DAWSON — The game between Dawson and Alief Elsik was played in constant rain with wind which meant less than ideal conditions. The outcome didn't really matter as far as determining the playoffs as the Eagles have already punched their ticket to the post-season while Elsik will be staying at home once again.

But head coach Mike Allison never wants to give up the momentum entering the playoffs and he was happy to get the win despite the conditions.

"I have faith that we will be better from playing in the terrible elements," Allison said. "The kids battled, and I will always take an ugly win."

Dawson improves to 5-4 on the season and they have clinched their place in the playoffs behind District 23-6A champion Shadow Creek who remains undefeated on the season at 9-0 and 6-0 in the district standings.

Elsik entered the game in the basement of the District 23-6A standing with a 1-8 season record and 0-5 in the league standings.

So it came as a surprise to see the Rams get the opening kickoff in the driving rain and go 64-yards in 5-plays for four-yard touchdown plus they were successful on the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 10:36 left in the opening quarter.

The big play for Elsik was a 37-yard run by running back Phavian Horn to the Dawson 27 on the first play of the game.

Elsik would score one more time in the fourth quarter when the score was 23-8.

Meanwhile, Dawson answered on their first possession of the game when they went on an 80-yard, 9-play scoring march capped off by a 24-yard scoring strike from QB Colin Johnson to wide receiver Braylon Howard to make the score 8-7 following the PAT by Ayden Treadaway with 5:48 left in the opening stanza.

With on :50 seconds left in the first quarter, the Eagles would take the lead for good when they got a safety after pinning the Rams on their own one-yard line to make the score 9-8.

Dawson would get the ensuing kickoff at their own 29 and find the end zone once again, this time on a 35-yard run by Bryce Burgess to complete the 5-play, 71-yard drive with 11:09 remaining in the second quarter. The Eagles would maintain the 16-8 lead at intermission.

The weather continued to affect the two teams as Dawson managed to score once in the third as Kenneth Stroman scored on a 5-yard run with 2:45 left in the third to give the Eagles a 23-8 advantage.

Elsik managed to make the game interesting as they went on a 63-yard scoring drive capped off by a 1-yard plunge by Gregory Harris at the 8:07 mark of the fourth period to close the gap to 23-16 following another successful two-point conversion.

Neither team could penetrate the goal line again as Dawson hung on for the 23-16 win.

Johnson was 8-of-10 passing for 58 yards and one score.

Bryce Burgess had 23 carries for 152 yards and a score. Stroman 21 totes for 95 yards and a TD.

Howard had three catches for 24 yards and a score while Josh Gillis-Henry had three grabs for 23 yards.

Dawson will travel to Alvin to face the Yellowjackets in the final game of the regular season on Friday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Alvin Memorial Stadium.