Ex-Bullard High School star gives the Bulldogs fits in his final game at Fresno State

UNLV running back Charles Williams ended up on the short end of the scoreboard against No. 22 Fresno State on Friday, a closer-than-expected 38-30 final at Bulldog Stadium.

But the Bullard High graduate once again gave his hometown team fits for four quarters. He rushed the football 19 times for 102 yards, with one touchdown and three catches that he turned into another 96 yards while playing in front of about 50 family members and friends for the final time in Fresno.

“I didn’t want to disappoint them,” said Williams, who led the Rebels in both rushing and receiving yards. “I put it all on the line. It may be the last time they get to see me play in person because the next level is not guaranteed. So, I wanted to give them all I could.”

It was the last time, but not the first time he had hurt the Bulldogs. Williams was not recruited by Fresno State coming out of high school, and he used that as a spur from the start of his career.

In his freshman season, he rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown in a 45-20 victory in Las Vegas, the Rebels’ only win over the Bulldogs in his five seasons.

As a sophomore, he churned out 121 yards on just 16 plays, but the Bulldogs won 48-3. As a junior, he rushed for 82 yards on 25 plays. Last season, his first senior season, he had 89 yards and one touchdown on 27 plays.

Then on Friday, the Super Senior, taking advantage of a blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19, had the 198 all-purpose yards with a touchdown that gave UNLV a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

In his five career games against Fresno State, Williams averaged 5.2 yards per rush and 109.4 per game.