Eagles receive All-District honors

January 3, 2012

PEARLAND — The Dawson Eagles had another great season with a run to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals for the second time in three years after playing varsity football for only four years.

The Eagles advanced to the 4A Division I state semifinals in 2009 only to fall to eventual state champion Lake Travis for the third straight year. Lake Travis defeated Dawson again and then proceeded to win their fifth straight state title -- a feat that no team of any class has ever accomplished in Texas football history.

Dawson finished the season with a 12-3 mark.

The Eagles have made the playoffs for the past three straight years and have captured two 4A Region III Div. I titles (2009, 2011). Dawson is 36-15 over the past four seasons of varsity competition.

Most pre-season preditions had Dawson competing for a state championship as the Eagles began the season 8-0 and ranked No. 7 in the state before dropping two final district games to region finalist La Marque and district champion and state finalist Manvel.

There is no doubt that District 24-4A is one of the toughest leagues in the state as proven by Dawson and Manvel winning the Region III titles in both divisions.

As a result of another great season, it is no surprise that the Eagles had several players honored by the district coaches.

Senior quarterback Garry Kimble was named as the 24-4A Offensive MVP after he became Dawson's all-time leading passer in several categories.

Kimble broke his own single-season school record after completing 208-of-348 passing for 3,216 yards and 31 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

In 2010, Kimble threw for 2,350 yards and 21 TDs breaking the old mark set of 2,297 yards and 17 TDs set by QB Darian Lazard (UH). Lazard set the career passing record of 3,327 yards, but Kimble shattered that mark this season with a new standard of 5,566 career passing yards. He also owns the single-season mark for touchdown passes (31) and career touchdown passes (52). Kimble also rushed for 331 yards in 2010 giving him 2,681 total yards.

In 2011, Kimble also had 113 carries for 557 yards and 11 more touchdowns giving him a school-record single-season 3,773 total yards and a new single-season combined touchdown mark of 42. He also owns the career scoring mark of combined passing and rushing touchdowns (63). Kimble finished his career with a school-record 6,454 total yards (passing/rushing).

Junior running back James White was named to the All-District first-team after leading the Eagles in rushing with 263 carries for 1,840 yards and 23 touchdowns. White had 596 rushing yards and seven scores his sophomore year giving him a two-year total of 2,436 yards and 30 touchdowns. White also had 12 catches for 148 yards and one TD to finish with 1,988 total years in 2011 and 24 touchdowns.

Senior offensive tackle Kennedy Estelle, who has committed to the University of Texas, was also named to the first-team.

Senior wide receiver Mike Williams was named to the first-team after leading the Eagles in receiving with 39 catches for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns. Williams has the potential to be a big time receiver at the collegiate level.

Named to the All-District second-team was junior fullback Shawn McDuffie, sophomore center Braxton Kelly, junior offensive tackle Josh Lewis, and senior tight end Neiman Gilbert who had 36 catches for 422 yards and four touchdowns.

Sophomore Tony Upchurch was a second-team wide receiver after catching 40 passes for 789 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior placekicker Jacob Hood was also named to the second-team.

All but Gilbert will be returning for the Eagles next season on offense.

Dawson had four players named to the first-team defense.

Senior inside linebacker Johari Davis, senior outside linebacker Tre' Oliver, and senior defensive backs Haywood Jeffires and Jarrel Crenshaw were honored for their outstanding play.

Crenshaw led the defense with five interceptions while Jeffires had three picks. Oliver also had three interceptions. As a team, Dawson had 15 total interceptions.

Named to the second-team defense was senior defensive end Andre Miles, senior outside linebacker David Parker, and senior defensive back Jacob Irby.

Dawson will lose a lot of experience by graduation, but the Eagles continue to reload each year and there is no question that head coach Eric Wells and his staff will put another strong team on the field for the 2012 football season.

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