By Dr. David Davis
It took only 15 seconds for No. 4 area-ranked Klein Collins to take the lead in this non-district game with Dawson as James Smith caught the opening kickoff for the Tigers at his own three-yard line and returned it 97-yards for a game-opening touchdown and a 6-0 lead with 11:45 left in the first quarter. The Tigers missed the PAT.
Dawson was first to punt the ball on their first possession and Klein Collins responded with another score as QB Tucker Parks scored on a 2-yard keeper. The PAT was good and the Tigers had a 13-0 advantage in the first period.
Despite the early deficit, the Eagles responded with a score of their own when QB Gage Greene hits WR Rodney Bonham on a 48-yard scoring pass. Ayden Treadaway hit the PAT making the score 13-7 in the opening quarter.
The Eagles would hold the Tigers and take possession of the next drive where they would get to the Klein Collins 19 before having to settle for a field goal.
Aaron Jensen stepped up to calmly boot a 29-yard field goal to close the gap to 13-10 at the end of the first frame.
Both teams would score 10 points in the second quarter as Klein Collins scored on 45-yard touchdown for a 20-10 lead in the second quarter.
The Eagles would answer as Greene hit Rhodes on a 58-yard scoring strike. Treadaway added the PAT to close the gap to 20-17.
The Tigers would score before halftime on a 37-yard field goal to make the score 23-17 at intermission.
The second half became a defensive battle as Klein Collins scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. The extra point hit the mark for a 30-17 lead which turned out to be the final score as Dawson was not able to add another score.
Greene was 17-of-34 passing for 277 yards and two TDs while he also suffered two interceptions.
The ground attack didn’t go so well as the Klein Collins defense held the Eagles to only one yard rushing.
Dawson is now 0-2 on the season and will host the Tomball Cougars on Saturday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Pearland ISD Stadium.
