Nick Saban issued the challenge when his Alabama football offense got the ball back with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter against South Florida. Run out the clock, win the game.

Ty Simpson accomplished the goal when he pushed into the end zone on a QB sneak to seal the victory. But for a Crimson Tide offense that had struggled all game, the hero of the drive was running back Roydell Williams.

“My mentality was just, shoot, let’s run the ball man,” Williams said Tuesday of his mentality heading out to the field for the drive. “Be a dawg. Go do what you do.”

On paper, Williams carried the ball five times on that drive, for a total of 64 yards, including a 48-yard carry to start the trip downfield. The numbers were thrown off by a holding penalty that brought back a touchdown he had appeared to score.

Even with Simpson finishing the drive, Williams impressed his teammates.

“Honestly, I’m really proud of Roydell,” Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton said Tuesday. “That’s just honestly the way he practices. To see it translate into a game is amazing. I just really want him to keep up what he’s been doing. He’s a great leader. He’s an energy, he’s a light bulb in the locker room. And I’m proud of him.”

Last season, Williams’ role was largely to imitate a bowling ball in short-yardage situations. This year, he’s part of the regular running back rotation, taking the majority of the team’s carries alongside Jase McClellan.

He finished up Saturday’s game with 129 yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.6 yards on 17 carries. That was easily the Hueytown native’s best game of the season, bringing him to 177 yards this year.

“Roydell played a great second half,” Saban said Monday. “He had over 100 yards rushing in the second half. We were very pleased. We’ve always had a lot of confidence in Roydell, so him and Jase both have been very productive so far this year.”

The criticisms of Alabama’s offense this season have been mostly valid. The Tide has struggled to move the ball over the last two weeks, the quarterback play hasn’t been stellar and the offensive line has resembled a turnstile while pass blocking.

If Williams and McClellan can mount a consistent rushing attack, it could help UA exponentially on offense. Williams explained Tuesday how it could even help out the passing game.

“Balance,” Williams said. “We got a lot fo great guys up front. The running back room is loaded, any one of those guys can play. The receiver room, special guys out there. Speed, great hands out there with Ja’Corey (Brooks), Jermaine, Isaiah (Bond), all those guys are just elite athletes and we would just keep it balanced.”

And as for his performance to help seal the game, Williams called it a “blessing.”

“I just had the mentality to go out there and do what I had to do,” he said. “Of course (the score) was 10-3 at the time and my mindset was just go out and win. Deal with the clock, do what we had to do to win the game.”

Alabama will be back in action Saturday against Ole Miss. That game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. and will be aired on CBS.

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