PEARLAND — The Pearland Oilers picked up their first District 23-6A win with a 44-13 dominating performance over the Alief Elsik Rams to improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The Oilers are making positive steps each game of the season and it shows as the season progresses under new head coach B.J. Gotte.

"We are continuing to improve in all three phases," Gotte said following the game with Alief Elsik. "Defensively we were more consistent in our execution and played with more confidence. Offensively we started off a little slow, but once we got in a rhythm, we were able to execute our game plan more effectively.

"We challenged the kids to play clean football, and although it took us about a quarter to get settled in, I was happy with how they responded overall."

Pearland scored first when senior running back Kennedy Lewis crossed the goal line on a 7-yard run to give the Oilers a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Kicker Jackson Stagg increased the Oiler lead to 10-0 when he booted a 29-yard field goal.

Elsik scored to cut the lead to 10-7 and then the Oilers scored again before the end of the first half when Pearland quarterback Jackson Hamilton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Bridges for a 17-7 lead that held up at intermission.

Pearland opened up the second half with a 61-yard LaDamion McDowell kickoff return which ultimately turned into a Jackson to Bridges touchdown and a 24-7 lead.

Hamilton tossed his third scoring pass to Juan Carlos Marines II who scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass for a 31-7 lead.

The Oilers added two more scores on a 7-yard scamper by Lewis and a touchdown by Hamilton to make the score 44-13 following a late score by Elsik.

Hamilton was 12-of-16 passing for 152 yards and three touchdowns while also picking up 51 yards on seven carries and one score.

McDowell had 85 yards on 20 carries while Lewis had 54 yards on six totes and two scores.

Bridges had four catches for 55 yards and two TDs, Maries had two grabs for 26 yards and a score, Aiden Glasper had two catches for 24 yards, Gabe Ortiz had two catches for 17 yards, and Lewis had one grab for 18 yards.

Pearland will host Alvin at The Rig on Friday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. It will be Homecoming for the Oilers.