Long Beach’s Williams Shines in Simple Green Bowl Victory

COSTA MESA — Michael Williams gained 128 yards in 33 carries and didn’t fumble to help Long Beach beat Hancock, 13-7, in the Simple Green Orange County Bowl Saturday at Orange Coast College.

After the game, Williams and several teammates took off across the field sliding head-first through the three or four inches of mud and water that covered the field between the 20-yard lines. Williams also was the game’s most valuable player.

“It was fun,” said Williams, who attended Marina High. “The field was impossible to run on. I just had two hands on the ball as much as possible.”

Long Beach (9-2) scored on a 20-yard reverse by Kelby Tyre and a 25-yard pass from Sean Stein (Los Alamitos High) to Colvin Williams to take a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. Stein was nine of 19 for 85 yards and one interception.

Hancock (8-3) scored on a three-yard run by Matt Olney in the third quarter. The Bulldogs had the ball three times in the final nine minutes, but never got closer than the Long Beach 43.