAA Division…

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Crim: Pujols’ surge, Iowa’s meager offense and Williams’ record-setting effort provide stats, numbers to ponder

Hannibal's Aneyas Williams makes a touchdown catch between two Jefferson City defenders during Friday night's game in Jefferson City, Mo. It was one of eight TDs Williams scored, breaking the single-game school record. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Stats, stats and more stats for your reading pleasure on a leisurely Labor Day. Every Cardinals fan knows 42-year-old Albert Pujols looked like a younger version of himself at the plate in August, fueling a surge that propelled St. Louis to the top of the National League’s Central Division. Just how hot was he? Jayson…

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

Hannibal’s Austin Wilhoit congratulates Aneyas Williams after the junior all-purpose back scored one of his eight touchdowns in Friday night’s 53-28 victory over Jefferson City at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

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Hannibal overcomes shaky first quarter to blow out North County, head to Show-Me Bowl

The Hannibal football fans packed the visiting stands at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Mo., for Saturday's Class 4 state semifinal. Submitted photo

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — Take a long road trip to unfamiliar territory on a cold, grey November afternoon, coupled with the realization they were a step away from playing at Faurot Field for a state championship, and it’s understandable if the Hannibal football players needed a moment to get acclimated. Two first quarter fumbles led…

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Pirates get right back down to business, bulldoze way into district title game

Hannibal’s Aneyas Williams hauls in a pass for a 63-yard touchdown in the first quarter Friday night against Warrenton at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

By Don O’Brien HANNIBAL, Mo. — The ebb and flow of the Hannibal High School football season was interrupted last week thanks to an opening-round bye in the district tournament. As the undefeated No. 1 seed, the Pirates certainly earned the break. Hannibal’s coaching staff could tell they had a monster on their hands during…

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Running roughshod through NCMC earns Pirates plethora of all-conference honors

Four members of the Hannibal football team's offensive line received All-North Central Missouri Conference honors. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — An offense that finished the regular season on a record-setting scoring pace deserves all the accolades the Hannibal football team is receiving. The Pirates had six players land on the All-North Central Missouri Conference offensive first team and four others on the second team after winning the league title with an undefeated…

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Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams

Hannibal sophomore Aneyas Williams scored six touchdowns in last week's victory at Fort Zumwalt West, tying the Pirates' single-game record. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams is finding himself in elite company these days, drawing recruiting interest from major NCAA Division I football programs. His six-touchdown performance last Friday night in the Hannibal football team’s 56-35 victory at Fort Zumwalt East elevated the sophomore all-purpose back to exclusive company. Williams tied the Pirates’ single-game touchdown record,…

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Schuckman: From any vantage point, Pirates’ pursuit of history is sight to behold

Hannibal linebacker Ashton Watts, left, sacks Jefferson City quarterback Hayden Well during Friday night's game at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Dick White hadn’t returned to his hometown since … well, it’s been so long the 65-year-old couldn’t remember exactly when the last time was. “I could blame the pandemic for it,” the Hannibal native said. “But that would just be an excuse. I haven’t been back here in a long time.” So…

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