Zed Williams had a tremendous athletic career as a Silver Creek Black Knight. Over the weekend, in leading his Premier Lacrosse League Whipsnakes to a title, his legend grew even larger.

Williams had six goals in the championship, including five in the fourth quarter, in leading the Whipsnakes past the Chaos, 12-6. His feat took place in a nationally televised game on NBC on Sunday afternoon.

Not only was Williams in the spotlight, the league did something others have not yet accomplished. It got through a shortened season during the pandemic.

“We’re grateful, and it starts with our medical team, who installed a great protocol,” league co-founder Paul Rabil told NBC. “… We’re the first league to pull this off, start to finish, without any COVID-19 threats. … And it’s special because our MVP is Zed Williams who hails from the Seneca Reservation. What we’ve been able to do amidst this global pandemic and amidst this conversation about social justice is special to us.”

For Silver Creek and northern Chautauqua County, it was an achievement to celebrate.