Dunbar bashes Bryan Station in opener
Posted by Mike Fields on August 24, 2007
If Paul Dunbar’s football players sounded a little off key belting out the school fight song after last night’s 45-3 victory at Bryan Station, there was a reason.
“They only got to sing it once all last year, so they didn’t get much practice,” Dunbar Coach David Hensley said with a laugh.
The Bulldogs lost their first nine games last season before finally beating Bryan Station in the chill of late October.
They were determined to get a quick “W” this year, and they got it in a sweltering season opener, and also spoiled Bryan Station’s debut in its new stadium.
“Dunbar’s back!” said junior running back Jerrell Green, who ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns, had a 52-yard punt return, and caught two passes for 26 yards.
It was Dunbar’s eighth win in a row over its rivals, and Bryan Station’s 18th consecutive loss in city competition over the last five years.
The Defenders, who are hoping to turn things around after winning only nine games over the previous six years, didn’t do much right under the bright lights of their new facility.
“Give it to Dunbar. They played great and beat us in every facet,” Bryan Station second-year coach Oliver Lucas said. “We did not perform the way we’re capable based on how we practiced. That’s not the kids’ fault; that’s my fault. To the Bryan Station community and parents, I apologize. I failed to have my team ready.”
Dunbar was ready from the opening kickoff. It scored on its first four possessions to build a 24-0 lead.
Greene capped an opening 11-play drive with a 5-yard TD run. Jason Nicholson kicked a 40-yard field goal. Martaveous Mays (shown above) scored on a 9-yard reverse. And on the first snap after Marquis Clay intercepted a Bryan Station pass, he tiptoed in for a one-yard TD.
Dunbar stretched its lead to 38-0 before Christian King’s 32-yard field goal got Bryan Station on the scoreboard in the closing minutes.
Clay had a productive night at quarterback for Dunbar. He threw for 61 yards, ran for 21, and his quick feet kept Bryan Station’s on edge.
The Bulldogs controlled the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively. Bryan Station ran 19 plays in the first half for 14 net yards.
D.L. Wilhite, a 240-pound running back transfer from Paris, found some daylight in the second half and finished with 85 yards on 16 carries. Patrick Cornett added 77 yards on the ground.
Terrell Combs, the team’s top rusher last year, was used at receiver last night. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior didn’t touch the ball — except to punt — until he caught a couple swing passes in the fourth quarter.
“Our defense played great,” Hensley said.
Robert Koteff, a senior linebacker, agreed. “We definitely had our hearts in it,” he said. “We didn’t want to give up anything. We played really good.”
Even though Bryan Station avoided a shutout, Dunbar linebacker Nick Edelstein said, “It’s still a goose egg to me,” because the Dogs’ second string defense surrendered the field goal.
