Ballou High senior running back Dwan Thornton dropped to his knees and didn’t move. If it is possible to be paralyzed with joy then this was it after watching the game-clinching interception fall into the hands of teammate Davon Stroman. Thornton was finally pulled to his feet after a few moments by his celebrating teammates, a fitting end to a day where he carried Ballou to a title.
The Knights, who a week ago thought their season was over, instead finished it as city champions, upsetting rival Dunbar High for the DCIAA title, 34-33, on Thursday afternoon at Eastern High for its first championship in program history.
Thornton finished with 285 rushing yards on 34 carries and scored five touchdowns to help the Knights (9-3) come out on top against a Dunbar (9-2) team seeking its fourth consecutive DCIAA title.
“I knew I had a big day in me,” said Thornton, a Southeast, D.C. native who was the focus of an academic ineligibility investigation much of the season before getting cleared late last week. “I just didn’t think it would be this good. We never gave up on each other.”
Ballou survived a back-and-forth affair where the two teams traded the lead three times in the second half alone. The game-winning drive began with 6 minutes, 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Dunbar ahead 33-28. It ended with Thornton’s 4-yard touchdown run on fourth down and goal with 1:13 left. Dunbar had one last shot, but a reverse pass from star wide receiver Arrelious Benn was intercepted at the goal line with just 24 seconds to play.
“I’m just happy for everyone on our team that we get the chance to go through this,” said Ballou senior defensive lineman Marvin Austin. “There’s always so much negativity about Southeast D.C. This is something positive for our whole community.”
Crowning moments
» Ballou senior running back Dwan Thornton three times scored on TD runs of four yards and added TDs of five yards and 73 yards.
» Thornton was a factor on special teams as well. He had a 69-yard kick return to set up his second quarter touchdown.
» The Ballou defense, led by senior Marvin Austin, sacked Dunbar quarterback Nate Bussey (Illinois) four times.
