Just two games into the 2011 football season, the Walter M. Williams High School community was shocked by the sudden death of their quarterback, senior Harry Cohen. "Expect to win. Find a way," a motto meant to herald the return of the school's championship legacy, suddenly became, in the words of Head Coach David Green, "Just find a way to deal...find a way to get on with your lives and get beyond this as best you can, without the expect to win part of it."
Seniors Cody Corbett (2) and Tre Young (7) take a moment for individual prayers just before the start of their first-round playoff game against the Northeast Guilford Rams, a team who had shut them out 56-0 during the regular season.
At senior night, members of the Bulldogs team embrace Harry's relatives during a memorial ceremony held before their last home game. Harry's jersey number, 5, became a symbol of remembrance, honor, and pride for the team and community.
Cheerleaders and classmates show their support for the Bulldogs players as their charter bus heads to a playoff game. The Bulldogs squeaked into the postseason as the lowest-seeded team, but surprised everyone with close victories in the first and second rounds of the playoffs.
The team takes a moment for prayer before the start of the final game of the regular-season.
The Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the Rams 22-21 with a two-point conversion in overtime. After Harry's death a tradition started of holding up five fingers before the fourth quarter. Head Coach David Green noted, "We got pictures sent to us from schools all over the place, where not just players but people in the stands had their hands raised."
As most of the players rest, Coach Green stares out the windows of the charter bus taking the Bulldogs to their third-round playoff game against the Cleveland Rams.
After arriving nearly an hour earlier than scheduled for their playoff game against the Cleveland Rams, most of the Bulldogs sit in quiet reflection in the visiting team locker room.
Senior Malik Grice, right, and sophomore Jaimeon Harvey keep warm and focused in a public restroom prior to a game against the Eastern Alamance Eagles. Members of the team struggled to adapt in the wake of loosing their leader and close friend; Malik moved from wide receiver to starting quarterback, while Jamieon stepped up to take the open WR spot.
Malik's uniform, cleats, and backpack lie at his feet in the locker room following a close victory over Northeast Guilford. "Over the summer it was the Harry and Malik Show," Coach Green said in praise of Malik's skills as a wide receiver. "He basically gave all of that up because the team needed him to do something else."
After a tough loss in the third round of the playoffs, Alex Gee comforts Malik as two senior cheerleaders release the honorary number 5 balloon for the final time. "They found a way...to come out on the other side stronger and better than what they were as individuals going through it," Coach Green said in an interview after the game.