Three points. That was the margin of victory for Loyola High School?s football team when it defeated Dunbar in overtime last year. Both the Dons and the Poets are both returning strong teams this year, and will clash Saturday afternoon at Baltimore Polytechnic in another epic private vs. public powerhouse showdown.
Loyola (1-0) is coming off a 31-0 victory over Bowling Brook last weekend in its season opener. Coach Brian Abbott said that after an easy first-week win, the Dons are ready to go after Dunbar. The key for Loyola will be time of possession and stopping Dunbar, which hasn?t played yet, from breaking open big plays.
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“They are well-coached,” Abbott said. “They know what they want to do and the things that they do are not by mistake.”
According to Abbott, Dunbar is good enough to compete in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference. Playing a perennial football power like the Poets, he said, helps Loyola in its league schedule. Abbott was impressed with his opponent this week when he saw them scrimmage against Gilman, specifically noting Poet sophomore running back Tavon Auston and the team?s overall discipline, speed and size.
“The young man who plays running back is one of the best skill kids I have seen in the last 10 years,” Abbott said of Auston. “They have the ability to fly to the ball and wreak havoc.”
Dunbar coach Ben Eaton had similar feelings about Loyola, even giving the Dons an edge in the size department.
“They are a little bigger than we are, but we always have the athleticism with our kids,” Eaton said, adding that it should be an even matchup.
Youth on either side of the ball is even between the teams, as well, as Loyola and Dunbar both play a fair amount of inexperienced players.
Eaton said that he and his staff have a decent knowledge of their opponent built from last year?s game and from seeing what they did to Bowling Brook last weekend. Dunbar needs to limit turnovers against Loyola. Mistakes hurt the Poets last year.
“Defensively, they have some good linebackers,” Eaton said.
Dunbar will have to defend a youthful, but dangerous, Loyola passing game, along with a strong and well-coached line.
“That is why we try to go against them, because they are well-coached,” Eaton said.
LOYOLA VS. DUNBAR
» When: 1 p.m. Saturday
» Where: Baltimore Polytechnic
» Hot Dons: Not only did Loyola win with a shutout last week, but it also limited Bowling Brook?s total offense to 27 yards, 25 of which were on the ground.
