Cornell High plays final game after coach's death, days after his funeral

Cornell High School played its last game of the season days after burying its head coach.

Ed Dawson collapsed during the previous week's game and later died. Before the season finale at Northgate on Friday, a moment of silence was held and a large flag reading "Do it for coach" led Cornell onto the field. "Tonight's game is about more than just football," Northgate's announcer said to open the on-field tribute.

Superintendent Dr Aaron Thomas said he spent the week after Dawson's death deciding whether to play at all. "I was conflicted to have the game or not, but one thing was, you know, we didn't want our seniors' last memory to be last Friday night," Thomas said, adding that Dawson would have wanted the game played. He also noted the absence on the sideline: "There's definitely a void. You'd hear his booming voice about right now."

Dawson's son EJ had buried his father hours earlier and then worked the game as one of Cornell's coaches. Dawson's cousin EJ Smith stood in the stands waving the flag. Smith described the day as "really emotional" and said he was "all over the place," from preparing for the funeral in the morning to supporting the players that afternoon.

The phrase on the flag spread through the crowd. A fan shouted "Do it for coach" at one point, which Smith said had moved beyond football: "At this point in life, everything that we do is for him. We need to make sure we make good decisions. Make sure we're taking care of each other, checking on each other, loving on each other, strictly for him."

Northgate's announcer told the crowd, "The Cornell Raiders are led by head coach Ed Dawson." Thomas said the team carries Dawson's approach: "All great coaches have their teams take on their personality, and our kids have his personality. They'll be tough, they'll be resilient, and you're going to see his imprint just throughout the game constantly."