The Bulldog seniors entered Friday night’s contest with previously undefeated Linden focused on only one thing, a third straight state championship. It is something Sweet Water High School has never accomplished, and something this senior class is determined to add to its legacy. That legacy is one that includes a 49-5 career record and two rings.

But, in order for the Bulldogs to advance to Birmingham one more time, they had to first get through an amped up Patriot squad.

Up the level of difficulty by adding in significant and persistent rainfall that made the field close to unplayable in certain spots, and the SWHS was potentially staring at the recipe for an upset.

That is where Sweet Water senior Damaraquis “Butch” Williams came in.

The order of the day for the Bulldog offense was to get the ball into the hands of a talented stable of running backs. That became no small task once field conditions reached potentially detrimental levels.

However, calm, collected and careful, Williams managed the game all night long as he handed the ball off, carried out his fakes and executed from the outset.

Williams also pulled off the nearly unthinkable by completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to classmate Antonio Landrum, despite the unfavorable weather conditions.

Sweet Water’s senior signal caller later dialed up his own number for a touchdown run.

Perhaps no player better represents the message head coach Stacy Luker seeks to convey when he references the program’s favorite scripture, 1 Samuel 16:7, which gives credence to the value of the heart over outward appearance.

And few can argue that the 5-foo-7-inch Williams’ talent is surpassed only by his heart.