City College is starting to feel at home playing at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
The Knights (3-0) will play at Poly for the second weekend in a row Saturday when they take on Dunbar (1-1). The winner of this game will not only have a distinct advantage as the playoffs approach, but they will also have an edge in the hunt for the Baltimore City championship.
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For City coach George Petrides and his team, there is a simpler motivation involved.
“They beat us last year, so it makes it even more important to us,” he said.
Dunbar capitalized on several big plays to beat City last season, but Petrides concedes that in 2005, Dunbar was the better team.
Winning this game is just a small step in achieving the goals that Petrides and his team set before the season: Winning a state championship. City lost to Westminster in the 2005 Class 3A state semifinals.
“It is something we have not done,” Petrides said.
The Knights will head into the game with a new face at quarterback. Senior Kendall Blackston will take the snaps while Ellis Foster recovers from a sprained ankle he suffered against Edmonson-Westside last week.
“He is going to handle the transition fine,” Petrides said of Blackston. “This team is only used to one quarterback, but they know one person does not run the show.”
City needs to look out for the speedy and elusive Dunbar running backs, but it must also be wary of a dangerous passing game and the Poets aggressive defense. Conversely, Dunbar needs to respect City?s strong line play on both sides of the ball.
“It is two different teams,” Dunbar coach Ben Eaton said, comparing last year?s City squad to this year?s. “I threw all that out the window. When it comes, it is what is happening now.”
The first two levels of the City defense, linemen and linebackers, have impressed Eaton so far this year.
“They have great coaching and great athletes,” Eaton said. “We are just trying to keep up with them.”
City vs. Dunbar
» When: Today, 7 p.m.
» Where: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
» Keys to victory: City needs to contain Dunbar?s running backs and put the pressure on the Dunbar quarterback. To move the ball through City?s tough defense, Dunbar needs to play with the physicality for which it is known.
