Jul 30, 2010
Dawson stays in playoff hunt with win in OT
May 19, 2009
FREEPORT — The season is winding down in District 24-4A and the pre-season prognosticators predicted that the playoff race would come down to the final game of the season and it appears that is going to happen. With only two games remaining - the playoff fate for each team is in their own hands. Angleton is the only team that has a firm grip on a spot in the post-season with a 5-0 district mark.
Friendswood (3-2), Dawson (3-2), and Santa Fe (3-2) remain in a tie for second place. La Marque (2-3) and Texas City (2-3) are still in contention with Brazosport (1-4) and Manvel (1-4) needing a miracle finish and some help.
Dawson head coach Eric Wells knew going to Brazosport was a must-win situation as the remaining two games still facing the young Eagles who will host Texas City this week at The Rig before closing out the regular season against Santa Fe. There is no doubt that the playoff hopes for most of the teams in 24-4A will come down to the last game of the season.
After the Dawson and Brazosport battled to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first 12 minutes of play -- it would be the Eagles who would get on the board first as Xavier Brown scored on a 4-yard run with 5:33 left in the second period. Stuart Watkins, who has been a little eratic kicking extra points, nailed this one for a 7-0 lead.
With only 32 seconds left before intermission, the Exporters shocked the Dawson defense as DaJon King caught a pass and turned it into a 79-yard cross-country jaunt to score. However, the snap for the extra point was mishandled and Dawson led 7-6 at intermission.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, and Dawson took a 14-6 lead early in the fourth period on Akeem Blackshire’s 1-yard run and Watkins’ second PAT.
Brazosport called King's number again on a 35-yard scoring pass from quarterback Kris Quiller. Dexter Brown bulled his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion to knot up the game at 14-14 with 4:08 left in regulation.
The Exporters took the first possession of the ball in overtime, but the Dawson defense held Brazosport to no gain on first down and -minus 6 yards on second down. Facing third down from the 31, Dawson forced an incomplete pass setting a fourth down. Out of field goal range - Brazosport went to King again but the pass gained only five yards and giving the ball to Dawson.
Brazosport's defense held the Eagles to no yards on their first two downs, but on third down, quarterback Darian Lazard picked up a first down after a 12 yard run to the 13.
Payton jones then found a huge hole by the Dawson offensive line and raced 13 yards for the game-winner. Since the district is so tight and could be decided on point totals - Dawson went for two-points, but came up empty giving them the 20-14 win.
Lazard finished the game hitting 7-of-14 passing for 100 yards and had 17 carries for 86 yards. Jones had five totes for 38 yards including the game-winner. Micah Tillotson had four catches for 77 yards.
Dawson finished with 315 total yards while Brazosport had 271.