MARYVILLE, Mo. — A slight grin came across Shane Williams’ face when asked about his sister and who has had the better college career.
“Some people try to get us to argue about that but we’ve got plenty of other stuff to talk about,” he said.
Kenzie Williams is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in Missouri State history, leading the Lady Bears to the NCAA Tournament in 2015. She is now an assistant coach at Central Missouri, and MIAA rival of Shane’s Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
The middle child of the Williams family has dealt with several trios, he being one of three siblings, the older brother of Trace, an all-state thrower. Shane, himself, was all-state in three sports at Mount Vernon: football, basketball, and track.
Now, he owns three national championship rings.
Williams earned his way to Maryville, Mo. with his versatility. When you think of those dudes with “ATH” next to his name on your game night roster, think of Shane. Mount Vernon’s resident Swiss army knife racked up over 13 hundred yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior.
That earned him a spot at NWMSU in 2013.
“I came here lost, confused, and not sure what I was getting into. I’ve learned a lot. On the field it’s night and day.”
The Bearcats have reestablished themselves as the most dominant Division II football program during Williams’ tenur, and he has played his role. He redshirted his first season on campus, when the program won its first championship under Adam Dorrel.
Since then, Williams has followed the path of many players that have historically come through the program. Current head coach Rich Wright describe him as a role guy that has evolved into a leader. In a community so closely tied to the success of the program, not always the case at the Division II level, Williams has established himself as a difference maker.
So much so, he was named a team captain this summer.
“He more often leads by example but he’s starting to have a voice and to know when to use it,” said Wright.
In 2014, the Bearcats were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs as Williams found himself in a familiar role to that of Mount Vernon, getting equal reps in the backfield and out wide.
In the two seasons that followed, he accounted for just shy of one thousand total yards and 11 touchdowns. Northwest capped each of those years with a Division II National Championship in Kansas City.
Williams caught touchdowns in both games.
After transitioning primarily to receiver in 2016, he also found the end zone at Arrowhead Stadium in the Bearcats’ annual Fall Classic Game against Central Missouri.
“I was all over the field in high school so and got to do some receiver stuff,” he said. “That helped, but I had a lot to learn when I got here. I was pretty raw at what I was doing.”
The Mt’Neer contingent is never far behind. They walked the court at JQH Arena to send off Kenzie for senior day and they will do the same this year at Bearcat Stadium.
“My family travels for 14-15 weeks straight, driving all over the midwest to come watch me. I’ve got a great support system back home and I never have to worry about that.”
If Williams has his way, the travel schedule will include another 15 weeks this fall, ending with a visit to wintery Sporting Park. Northwest opens the season on Aug. 31 as the consensus No. 1 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
He is familiar with the touch of a trophy, and has designs on a staggering fourth celebration. He knows it well enough to know that it should be the farthest thing from his mind right now.
“I think we’re doing a good job of focusing on ‘step-by-step’. Right now, we want to have a really good fall camp. We’re not looking ahead, we’re just trying to be the team we know we can be and everything else will take care of itself.”
