Teammates, coaches and others gathered before Friday night's football game at Lane Tech High School to honor Williams, who suffered a brain injury during last week's game.
Emotional moments ahead of Friday night lights at the historic high school in Roscoe Village.
The parents of high school senior Drew Williams accepted the prayers of a student body that has experienced the anxiety along with the family over the prognosis for a star football player felled last week during a game.
"He's part of the football team, which is a bit part of Lane," said student Jesus Nunez. "It's just terrible what happened to him, hopefully he gets through it."
"He's our fallen brother and as a family we have to be there for him and his family," student Anastasia Saavedra said.
The senior said he felt unwell during a game against Dunbar and was carted off the field. He was rushed to Christ Advocate Medical Center with a brain injury.
Friday evening his sister said that after several days in a coma drew is breathing on his own. But he is not out of the woods yet.
"Earlier (Friday) they had taken him off the ventilator and he took a few breaths on his own. They put him back on, and just a few hours ago they were able to take him entirely off the ventilator, and he is breathing on his own. However, he is still in a coma," Andrea Williams said.
The family is keeping vigil at the hospital, hoping perhaps the worst is behind them.
Drew Williams' coach said that the student suffered bleeding on the brain after taking a hit and surgeons have had to open his skull to relieve the pressure.
