Dawson drops heartbreaker to Ridge Point 21-16

November 21, 2025

Many thought the game between Dawson and the No. 3 state-ranked and undefeated Ridge Point Panthers would be a blowout, but the naysayers certainly had no idea of the grit and guts of this year's Dawson football team.

After Ridge Point jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, the Eagles defense rallied to put the clamps on the Panther offense for the next three periods while the Dawson offense got in gear to score 16 unanswered points to narrow the gap to 21-16 which certainly got the attention of all who were at the game.

The Panthers took a 21-3 lead into the dressing room at intermission after Dawson kicker Noah Abela booted a 40-yard field goal.

Both teams fumbled on their first second half possessions starting with Dawson.

The Eagles recovered the Ridge Point fumble at the Panthers 45 by LB James Higgins.

On the first play, QB Luke Brown hits WR Corey Brown on a screen pass that gains 31 yards to the Ridge Point 24. Six plays later, RB Josiah McFarland scores on a 2-yard plunge. Abella drills the PAT and the score is 21-10 with 7:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The Panthers take the ensuing kickoff from their own 49 to the Dawson 27 where the drive stalls on a fourth down incomplete pass to give the ball back to the Eagles.

Dawson went on a 73-yard, 12 play scoring drive capped off by a 4-yard QB keeper by Luke Brown. The two-point conversion was no good and the Eagles closed the gap to 21-16 with :48 left in the third period.

Both teams attempted to put together scoring drives but turnovers affected both teams.

Late in the fourth quarter, Dawson was on the march toward a possible winning drive but an interception with 1:09 left in the game by the Panthers dashed the Eagles hopes.

However, Ridge Point fumbled the ball giving the Eagles new life at the Ridge Point 40 with :52 seconds on the clock.

Brown hits WR Calvin Wesley for a 26-yard pass completion to the Panthers 3 with :01 second left in the game.

On the final play of the game, Brown threw a pass to McFarland in the end zone, but the throw was off target and Ridge Point survived the upset of the playoffs 21-16.

The devastation of the loss hit the Dawson gridiron warriors while the Ridge Point players were jumping all around as if they had won the state championship.

Luke Brown was 15-of-31 passing for 217 yards with one INT and had 10 carries for 20 yards rushing and one score.

RB Greg Earl had 18 carries for 76 yards.

McFarland had five catches for 80 yards, Corey Brown had 4 grabs for 69 yards, Wesley had two catches for 42 yards, and Anthony Fournet had one catch for 39 yards.

Dawson closes out their season with a 7-4 record.