Gators explode out of gates en route to 3-0

PEARLAND — Opponents of the Dickinson football team had better hope the Gators are peaking too soon.

If that isn’t the case, one certainly doesn’t want to catch coach John Snelson’s crew in midseason form or any time afterward.

Dawson felt the brunt of the Dickson punch Friday night, falling 21 points behind in an eventual 34-6 victory by the Gators at The Rig.

The Gators (3-0) scored on their first two possessions to immediately put pressure on the Eagles (2-1).

Dickinson has limited opponents to 14 points over its first three games.

“Starting fast is key — you get the momentum, you’re always going to have a better shot,” Snelson said. “I was proud of our defense. They came out and played really, really hard. Our front seven as well as our secondary played really well.”

Dickinson needed to cover just 29 yards for its first score following a lengthy punt return by Landon Roque.

The five-play drive featured a 16yard pass from quarterback Mike Welch to senior tight end Jalen Wydermyer to the Dawson 7-yard line.

Two plays later, Welch powered in from 2 yards on a sneak as Dickinson built a 7-0 led just 2:35 into the game.

After forcing a three-and-out and receiving a 17-yard return from Roque, Dickinson found itself only 36 yards from the end zone.

A 14-yard run by Welch and a 14yard Welch-to-Jordan Green completion preceded Green’s 4-yard touchdown run with 6:41 left in the opening period.

With Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez’s PAT kick, Dickinson owned a 14-0 cushion.

Dawson had a chance to cut into the lead on its next possession, but the Eagles failed to connect on a deep option pass, which likely would have produced a touchdown.

The Gators drove 71 yards for their final score of the first half, using eight plays to cover the necessary yardage.

The march culminated with Welch’s 28-yard post-pattern strike to wide receiver Darryl Harris as the advantage swelled to 21-0 with 6:04 left in the half.

Welch completed 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards in the opening half while also rushing for 56 yards on eight attempts.

The Dickinson defense, meanwhile, thwarted the Dawson offense, limiting it to minus-5 yards rushing.

“Coach Snelson and the Dickinson coaching staff do an outstanding job,” Dawson coach Mike Allison said. “Their kids play hard and they get the most out of some very good athletes.

“We surely didn’t need to come out with the slow start that we had. That’s a direct show from what Dickinson did to us. It’s my job to get these kids prepared for something like that, and I didn’t do my job.

“We weren’t all on the same page at times. Dickinson took advantage of it.”

If Dawson had any thoughts of a comeback, those were quashed on the first possession of the second half when Dickinson moved 71 yards for a touchdown in nine plays to build a 28-0 lead.

Welch’s 10-yard sweep of right end capped the drive.

Dawson finally dented the Gators’ lead with 4:25 left in the third quarter when running back Bobby Wooden burst up the middle for a 43-yard touchdown run.

Dickinson hosts Katy Taylor next Friday while Dawson has an open date prior to its District 23-6A opener at Strake Jesuit.