THOMASVILLE — Thomasville has its own version of thunder and lightning.

The constant boom heard during the Bulldogs’ seven-game winning streak is Tyrone Williams making noise running with the ball.

Seeing the majority of his snaps on defense early in the season, Williams is now the Bulldogs’ full-time fullback and is producing extraordinary results.

His latest effort was a 147-yard performance in Thomasville’s 20-7 win in the first round of the Class AA playoffs against McIntosh County Academy. Williams is a key reason the Bulldogs will play at Dublin Friday in the second round.

“A perfect example in the difference in Tyrone is last year there would be situations with Tyrone playing both ways, he would get worn down,” Thomasville coach Richie Marsh said. “This year, he won’t let anybody come get him out of the game. That’s night and day.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re where we’re at.”

During the Bulldogs’ four-game losing streak to start the year, Williams had just 26 rushing attempts, only once carrying the ball more than six times. Against McIntosh, the Bulldogs fed their senior the pigskin 24 times.

“It’s something we saw earlier in the season. When Tyrone’s in there, he seemed to spark our offense because we’re so young behind him,” Marsh noted. “Trey’s (Bryant) done a really, really good job for us there. (Tyrone) was there last year when we were doing what we do. Tyrone helps us to play the type of football we want to play, control the ball and be physical.

“He’s doing that well.”

Williams’ recent surge in the ground attack has the senior atop Thomasville’s rushing leaders with 705 yards. With quarterback Charles Hayes and running back Jeffery Dyson, the Bulldogs have a versatile triple threat that is tough to stop.

“You can’t just key on one person,” added Williams, who has recorded 37 solo tackles while playing middle linebacker. “You key on one person, the others might get loose. It’s hard to figure out which guy you’re going to key on.”

Dublin coach Roger Holmes added, “Offensively, their power running game is where it all starts with their good, physical fullback and big offensive line. If you commit too many people to try to do anything about that, their quarterback and No. 2 kid, (Dyson) the running back, have such great speed on the perimeter that one mess-up and they’re in the end zone.”