In Daine Williams' football career that has covered stints from Beaver Falls High School to Howard University and now to California University of Pennsylvania, he has reached a WPIAL title game, won a PSAC-West title and reached the Division II national semifinals.

Still the football games Williams dwells on every morning when he is up early working out or practicing are the 24-14 loss to Washington High School at Heinz Field his senior year of high school and last year's 28-24 loss to Valdosta State, as California came within one game of playing for the NCAA Division II national title.

"I know what it's like to lose a big championship game," Williams said.

"My feelings toward these playoffs are different. Back when I was younger in high school, you always felt that there was next year, or the next level at college. Now for most of us seniors, this might be the last time we strap up and wear a helmet. And for your last time you have a chance to be considered a champion."

Williams and his teammates will begin that quest Saturday. At noon, they will play host to Seton Hill in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

After a successful WPIAL career at Beaver Falls, Williams attended Howard University, a Division I-AA program in Washington, D.C., about four hours away from home. After three years at the school, sitting out one because he was academically ineligible and another while being redshirted, Williams transferred to California.

At Beaver Falls in 2001, his senior season, Williams led the WPIAL with 2,221 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. The Tigers advanced to the WPIAL Class AA title game that season for the first time since 1984.

"I am a Western Pennsylvania kid and I love being back in my atmosphere," Williams said. "We breed football players here. It's nice to be back in my element."

After the Vulcans had to deal with injuries to starting running back Brandon Lombardy for two consecutive seasons, Williams has proven to be a valuable insurance policy.

Last season Lombardy was lost after the Slippery Rock game in late October. Williams took on more carries and finished the season with a team best 1,129 yards rushing.

This year Lombardy was injured before the PSAC championship game against West Chester. Williams once again stepped up. He has led the team with attempts (167), yards (889) and rushing touchdowns (nine).

Williams was part of a productive backfield that also featured Lombardy, who racked up 509 yards before his injury, and Windell Brown with 493 yards on the season and Freddie Bacco with 326 yards.

"We wanted to be versatile. We wanted to be the best corps of backs and be the best as a group. We expected so many yards and so much productivity from each other," Williams said.

The Vulcans earned the No. 2 seed in Super Regional One and with it receive a bye. The bye came at a good time for the team as Williams is nursing an injured knee after having his leg rolled on in the last game of the season. He rushed for 43 yards on eight carries against West Chester before the injury.

The No. 1 seed in the tournament went to Bloomsburg, the only team to defeat California this season. After a 44-32 win against West Chester to open the season, the Vulcans fell to Bloomsburg, 24-17. They have won nine consecutive games since then.

"We know what it feels like to lose to a decent team like Bloomsburg," Williams said. "It feels good to win but it feels way worse to lose. One reason I wake up early and train, I just think as a team we were so close and this is another reason I should be up this early training and trying to become a better player and better person.

"We can be one step away from being the best or from being just another team that was in the playoffs that no one will remember."