DAWSON — The Dawson Eagles celebrated Homecoming with a 24-0 win over the Alief Taylor Lions while also honoring the 2009 Dawson team that advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals in only their second year of varsity football competition.

While the Eagles lost to Austin Lake Travis, who went on to win the 4A state title that season, former head coach Eric Wells and his chargers had established a winning tradition for the fledgling school.

Dawson has never had a losing season and they've never missed the playoffs which started in 2008. And that has continued under current head coach Mike Allison, who was the defensive coordinator under Wells when Dawson opened in 2007.

The Eagles (2-3, 2-0) lost their first three non-district games against some very good teams, but they have since rebounded with two straight District 23-6A wins over Alief Hastings and Alief Taylor for a 2-0 mark in the league standings. They are tied atop the district with Shadow Creek who is also at 2-0.

Dawson fumbled to Taylor on their first possession of the game, but blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt by Taylor who had advanced to the Eagles 13.

That defensive stand gave the Dawson offense some momentum as the Eagles took possession at their own 24. Bryce Burgess got the offense going with an 18-yard run to the 42. Burgess concluded the 78-yard, 11-play scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Aaron Jensen tacked on the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.

The Dawson defense quickly got the ball back as Jackson Cody recovered a fumble by the Lions at the Dawson 21.

The Eagles went on a 10-play, 59-yard drive that stalled at the Lions 20. Ayden Treadway promptly booted a 37-yard field goal with 9:17 remaining in the second period for a 10-0 lead.

Dawson would add one more score in the first half when quarterback Colin Johnson would toss an 8-yard scoring pass to Kenneth Stroman with 2:17 remaining in the second quarter. Treadaway added the PAT, and the Eagles had a 17-0 lead at intermission.

The second half would see only one more score as Dawson crossed the pay station on a 4-yard scoring run by Bryce Burgess with 4:12 left in the third. Treadaway added the PAT, and the Eagles posted the 24-0 final score as neither team scored in the final period.

Johnson finished the game hitting 17-of-26 passes for 177 yards and one TD while rushing for 24 yards on five carries.

Bryce Burgess had 14 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown while catching three passes for 17 yards.

Leading receivers included Josh Gillis-Harry (2-59 yards), Jaeden McCleskey (2-37 yards), Stroman (3-34 yards, 1 TD), and Joseph Brown (5-28 yards).

Dawson will travel to face Strake Jesuit at Crusader Stadium on Friday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m.