by Brandon Hopp
Dunbar (used a total team effort to defeat Digital Harbor 30-6 on its home field, Friday.
The Rams (7-2) opened the game with a 40-yard pass from quarterback Gary Brannon to Antonio Ross, placing them on Dunbar’s 30 yard-line. On the next play from scrimmage, Brannon’s pass was intercepted by Tevin Brown.
That would be the developing trend of the day. Digital Harbor moved the ball but never quite capitalized due to turnovers and penalties.
Dunbar (9-0) took full advantage of the miscues and scored all 30 of its points in the first half, ending a seven-game winning streak by the Rams.
On the Rams’ second possession of the game, Tavon Austin, lined up as a safety, made a hit on Digital Harbor running back James Henson, snatched the ball from him and raced 43 yards for a touchdown. Austin then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Poets an 8-0 lead.
“When I hit him, he just stood up,” Austin said about of defensive play. “So the ball was right there and I just took it from him.”
On the following drive, the Rams moved by the ball downfield through the air with Brannon (seven-of-15, 178 yards) and on the ground with running back Terrell Bond. Digital Harbor marched from its own 20-yard line to the Dunbar 35-yard line before another interception, this time by Davon Muse, derailed another chance to score.
After his interception, Muse ran backwards and was taken down at the Poets’ 1-yard line.
One the next drive, after back-to-back carries by Austin and one by fullback Keon Redhead, Dunbar had a first-and-10 from its own 25-yard line.
The next play from scrimmage, which happened to be the last of the first quarter, turned heads and dropped jaws in the crowd. They had waited anxiously for Austin to have an amazing run as he does each week.
And Austin gave them what they longed for.
Austin took the hand-off from quarterback Jonathan Perry at the 25 and raced to the left sideline. Around the 40-yard line, he seemed to be pinned up at the sideline, but then, Austin reversed his field of running, blazed past numerous Digital Harbor defenders and went untouched down the right side for a 75-yard score.
The crowd, filled with students and Dunbar alum, went crazy and talked about that play for the rest of the game. Austin finished with 14 carries for 150 yards, most of which came in the first half.
In the second quarter, Perry went to work and proved the Poets are more than just a one-man team. Perry hooked up with 6-foot-4 inch receiver Sean Farr for a 29-yard pass play. After a 27-yard rush by Farr, he connected with Perry again, this time for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
“They were keying on Tavon the whole game,” said Perry, who finished nine-of-12 passing for 169 yards and one touchdown. “I’m with some of the best receivers in the city,” Perry added, referring to Sean Farr and Avery Bisbon.
After Austin’s second extra point conversion, Dunbar led 24-0 and seemed poised to make it a run away game.
Later in the quarter, fullback/linebacker Redhead scored on a one yard touchdown run to put the Poets up 30-0 at the half.
In the second half, Dunbar’s defense continued to put pressure on Digital Harbor and stopped numerous drives that would have given the Rams a chance to stay in the game.
Poets' defensive lineman Matthew Odezugo had two sacks and linebacker Horace Miller added another in the second half. Linebacker Richard Chavis also had an interception in the second.
The lone score for Digital Harbor came on a 26-yard pass from Brannon to Anthony Drumgoole in the fourth quarter, but by that time, the game was out of reach.
“I have to give credit where credit is due,” said Digital Harbor’s head coach Lonnie Hartley. “Their o-line is fantastic, simply fantastic. That was the difference in the ball game. They out blocked us and drove us down the field.”
Dunbar 30, Digital Harbor 6
Digital Harbor 0 0 0 6 -- 6
Dunbar 16 14 0 0 -- 30
D—Austin 43 fumble recovery (Austin run)
D—Austin 75 run (Onuekwusi from Perry)
D—Farr 21 pass from Perry (Austin run)
D—Redhead 1 run (kick failed)
DH—Drumgoole from Brannon (kick failed)
