By Dr. David Davis
Dawson started the 2023 season 0-3 with two of their losses to Hightower (20-19) and Tomball (17-16) so the Eagles could have easily been 2-1 instead.
But the real season begins with District 23-6A action and Dawson left little doubt they were going to start off right with a 45-7 pounding of the Alief Hastings Bears.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff at their own 25 and marched down the field in six-plays to score on a 5-yard run by RB Bryce Burgess with 10:29 left in the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead. Ayden Treadaway punched the PAT through the uprights.
After the Dawson forced a three-and-out resulting in a punt by Hastings, Dawson set up their next possession at the 50-yard line.
This time, it took only three plays as Bryce Burgess scored on a 2-yard run to make the score 14-0 following the PAT by Aaron Jensen with 7:03 remaining in the opening period.
Hastings continued to struggle against the aggressive Dawson defense.
The Eagles would add another score early in the second period as Bryce Burgess scored on a 16-yard run to complete the 70-yard, 5-play scoring drive. Treadaway hit the PAT making the score 21-0 with 9:57 left in the second quarter.
After another three-and-out for Hastings, the Eagles would begin their fifth possession on the Hastings’ 40.
Four plays later, Bryce Burgess would score his fourth TD on a 21-yard dash to the end zone to complete the 40-yard, four-play scoring drive for a 28-0 lead with 7:43 left before intermission.
Following the ensuing kickoff to the Bears, Dawson immediately got the ball back after Bryson Burgess intercepted a Hastings pass to set up the Eagles offense at the Bears 2-yard line.
QB Gage Greene tosses a short pass to Rodney Bonham covering 3-yards and the Eagles extend their lead to 35-0 with 6:56 remaining in the first half.
The Eagles close out the scoring in the first half when Greene throws a 39-yard scoring strike to Tony Roberson to make the score 42-0 following the PAT by Jensen.
Hastings finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter on a 2-yard run to close the gap to 42-7.
Dawson added an 18-yard field goal in the third period by Treadaway to post the 45-7 final score.
Greene was 11-of-15 passing for 193 yards and two scores.
Bryce Burgess had nine carries for 112 yards and four scores.
Braylon Howard had three catches for 86 yards, Roberson had three grabs for 45 yards and one TD, Noah Rhodes had three catches for 27 yards, Bryce Burgess had one catch for 21 yards, and Jordan Rivera had one grab for 19 yards.
Dawson will travel to Crump Stadium to face the Alief Taylor Lions (2-2, 1-0) at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 28.
