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Time runs out on Dawson comeback
Tigers lose to White County Warriors, 45-42
Football pic 1, 9.22.17
Noah Brock returns the opening kick against White County on Sept. 22. - photo by Amy French

After mounting a late rally, time ran out on the Dawson County Tigers on the road at White County.

Dawson moved to 2-2 on the season when they lost 45-42 in Cleveland on Sept. 22.

White County deferred after winning the toss and a bobbled kickoff became a return to the 50-yard line by Noah Brock. 

The Tigers went to Vaughn Clark on the ground and Coey Watson, who returned this week at quarterback and found Ethan Cameron through the air early and often. 

The initial drive to the 4-yard line culminated in a touchdown pass to Cameron to give Dawson the early 7-0 lead after Peyton Allen hit the extra point.

The Warriors started their first drive from their own 33 and J. Ben Haynes connected with Ty Ulrich to take White County to the 26-yard line on the opening play before Kaleb Crane would stiff arm a Tiger defender on his way into the end zone.

With 8:03 in the first quarter, the game was tied at 7.


Football pic 2 9.22.17
Coey Watson passes the ball during the Sept. 22 road game at White County. Dawson lost 45-42 despite a late rally. - photo by Amy French
Dawson would go three and out on its next three possessions while the Warriors scored on a pass from Haynes to Crane, a 47-yard field goal and another touchdown through the air. 

The Dawson defense came up with a stop following the next Warrior drive that had been extended by a fake punt for a first down. 

The Tigers began from inside their own 5-yard line and depended on Clark, Cameron and Robbie Rarick. Rarick ran in a touchdown on second and goal to make it 24-14 with 2:57 until half.

At the end of the second quarter, the Warriors came within field goal range, but could not convert and settled for a 24-14 halftime lead.

On the opening play of the second half, White County’s Bailey Anderson returned the kick for a touchdown making it 31-14.

The Tigers took the field and drove behind Rarick’s running. Watson again found Cameron in the end zone. A bad snap on the extra point made for a failed 2-point conversion and left the score at 31-20.

The momentum began to change when on the next White County drive, a fumble was recovered by Dawson’s Caleb Bell who returned it for 6 points. Another failed 2-point conversion made it 31-26 with 7:38 in the third quarter.

The Tigers then recovered their onside kick, but were unable to use it to their advantage. 

The Dawson defense again went to work attempting to contain Crane. 

On second and long, Logan Brumbelow came up with a quarterback sack for a loss to make it third and 20 and eventually force a Warrior punt.

Dawson again began from inside their own 5 and quickly drove the field with four completions to Cameron and Clark’s running. A fumbled snap and incompletion left the Tigers with a field goal attempt that was no good.

The Tigers next series saw a Clark run to the White County 20-yard line and ended with a Watson pass competed to Ryan Glass for a touchdown. Dawson picked up the 2-point conversion that time to take the lead at 34-31 with 9:16 to play.

White County quickly answered with a drive resulting in a Haynes touchdown pass to put the Warriors back on top 38-34.

The Tigers next drive ended abruptly when Watson was sacked and lost the ball. The Warriors recovered at the Tiger 25 and Crane ran it in to make it 45-34.

With just over 6 minutes to play, the Dawson offense started again and Watson went to Glass and Cameron driving to the 30-yard line. After three incompletions, Watson hit Wes Hollaway on fourth and 10 to score again.

Watson would then run it in for the extra 2 points cutting the White County lead to 3 at 45-42 with 4:07 left.

The Warriors slowed things down and kept the ball on the ground, picking up three first downs and ending Dawson’s hope of a comeback.

The loss takes Dawson County to 2-2 overall. The Tigers will host North Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.