Dunbar High football Lawrence Smith did not say much on the sidelines in the first half of Friday afternoon’s Baltimore City Division I contest with Poly.

He said a lot, however, during halftime.

“Coach Lawrence gave us an amazing halftime speech and we were able to lock in and finish strong,” said Dunbar defensive linemen Josh Fedd. “We can’t play down to competition, no matter who it is.”

Poly tested Dunbar, showing its undefeated mark coming in wasn’t a fluke. The Poets were able to find their bearings in the second half to claim a 24-6 victory at Sugar Cain Field in East Baltimore.

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Tristan Kenan rushed for 116 yards for Dunbar (7-0, 4-0 Division I) and Savion Witherspoon added a rushing and throwing touchdown. Poly (6-1, 3-1 Division I) got a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jason Lindsey to Tristan Halley.

After a promising start, the Poets labored until late in the third quarter, pulling away to extend the area’s longest win streak to 20. Dunbar has won 24 straight in Baltimore City play, dating back to 2018.

It wasn’t pretty, but the defending Class 2A/1A state champs are on the cusp of another city title.

“They have to understand everybody’s shooting for them…everybody is going to give them their best game,” said Dunbar coach Lawrence Smith. “We didn’t play our best game, but we came out on top.”

The Poets needed only two plays in its opening possession to score as Elon University commit Tony Hart hauled in Witherspoon’s pass across the middle and out-ran Poly’s defense.

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The Engineers’ offense had better luck, methodically advancing into Dunbar’s territory on all three possessions in the opening half. Poly finally capitalized early in the second half.

The Engineers, who didn’t get an offensive score in its upset victory over defending 4A/3A state champ Mervo last weekend, went 81 yards in 14 plays as Halley pulled down Lindsey’s pass in the end zone with 2 minutes, 29 seconds left in the third quarter. Poly threw an incomplete pass on the two-point conversion.

Dunbar finally got its offense in gear as Kenan broke off a 21-yard run. Witherspoon, filling in for senior Devin Roche, moved out of the pocket, found running space and got to the corner for a 22-yard touchdown. Kenan’s two-point conversion run made it 16-6 with 58 seconds remaining in the third.

“We had to stop going through the motions,” said Kenan. “Some of us were ready to play Thursday, but we can’t use that as an excuse.”

Kenan, who plays safety on defense, shot through an opening to drop Poly running back Tavon McGee for a loss, ending an Engineer drive at Dunbar’s six. With Kenan and sophomore Antonio Lyde (five carries, 75 yards) doing the damage, Dunbar went 89 yards in eight plays for its final score as Lyde scored from five yards.

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McGee rushed for a game-best 122 yards on 31 carries for Poly, which reached the Poets’ 24, 36 and 15-yard lines after getting to midfield on its first drive.

Engineers coach Marquise O’Neal said his squad could not afford missed chances against Dunbar.

“They got a lot over there and we held up for a good three and a half quarters, but the last half of the fourth quarter got away from us,” said O’Neal. “We’re still growing and learning.”

NO. 5 DUNBAR 24, NO. 12 POLY 6

Poly 0 0 6 0 - 6

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Dunbar 8 0 8 8 - 24

First quarter

Dunbar - Tony Hart 70 pass from Savion Witherspoon (Tristan Kenan run)

Third quarter

Poly - Tristan Halley 13 pass from Jason Lindsay (pass failed)

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Dunbar - Witherspoon 22 run (Kenan run)

Fourth quarter

Dunbar - Antonio Lyde 5 run (Lyde run)