DAWSON — If a football fan came expecting a defensive struggle between the Dawson Eagles and the Strake Jesuit Crusaders, the only struggle they witness was each defense struggling to stop the other offense in this offensive slugfest.

Almost 1,000 total yards between the two teams was displayed as the Eagles had 508 total yards (326 rushing, 182 passing) and the Crusades had 444 total yards (124 rushing, 320 passing) while Dawson outlasted Strake Jesuit 52-44 on the scoreboard.

Dawson is now 3-3 overall and 3-0 in district while Strake fell to 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in league action.

Strake Jesuit jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter while the Eagles were held scoreless.

However, Dawson exploded on offense in the second period outscoring the Crusaders 24-7 for a 24-17 halftime lead.

After Strake led 10-0, Dawson answered with 8:57 left in the second quarter when Bryce Burgess scored on a 19-yard run. Aaron Jensen hit the PAT to cut the lead to 10-7.

But Strake answered with a 16-yard scoring run to make the score 17-7 with 2:17 left in the quarter.

Dawson would score three times in the span of a minute and a half as Burgess scored on a 40-yard run, a 9-yard TD run following a Strake turnover, and then Aaron Treadaway added a 37-yard field goal with no time left in the first half for the 24-17 lead at intermission.

Strake scored first to open the second half to make the score 24-24 with 9:53 remaining in the third quarter.

Dawson would score three unanswered touchdowns to build a 45-24 advantage.

With 9:37 left in the third, Burgess would explode for a 59-yard scoring jaunt while Jensen would hit the PAT for a 31-24 lead.

Burgess would score on Dawson's next possession on a 9-yard TD pass from QB Colin Johnson for a 38-24 advantage.

With 11:03 left in the fourth period, Burgess scored on a 38-yard scoring pass from Johnson to increase the lead to 45-24.

Strake would make the game interesting as they scored on a 24-yard run and then intercepted Johnson for a 30-yard pass interception for another score while the PAT was blocked by Dawson making the score 44-37 with 8:15 remaining in the game.

The Eagles would answer with a touchdown as Johnson tossed a 12-yard scoring pass to Braylon Howard with 5:25 left in the fourth to make the score 52-37.

Strake would make it interesting with one more score with 3:41 left in the district contest, but the Eagles would prevail 52-44.

Johnson was 12-of-22 passing for 182 yards and three TDs with one INT.

Burgess had 202 yards rushing on 16 carries and three touchdowns while grabbing three passes for 56 yards and two more scores giving him five TDs in the game.

Kenneth Stroman had 15 totes for 76 yards and Johnson added 48 yards on six carries.

Howard had three catches for 51 yards and a score, AJ Scott had a catch for 44 yards, Jaeden McCleskey had two grabs for 20 yards and Joseph Brown had one catch for 11 yards.

Dawson will face Pearland for the annual Bayway Chevrolet PearBowl on Friday, October 14 at The Rig at 7:00 p.m.