Dunbar had its most devastating loss before the season even started.
On the morning of Aug. 27, Dunbar coach Ben Eaton Sr. collapsed suddenly while exercising and passed away after he reached Good Samaritan Hospital in an ambulance with his wife, Sandra, by his side.
But the legendary coach has not left his football team, as he?s very much a part of the Poets, who are dedicating their season to Eaton, beginning with Saturday?s game against Gwynn Park of Prince George?s County at 3:45 at the Poly Complex.
However, the Poets? goal remains under coach Lawrence Smith as it was under Eaton: Repeat as 1A state champions.
“Winning the championship, that?s always our goal,” junior running back Tavon Austin said. “It would be very important to win the state title this season and it would be for him if we would win it. I see myself being a team leader.”
The playmaking Austin, who was very close to Eaton, will be integral in reaching that goal, as he rushed for 1,701 yards and 32 touchdowns for the Poets, who went 11-3 last season. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Austin led the Poets to their second state title in three years with a 38-23 over Fort Hill at M&T Bank Stadium ? the perfect present for Eaton on his 58th and final birthday.
Now, Austin will rely on his parents and Dunbar coaching staff for direction.
The highly-regarded prospect has drawn national attention by scoring 21 touchdowns as a freshman and 32 as a sophomore. He is currently on pace to smash the state record of 87 set by Old Mill?s Ryan Callahan in 2005. Austin joined River Hill?s Michael Campanaro as one of 24 players named as Nike Underclassmen All-Americans.
With a scholarship offer from the University of Maryland and schools like Auburn, Nebraska, Illinois, Rutgers and Stanford recruiting him, it is important for Austin to keep his priorities straight, Smith said.
“It will be hard,” Smith said. “That?s why we are trying to keep his family close to him. He has positive influences in his life and he knows he can always get in touch with me or our [staff].”
Austin acknowledged the importance of having the right people around.
“It?s important to have my family and other honest people around me,” Austin said. “I don?t know everything about what?s going on. I?m still young and having them in my corner looking after me is important.”
Austin also stars on defense as a safety, as the speed he displays as a running back enabled him to make seven interceptions last season.
“He?s got that speed and ability to change direction that is a marvel,” Poly coach Roger Wrenn said. “He really can take a bad play and make it a good one and a good play and make it a great play.”
Regardless of how the season turns out, Dunbar already has overcome a major obstacle in continuing to play after the death of Eaton, who the players will honor with their actions on the football field and in the classroom.
“[Tavon] will never do anything to dishonor the program or coach Eaton?s name,” Smith said. “Anything he does is because he is trying to get better.”
