Melissas Williams to West Point

MELISSA -- A quarterback is sometimes referred to as a "field general" due to being the most important player on a football field, and Melissa High School's Zach Williams is taking the term to a new extreme.

Williams, a four-year starter for the Cardinals who combined his recent desire to join the armed forces with his lifetime love of football, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to attend the United States Military Academy.

The Air Force Academy and Southeastern Oklahoma State were the other two schools high on Williams' list, but when it was all said and done, he knew he belonged with the Army. He talked about watching his father Ronny and brother Joe coach and said it would be hard for him to be a part of a game and not be playing in it.

"I looked into joining the military my sophomore year, and I sat back and thought about how my whole family is involved with teaching and coaching," Williams said. They are great professions, but I want something different. I want to serve my country and use the discipline my family instilled in me to my advantage."

Four generations were in attendance, from grandfather Roy L. Williams, a former high school coach at Sherman, to his father, the current coach at Melissa, to nephew Seth and niece Sadie.

Football is definitely in the blood of the Williams family, with Joe, a former quarterback at Van Alstyne, and brother-in-law Jeff Kasowski serving as Cardinal assistant coaches. It was a common topic at the dinner table, and there were plenty of wins to talk about the last four years for what is a tight-knit group.

"I continued to love football more and more the older I got," Williams said. "Football was such a big deal in my family. Everyone loved it, and it formed a bond, even with the women."

Melissa went 7-3 but lost a tiebreaker for a playoff spot in 2005, its final season as a Class 1A school. Things quickly changed for the better one year later after the move to 2A.

The Cardinals challenged for a district championship before losing to Farmersville in their final regular-season game. They beat Gunter in the first round and got revenge against Clarksville after a Week 1 loss before losing to Holliday in the regional round.

Farmersville still provided a barrier to a district title in 2007 but rightfully so after the Fightin Farmers eventually won a state championship in overtime.

There was a win against Whitewright in the bi-district round of 2007 before a loss to DeKalb in the area round. Melissa got a much-desired second meeting against the Bears last season but fell short once again in a career-ending game Williams and his teammates couldn't stomach.

"I got to start for four years and have seen it all, but I was always surrounded by great teammates," Williams said. "It made it a lot easier for all of us, and it was amazing to be a part of the first group of successful teams at Melissa. I wouldn't trade those times for anything in the world."

Williams no doubt made a name for himself on the football field, finishing just 69 yards short of 11,000 for his four-year career. He ran 638 times for 4,433 yards and 61 touchdowns and completed 419-of-721 passes for 6,498 yards and 64 touchdowns with only 20 interceptions.

"He's worked harder than any athlete I've ever coached," Ronny Williams said.

The numbers are minuscule to Williams compared to what he could accomplish in the Army. The numerous children who jumped at the chance to take a picture with him Wednesday also spoke volumes when it came to him wanting to set an example to those around him.

"My family has always kept me straight and taught me to be a good person first," Williams said. "Not many people missed workouts, and it's because of the discipline we had here at Melissa. I always wanted to be a role model for kids. Mom always said to be careful, because there are little eyes looking up at you."

Ronny Williams, who coached his oldest son at Van Alstyne, joined his youngest at Melissa. The family has enjoyed quite a ride ever since, and Zach and his father have the typical relationship.

"Dad wouldn't care if I never played another down of football," Williams said. "He wants me to do what makes me happy, and we've spent so much time together. I've enjoyed being with him every day."

Williams signed three weeks after the "official day" of Feb. 4 when high school athletes across the country were putting pen to paper, and mother Dena persuaded him to be patient.

"I initially thought I was going to the Air Force Academy after they called me in December and said they wanted me there," Williams said. "All of a sudden, here comes an offer from Army."

It didn't surprise Dena Williams, a woman Zach called "a great influence and one of the most Godly people I've ever been around." She constantly preached to her youngest son about the importance of faith.

"Zach has worked so hard and is a good person," Dena Williams said. "He's being rewarded for it."

West Point flew Williams in for a visit Feb. 13 knowing it was getting a special person, one who began a training program under his brother when he was in the sixth grade in which his father said nearly brought him to tears on a daily basis.

No matter what Williams did on the field, it was his transcript that showed all but one grade being an A that sold Army when it came to work ethic. The only B was ironically in a pre-calculus class taught by his sister Leslie.

It was an advanced placement history course his junior year taught by former Whitewright football coach Jody Stringer in which Williams' desire to join the military came full force.

Soliders who were home from Iraq and about to return told their stories to Williams and his classmates, and it was then he knew he wanted to be at a place famous for the likes of Dwight Eisenhower and Norman Schwarzkopf. Two particular names quickly came to Williams' mind.

"West Point is where freedom was born, and you have names like Patton and MacArthur who made a name for themselves there," Williams said. "I want to be a good football player in college, but first and foremost, I want to go to school and be the best officer I can be."