Frederick Douglass High School of Prince George’s County, Md., capped off its incredible season with a 38-0 shutout win over the powerhouse of Baltimore City, the Dunbar Poets, for the Maryland 2A state title on Dec. 6 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. It marked the first state championship in Douglass Eagles history.
The Eagles had come close to winning a state title in recent years, reaching the championship game in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012. But this year was not like any of the previous year seasons as Douglass simply dominated the competition, week after week, with crushing, lopsided victories.
Douglass’ average margin of victory per game this season was by 40 points and it completed eight different shutouts, including its 38-0 stomping over Dunbar, who won three of the last five state titles and nine of their 10 total championship game appearances.
Just as they did all season, the Eagles used their overpowering running game and stout defense to take a quick and early comfortable lead over Dunbar. Douglass built a 24-0 lead by the midway point of the third quarter. When Dunbar lost its best player, junior quarterback Zionnez Spencer with an ankle injury, all hope for a miraculous comeback was lost for the Poets as they surrendered two more touchdowns to the Eagles before the game ended.
Eagles senior running back Akiva Wedge led his team with 160 rushing yards, but also shared the load with fellow senior running back, Mikale Mackle, who also ran for 100-plus yards.
Douglass ran for more than 400 yards total.