Oak Forest’s Andrew Dawson grew up with a vivid, keen sense of action-driven performance.
The senior receiver was never one for enjoying idle moments or time spent just lounging around and watching TV, unless it happened to be an engrossing football or baseball game.
“There were no video games around my family,” Dawson said. “Competition is a big part of me. I can’t just not do anything. I can’t just sit around. Sports keeps me busy all the time.
“My parents always put a ball in my hand, and always having an older brother to compete with was a big part of who I am.”
Dawson played the part Saturday, catching the go-ahead touchdown pass and recovering a crucial onside kick for the host Bengals in a 34-20 win over Peoria in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Dawson — who never played tackle football until freshman year, when he was immediately promoted to varsity — leads Oak Forest (11-1) into its first state semifinal since 2007.
The Bengals will travel to Providence (9-3) for a 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff in New Lenox.
An all-purpose standout who also plays outside linebacker and on special teams, Dawson has 14 receptions for 316 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 22.5 yards a catch.
Dawson also has run for a 44-yard TD. Defensively, he has totaled 54 tackles with six interceptions and three sacks. On top of that, he has produced three defensive TDs.
“Everything he does, he wants to win,” said Zac Sadek, who’s in his first year as Oak Forest’s coach. “There’s not a kid who is more competitively driven in everything he’s done.
“He’s worked through pain. He’s worked through injury. In our second-round playoff game, I said we should get him out. I knew he wasn’t going to take that very well. I didn’t think we were going to get him off the field.”
Senior quarterback Daniel Chopp has been his closest friend since they were 5 years old. In baseball, Chopp is the catcher who handles the right-hander’s 90-mph fastball.
Their roles reverse in football.
“We have a great energy and dynamic,” Chopp said of Dawson. “In football or baseball, I always try to reassure him and make sure he knows how good he is out there.
“I just love how he plays. He’s aggressive. He loves to get in there and bring high energy. I’ve been around him for so long and I always trust him to be his own person.”
Family was destiny with Dawson. His father, Michael, played college baseball in his native Oklahoma. His mother, Stephanie, was a standout softball player.
His brother, Joshua, is two years older and was his most profound influence. Joshua, an Oak Forest graduate, is now in the U.S. Army.
His older brother also played quarterback and was a pitcher. Andrew had the perfect education with watching and studying his brother.
“You have no idea how much he helped me,” Andrew said. “Sometimes, I didn’t want to get up in the morning and work out, but he’d pull the blankets off me and tell me I had to get to work.
“I used to play soccer, and then in third grade, I went to flag football. My brother was my quarterback. I didn’t know how good I was. I did great in flag and everything just worked out.”
After taking off his junior year in basketball to focus on baseball, Dawson is set to make his return this winter as a small forward. His future is in either football or baseball, but he’s considering his options.
On Saturday, however, he will be on the field as Oak Forest seeks the football program’s first appearance in the state championship game.
“We’re going in with the will to win,” Dawson said. “I always go after it 100%, even if I’m blocking.
“I’ll do anything for this team and this program.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
