Track and yoga helped transform Clarke Central's Will Richardson into a workhorse running back

Clarke Central's William Richardson (24) breaks away from a Jackson defender for another touchdown during a GHSA high school football game between Jackson and Clarke Central in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Clarke Central won 46-6.
Clarke Central's William Richardson (24) breaks away from a Jackson defender for another touchdown during a GHSA high school football game between Jackson and Clarke Central in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Clarke Central won 46-6.

In Clarke Central's 24-7 victory Friday night over Starr's Mill in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, the Gladiators continued handing the ball to senior running back Will Richardson.

And why not?

After bursting through holes for gains of nine and 10 yards on his first couple of carries, Richardson broke away on his sixth carry for a 38 yard touchdown that quickly gave him 66 yards rushing late in the first quarter.

But his night was only beginning.

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By the end, Richardson had 203 yards on 27 carries and accounted for 71% of the Gladiators' total offense, with 61% of their plays run through their 6-foot, 200-pound running back.

"There’s no question that we’re going to go as far as he takes us offensively, for sure," said Clarke Central coach David Perno, whose Gladiators have won 10 in a row after losing their first two games. "I think he takes a little pressure off of (quarterback) Lucian (Anderson) and opens some throws up for him — and that’s huge."

Richardson has rushed for 930 yards this season, despite missing a pair of midseason games with a concussion.

Injuries hampered him last year when cramps and a hamstring issue limited him to 661 yards, although there was promise for much more.

In the offseason, he emphasized his health along with improving his power and explosiveness.

In the spring, he joined the Gladiators' track team.

"Not only did he run track but he was kind of an impact guy for them in track," Perno said. "He anchored the relay team and just did a lot of good things for them. You could see him kind of changing as track season went on."

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Track improved his speed, but it was when he began yoga sessions with his sister Amber, a Clarke Central alum who began teaching online classes last summer, that he started feeling like his health was improving.

His agility and flexibility drastically improved. He added in salt and ice baths. Gone are the nagging injuries and he feels like a changed athlete.

"I had never done it, but I started doing it and it made a difference in my game," Richardson said. "I’m more flexible, I’m faster and I haven’t been catching as many cramps since I’ve been doing it."

Perno said he noticed a bit of hesitancy from Richardson during the first half of the season. In the four games since returning from the concussion, the Clarke Central head coach has seen a different player.

Richardson has tallied 488 yards rushing in those contests — two that ended the regular season and two playoff games — after he vowed to himself that he would finish his senior season strong while watching his team struggle to a 27-24 victory without him against Loganville on Oct. 22.

"That Loganville game, I won’t say we were struggling, but we weren’t as dominant," Richardson said. "But after that game I said that when I get back from the concussion, I’m not going to be hurt anymore. I’m going to push through everything."

Richardson hasn't rushed for fewer than 72 yards since coming back. Two of those games were blowout victories where he didn't play beyond halftime.

"We missed him for a couple weeks, but ever since he’s come back, he’s been a real dude and we needed it," Perno said. "It was at the right time and he’s kind of opened up a lot of other options for us as well."

Richardson says he's taken a couple unofficial visits to colleges, but coaches haven't been knocking on the senior's door too often.

Perno believes Richardson could make for a valuable asset at the next level.

"College coaches are always looking for that sexy five-star, four-star, but at the end of the day Will Richardson is a great back," said Perno, the former UGA baseball coach. "But what do I know? I’m just a baseball coach, they don’t listen to me. But I think he’s pretty special."

The Gladiators' game plan this week in the Class 5A quarterfinals against Calhoun will be to ride their senior back until change is necessary.

After missing most of last season's second-round loss to the Yellow Jackets because of injury, Richardson has additional incentive to perform well this week.

"Last year in the playoffs, I didn’t really get to play that much," Richardson said. "This year I’ve just changed my mind set to go hard every play until we make the state championship.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Clarke Central football RB Will Richardson becomes Gladiators workhorse