“We were really just trying to run downhill, just run the ball,” senior running back Michael Clark said. “I knew they didn’t want to tackle me … and there’s a lot of new stuff that people are running, so we just needed to get back to that old-school football, which is running the ball.”
Clark was the focal point for that strategy, coming out with a 21-yard touchdown run — breaking three tackles in the process — on Dunbar’s opening drive. Both teams traded blows early on, and Ballou’s response was swift: a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Lorenzo Martin.
But despite struggling on special teams in the first half, the Crimson Tide (5-2) had too much offense to overcome. The emphasis on running didn’t stop junior quarterback Brosnan Dukes from launching several deep passes, including a 75-yard touchdown throw to senior wide receiver Isaiah Brandon.
Ballou (4-4), not content to let its opponent run away with the game, took advantage of another series of missed tackles on a kickoff return to secure field position near the goal line before putting up another seven points.
Coming out of the halftime break, Dunbar’s kickoff team made up for its miscues: The Crimson Tide executed back-to-back onside kick recoveries. That kept the Knights’ offense on the bench for the first nine minutes of the second half, time the Crimson Tide used to score two more touchdowns.
“We do want to use the onside kick as a weapon,” Vaughn said. “We use it as an advantage so the momentum changes.”
Dunbar tried a third onside kick that didn’t work, giving the Knights solid field position on their first drive of the half. But Dunbar’s defense showed up to kill any attempt at a comeback.
Dunbar has won each of its D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association games, putting it in position for a Stars division title. It has games remaining against Eastern and Theodore Roosevelt.
Dukes admits the Tide has plenty still to work on before the playoffs. Asked what his plans are for the rest of the season, his answer was simple: “Get big, get strong, watch more film, get better with the plays and win.”