The Dawson Bulldogs blew open a tie game at the half and defeated the Wortham Bulldogs at Ed Mitchell Field in Dawson Friday night. The Wortham loss puts the Bulldogs in fourth place in District 10-2A Division II play but will still head to the playoffs.
A medical helicopter delivered the game ball to midfield just before kickoff and the capacity crowd enjoyed the visual images and cheered on the crew as they flew off into the evening.
Wortham took the ball and launched their offense and scored in only six plays. Yancey Bean took off on a 30-yard run to the Dawson four, where he would finish the drive on the next play. The run for two was no good and the Wortham Bulldogs led 6-0.
Dawson wasted little time matching the score, less than a couple of minutes in fact. Sophomore quarterback Brant Boatright completed three of four passes and the final one covering 32 yards for a touchdown to Demarcus Jackson. The extra point was no good and the score remained tied at 6-6.
After Wortham turned the ball over on downs, Dawson went back to work and Boatright added his second touchdown of the night. Elijah Allen caught the ball all alone in the end zone and the Dawson Bulldogs took their first lead of the game. The extra point was blocked by Anthony Fortoul and Dawson led 12-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Junior quarterback Jon Ross Black threw a fourth down interception deep in Dawson territory and the defense held up, forcing a Dawson punt, putting Wortham back on offense at the Dawson 22, following a Dawson fifteen-yard penalty. On third and goal, Black found Lance Jones in the back corner for the eight-yard touchdown and tied the game at 12-12 after the failed conversion.
Dawson used the remaining time in the second quarter and had two attempts from less than a yard out. Hastin Easley was stopped short and a mishap in the backfield was tackled by Fortoul and Cash Perez and the game was tied at the half.
Dawson took the first possession of the first half and remained on the ground with Colby Springer and would take the lead on the third touchdown pass of the night by Boatright. He found Hastin Easley for the 20-yard score. They connected again and Dawson took a 20-12 lead.
Boatright and Easley remained close in the quarter when they connected for the second time on an 8-yard touchdown strike. The try for two sailed wide and the Dawson Bulldogs led 26-12.
Wortham needed only one play to cut the game to one score. Bean took the handoff, and he broke three tackles within the first seven yards and reached full speed for the 67-yard touchdown run and cut the lead to 26-18 on the missed extra point.
Boatright threw a touchdown pass to Cameron Watson and Springer added a six-yard touchdown run to blow open the game at 42-18.
Black scored on a five-yard touchdown run with three minutes left and missed on the conversion run. The Wortham Bulldogs did not convert on a point after the entire game.
Wortham will fall to fourth in the district standings and move on to the playoffs to take on District 9 Division II champion Simms James Bowie Pirates. The game will be played at 7pm on Friday at Lone Oak High School.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
