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Dunbar explodes after intermission

Dunbar ATH Joseph Scates (photo courtesy ScoutingOhio.com/Mark Porter)

DAYTON, Ohio – The first half of Friday night’s game between the Ponitz Panthers and Dunbar Wolverines ended with either team able to punch the ball in the end zone, the halftime scoreboard at Welcome Stadium read Ponitz 0 and Dunbar 0.  The Wolverines with their explosive big play offense would score 32 points in the 2nd half to blank the Panthers 32 to 0.

In the first half both teams had their opportunities to score.  The Panthers best opportunity came on their first position of the game, chewing up most of the 1st quarter clock, while moving the ball methodically down to the Wolverines 12 yard line, only to fumble the ball on a pitch out and Dunbar recovering on their 17 yard line, and first possession of the game.

Dunbar was able to move the ball through a combination of running and passing plays, getting into the Ponitz red zone a couple of times only to be stopped either through undisciplined and untimely penalties, and a key interception by Ponitz defensive back Donyea McNary.

It seemed the Panthers game plan in the first half was play a conservative offensive game, through running the ball, short yardage gains, possession of the football, and not turning the ball over to the star studded Wolverines.  The Panthers offense had two key opportunities outside of the first Panther possession to score, both were pass plays.  The first play a Panther receiver had beat a Wolverine defender, only to have the ball drop through his hands.  The most critical offensive play was a trick play, which Coach Jim Place’s teams have been known for through the years.  The second pass play was a halfback pass play to a wide open receiver late in the 2nd quarter.  With the Dunbar defense biting on what looked to be an halfback end run play, saw the halfback stop, pass the ball to a wide open receiver who if the ball was caught may have given the Panthers the opportunity to take the lead right before the first half ended.  With no one at least 10 yards around the receiver, the ball was dropped and so were the Panthers hopes of scoring, the first half would end a few minutes later, tied with either team scoring in the first two quarters of play.

The second half of the game was completely dominated by the Dunbar Wolverines.  The opening kick-off of the 3rd quarter was returned by Dunbar’s Joseph Scates (who has not committed to a Division 1 school as of this writing, but has a stack of offers to play at the next level) his 80 yard kick-off return opened the gates for the Wolverines.  The levy broke, and the Wolverines would dominate the 3rd and 4th quarters, scoring 12 and 20 points in each frame.

Dunbar was led offensively by Scates with a game total of 175 yards, with the touchdown, and University of Oklahoma commit running back Tavion Thomas 2 touchdowns for 233 yards.  Also scoring for the Wolverines were Jalani Allen and Seth Arnold with 1 touchdown each.

RECORDS: Dunbar (1-1); Ponitz (0-2)
UP NEXT: Dunbar at Mount Healthy (0-2): Ponitz hosts Dayton Christian on Thursday.

Recap courtesy of Doc Kirchner

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