Senior quarterback William Crest scored three touchdowns, including a last second game-winning run for a score as the Dunbar Poets edged the City College Black Knights, 28-26 in a rainy thriller on Oct. 11 in Baltimore, Md.
The outcome of the game was just as dramatic and unpredictable as the Friday night weather was Friday. Just when everyone thought the raindrops were slowing up to a stop midway through the fourth quarter, suddenly heavy showers resumed. At that same moment, City College turned what seemed to be a comfortable late-game lead for Dunbar into an exciting tight-knit contest that wasn’t settled until the final seconds of the game.
Tied up at 14 at halftime, Dunbar eventually took a 22-14 lead after Crest scored on a short touchdown run, his second of the game. The Poets then created a turnover on defense by intercepting City College quarterback Troy Robinson.
But that’s when a sudden shift in momentum went in favor of City. Midway through the fourth quarter, Robinson launched a 40-yard touchdown to receiver Justin Harvey to cut Dunbar’s lead to 22-20. After failing on the two-point conversion try, City College then successfully completed an onside kick, recovering possession of the ball. A few plays later, Robinson ran in a touchdown score to give the Black Knights a 26-22 lead with less than three minutes left in the game.
Unfortunately for City College, that was just enough time for Dunbar to drive the field and win as Crest scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Poets a 28-26 lead with just 2 seconds left in the game. Crest’s touchdown run came on 4th down and goal. It was the second straight fourth-down conversion for Crest, who had just tossed a 9-yard pass on fourth down just a few players earlier in the possession.
“I knew it in my heart that we were going to score and win the game,” Crest said. I knew it and we believed it and didn’t quit on each other, even when things were looking out of our reach.”
Crest said the rain made it harder on offense to throw and catch the ball, but also “insisted that rainy games are a part of the game of football.”
“Football is played in all elements. It can be rainy, sunny or snowy. It don’t matter. These are the conditions that test your heart. They test your toughness.”
Poets head coach Lawrence Smth said his team didn’t play up to their own standards, but he’s proud they fought until the end.
“That’s easily the worst game we played this season,” Smith said, “But no matter what, we never gave up.”
Poets advanced to a 5-1 overall record, 3-0 in Baltimore City, while City College’s record is now 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the city
