By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / February 21, 1998

DESTREHAN – Germond Williams has played trumpet in the school band since he was in the sixth grade, saying he was always fascinated about making music with an instrument.

There are quite a few running backs in the area that wish that Williams would have only played music at football games on Friday nights. Instead,he has become one of the best linebackers in the River Parishes, becoming a two-time all-district selection for the Destrehan Wildcats.

The Reserve native started his football career as a member of the NOAH Gators. He attended Leon Godchaux Junior High before going to Destrehan,where his mother works. Because he switched parishes, Williams couldpractice with the Wildcats but could not see action during games.

Williams did not let the year layoff affect him, becoming one of the leading tacklers on the team in his junior year. However, the youngWildcats, who had lost a number of seniors as well as coach Tim Rebowe from the prior season, struggled through a 2-8 season.

The Wildcats were one of the surprise teams in the state in 1996, Williams’ junior year, capturing the District 7-5A title with an 8-4 record. Destrehan defeated Bonnabel in the bi-district playoffs beforefalling to LaGrange in the regionals.

“(In 1995) we had to get use to coach (first year coach Scott Martin),” Williams said. “We had a lot of seniors that left. We had mainlysophomores and juniors on the field. My junior year, we got older and moremature. We came together more as a team. That helped us out a lot. Wewere a lot better.”Williams definitely helped out a lot, leading the team in tackles while being named to the first team all-district and all-River Parishes teams.

There was pressure on both the Wildcats and Williams to duplicate their performances in 1997. The season got off to an inconspicuous start with aloss to the Jesuit Blue Jays at home in a game in which the Wildcats held a 19-7 lead.

But the Wildcats rebounded impressively, rolling off 10 straight wins, including a bi-district playoff victory over Acadiana, before falling to eventual state runner-up Archbishop Shaw in the regionals. Along the way,the Wildcats captured the District 6-5A championship, the first time in over two decades that a Destrehan team had won back-to-back district championships. Williams also duplicated his 1996 season and was namedto the all-district second team.

“We had almost everyone coming back,” Williams said. “We had goodbackups, a good defense and a great offense. We came together reallywell.”Williams recently signed with Northwestern Louisiana University, selecting the Demons over Southwestern Louisiana, McNeese and Nicholls State. He said he watched films of the Demons’ games last season andliked the defensive schemes that they ran. Williams said he was told theDemons have a senior playing his position next year and that he might get to see some playing time. If not, he will redshirt and have the opportunityto start the following season.

Williams said he likes playing linebacker because that is where most of the action is, both on running and passing downs. He said he likes to watchthe linebackers in the NFL, especially Bryan Cox and Sam Mills, to see how they read blocks. Williams also gave credit to his position coach, StephenRobichaux, for his improvement over his high school career.

Williams has excelled on the track as well as the football field at Destrehan. He first got started running track his sophomore year throughthe help of friend and teammate Fred Smith, who ran hurdles for the Wildcats. By the end of the year, Williams had finished third in thedistrict in the hurdles. He improved on that accomplishment his junioryear, winning a district title in the hurdles while placing second in the region.

Williams said football and track complemented each other. Football helpedgive confidence, especially in the 4X400 meter relay, while track helped him get to the ball faster.

Looking back at his career, Williams said the things he will remember the most are his teammates and coaches.

“They were there the whole time for me,” Williams said. “We joked a lotand got to know each other and get close.”

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