By Dr. David Davis
When you think you’ve seen it all in the sports world — it seems like the most unlikely scenario shows up that becomes the most breathtaking play ever seen.
That could be said regarding the game between Dawson and Shadow Creek last week.
The game finished in a 10-10 tie to force overtime.
Shadow Creek won the toss and chose to go on defense, forcing Dawson to begin the first OT on offense.
The Eagles scored on a 2-yard run by RB Bryce Burgess, and placekicker Ayden Treadaway hit the PAT to give Dawson a 17-10 lead.
Shadow Creek answered with a 6-yard scoring pass from junior QB Cobey Sellers to WR Alex Kirkland for the score. Aiden Bui hit the pressure PAT to keep the game tied at 17-17 to force a second OT.
The Sharks got the next possession and immediately scored on a 25-yard pass from Sellers to Ashton Jones to take a 23-17 lead.
The second overtime requires a team to go for a two-point conversion, and the Dawson defense forced an incomplete pass, leaving the Sharks up 23-17.
The Eagles had the ball next and scored on a QB Gage Greene pass to WR Braylon Howard, covering 11 yards to tie up the game 23-23.
With a chance to win the game with a successful 2-point conversion, Greene rolled out to his right, looking for a Dawson receiver, and then the unthinkable happened.
Shadow Creek defensive back Aaden Benjamin stepped in front of the Dawson receiver to intercept the ball three yards deep in the end zone. Benjamin then began his jaunt toward the Dawson end zone, dodging and weaving his way through the Eagle offensive players, now turned defensive players.
Benjamin broke a few tacklers but maintained his balance to continue his journey until he leaped into the Dawson pay station for two points to give the Sharks a 25-23 district win.
Meanwhile, the Dawson fans stood on the home side, stunned at what they had just seen, while the Shadow Creek players, coaches, and fans were running and leaping joyfully for the miraculous win.
“I was just thinking go all the way. Go all the way,” Shadow Creek head coach Brad Butler said, “and (Benjamin) found a way to get there. Ever since this season started, our kids have always battled. It’s been our trademark to never quit.”
Both teams battled to a scoreless first half, but Dawson junior kicker Ayden Treadaway provided the Eagles with a 3-0 lead with a 37-yard field goal with 9:47 left in the third quarter.
The big play in the march was a 24-yard completion from Greene to Noah Rhodes. A 15-yard pass interference penalty against Shadow Creek also helped move the ball into scoring territory.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dawson recovered a Shadow Creek fumble at the Sharks’ 25-yard line.
Two plays later, the Eagles were in the end zone for a 10-0 cushion as Rhodes scored on a 13-yard pass from Greene with 7:27 remaining in the third period.
Shadow Creek (6-2, 3-2) scored its lone touchdown in regulation at 8:12 of the fourth quarter when Sellers connected with Chris Stewart on a 17-yard touchdown pass for a 10-7 score.
Bui then kicked a 38-yard field goal for the Sharks with 1:08 left to force overtime.
“We knew this was going to be a full game. I don’t care if we’d been up 40,” Dawson head coach Mike Allison said. “I’m extremely proud of our coaches and our kids.
Sometimes, things just happen. We have to learn from it and not be defeated by it.”
With Shadow Creek’s victory, there’s a good chance Dawson, Pearland, and Shadow Creek will remain tied for the District 23-6A crown.
It appears, for now, that Strake Jesuit will be the fourth-place team in the district.
If that is the case, Pearland and Shadow Creek would advance to the Division I playoffs.
Dawson and Strake Jesuit would then qualify for the Division II playoffs.
Greene was 9-of-19 passing for 100 yards for two TDs while rushing for 6 yards on three totes and one score.
Bryce Burgess had 23 carries for 51 yards.
Howard had five catches for 44 yards and one TD, while Rhodes had three grabs for 42 yards and one score.
For Shadow Creek, Sellers was 15-for-19 passing for 140 yards and three scores while rushing for 61 yards on 17 carries.
Justin Qualls had six totes for 60 yards.
Stewart had nine catches for 99 yards and one TD, while Ashton Jones had two grabs for 31 yards and a score.
On Friday, October 27, Shadow Creek will host Alief Taylor at 7:00 at Freedom Field, while Dawson travels to play Alief Elsik on Friday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Crump Stadium.
