During the preseason, Dunbar High football coach Lawrence Smith said the 2010 team is a “different type of team,” from last season. The Poets had a familiar outcome in their season debut Saturday.
No. 7 Dunbar posted a 40-0 decision over host Randallstown in a non-league game. Senior quarterback Bryant Vass threw three touchdown passes, and Epe Henriques had a rushing and receiving touchdown.
The Poets led 20-0 at halftime en route to a second straight season-opening rout of the Rams. Last season, Dunbar won, 42-8, at Poly.
The Poets’ quest of a fourth consecutive Class 1A state championship was derailed by Catoctin in the state semifinals. Catoctin went on to win the crown.
“I felt last year we were mentally soft. It was a good team, just not to Dunbar’s standard,” said Smith, who’s 38-3 since succeeding the late Ben Eaton. “They went a long way on the history and they were just worried about that.
This team [2010] is young and hungry and just wants to win.”
The Poets had things rolling in their first contest Saturday. Vass threw a 37-yard scoring pass to Henriques to open the scoring.
Henriques, a transfer from Joppatowne who helped the Mariners reached the state 1A finals last fall, scored on a six-yard run in the first. Vass (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) went 53 yards to Andre Davis to end the first half.
Junior wideout Deontay McManus grabbed a 28-yard score from Bass in the third quarter. Jacquan Holt added an 8-yard touchdown run and Charles Brown caught a 48-yard scoring pass from reserve quarterback James Staten.
The Poets open Baltimore City Division I play Saturday afternoon against Patterson at the Poly Stadium Complex. The Clippers handed Dunbar their only league setback last season.
Dunbar 42, Randallstown 0
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
D-Holt 8 run (run failed)
