Tigers pound Tritons 45-7
Mariner traveled to Dunbar for a Thursday night looking for their first win of the season. Dunbar also was looking for its first win and it was the Tritons who were disappointed.
Dunbar’s defense held Mariner to just 12 yards passing and 106 yards of total offense as the Tigers rolled to a 45-7 victory.
Neither team’s offense showed signs of life in the first quarter. It was on the second possession than Dunbar got into gear. The Tigers rode the back of sophomore tailback Kenny Benjamin for 33 yards before Ladarius Taylor took to the air. Taylor rolled to his right before finding senior Kevonte Moses for a 19-yard score. Dunbar’s two-point conversion attempt was stopped short and settled for a 6-0 lead.
Following a Mariner punt, Dunbar went to work through the air. Two consecutive completions from Taylor to Moses brought the ball to the Tritons’ 31-yard line. Taylor found junior wide receiver Tae Mitchell open at the 5-yard line, broke two tackles and walked into the end zone. Dunbar again went for the two-point conversion and this time Taylor found Moses on the slant for a 14-0 lead.
Aided by a couple of penalties, Mariner came to life. The Tritons reached the Tigers’ 21-yard line and with three seconds left in the quarter attempted a field goal. A fierce Dunbar rush broke through the line and the kick was blocked. Sophomore Shannon Reid scooped up the ball and ran 70 yards for the Tigers’ third touchdown. Tyler McDonald’s extra-point gave Dunbar a 21-0 halftime lead.
Things went from bad to worse very quickly for the Tritons as the opening kickoff was short and picked up by senior Ha’Raujhe James, who returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Dunbar had a 27-0 lead.
Mariner was not about to quit. The Tritons put together a 49-yard drive. Hard running by tailback Garrett Cook and a timely pass interference call allowed Mariner to reach the Dunbar 1-yard line. Quarterback Cairo Jeunegens then punched it over for Mariner’s lone score.
As they had all night, Dunbar came up with another big play. Benjamin fumbled the kickoff but recovered and ran down the left side for a 77-yard return. Five plays later Taylor rolled to his right and threw the ball up for grabs. Junior wide receiver Austin Watkins outjumped everyone and brought the ball in for a touchdown and a 33-7 lead.
The Tritons turned the ball over on downs and Dunbar made them pay. A steady diet of carries by Benjamin moved the ball to the Mariner 6-yard line. Quarterback Tariq Thomas then called his own number and waltzed in for the score.
The scoring was complete when Mariner snapped the ball over the punter’s head and Dunbar sophomore safety Malik Gary recovered the ball in the end zone.
Taylor threw for three touchdowns, and Benjamin had 147 yards rushing.
The Tritons look to get on the winning track next Friday at Golden Gate. The Tigers host Cypress Lake.
Mariner 0 0 7 0 – 7
Dunbar 6 15 12 12 – 45
D – Moses 19 pass from Taylor (conversion failed)
D – Mitchell 19 pass from Taylor (Moses pass)
D – Reid blocked FG return (McDonald kick)
D – James 65 KO Ret (kick failed)
M – Jeunegens 1 run (kick)
D – Watkins 9 pass from Taylor (kick failed)
D – Thomas 6 run (kick failed)
D – Gary recovered fumble in end zone (conversion failed)