Pruitt earns 400th coaching win behind Williston rout

There's not many like Williston head football coach Robby Pruitt.

Across an illustrious career that includes seven total state championships between multiple stops in Florida, including three with Union County (Lake Butler) in the 1990s, and other successful stops in Georgia, Pruitt is the youngest inductee in the FHSAA Hall of Fame.

On Monday night against Trinity Catholic, he added one more accolade.

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The Red Devils' 38-7 win over the Celtics marked Pruitt's 400th career win as a head coach in his career.

"It's an honor, but at the same time, it's not something that just kind of happens. Kinda tells you how old I am," Pruitt said. "It means more to have the people – I got two lifetime coaches on the sideline with me, two former players – that's what means a whole lot more, honestly."

It didn't come easily, though. In fact, there was a slight chance it wouldn't happen at all.

To start, the game was originally scheduled to be played last Friday, but Hurricane Helene's arrival forced the game to be pushed back. From there, Williston only had what Pruitt said was two-and-a-half days of practice.

The lack of preparation in the midst of irregular circumstances showed early.

Williston held a tight 8-7 lead at halftime after Trinity Catholic's 47-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds failed after hitting the goal post crossbar and falling into the end zone. The Red Devils' lone score, a short rushing touchdown from Omarion Walker, came on its opening drive.

From there, Williston turned the ball over on downs, fumbled and threw an interception. The turnover on downs and fumble both came deep in Celtics' territory.

The second half, however, saw the Red Devils turn it around in true Pruitt fashion with a powerful run-first offense that drained the clock.

What was once a one-point Red Devil lead, which could have easily been a two-point Celtic lead had the field goal been successful, quickly became a 24-7 game in favor of Willison in the third quarter.

A 54-yard kickoff return from Giovanni Wright set up a seven-yard touchdown from Jamari Williams, who also converted the 2-point conversion. He added a 13-yard score the following drive, and Walker converted the following 2-point run.

"He's our big strong back that we can kind of run a little bit more," Pruitt said of Williams, who led Williston with 843 yards and 12 scores last season. "He can take the physical abuse. It's good to have the leading rusher back."

Kameryn Manneh and Bryson Willis each added scores in the fourth quarter with Ryan Gagne converting both extra point kicks.

Next week, Williston looks to add another win in a matchup against winless Belleview. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Williston. Monday, Sept. 30

Newberry 32, Palatka 0 Williston 38, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 7 PK Yonge 37, Central Florida Christian Academy (Ocoee) 7 Nease (Ponte Vedra) 20, Buchholz 17 OT