Dunbar 20, H.D. Woodson 9
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In the 38th Annual DCIAA Turkey Bowl, Dunbar held off H.D. Woodson in front of 6,000 people at Eastern High School Thursday afternoon. The Crimson Tide’s 20-9 victory was their eighth championship in the past 10 years under the direction of Head Coach Craig Jeffries. Dunbar had only won one championship before Jeffries arrived.

“We pride ourselves on being champions,” Jeffries said. “Getting back to [the Turkey Bowl] was important and winning it was just as important.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Dunbar found the end zone just four minutes into the second quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by Charles Siler, the game’s offensive MVP. Siler carried the ball 14 times for 70 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards on the afternoon.

“Charles played great,” Jeffries said. “Our guys just buckled down and ran. The offensive coordinator had a good game plan, and we knew we had to pound the ball, eat up some clock and get some first downs to win this game.”

With a 7-0 lead already in hand, the Crimson Tide took advantage of a H.D. Woodson miscue on the following possession. The Warriors were set to punt the ball but the snap was fumbled and Dunbar took over at H.D. Woodson’s 33-yard line. The Crimson Tide moved the ball down to the 1-yard line where Tyree White carried the ball in on a quarterback sneak to increase the lead to 14-0. White transferred to Dunbar from Archbishop Carroll High School for his senior season in hopes of winning a title.

“Before today I’ve never won a championship,” White said. “I’m glad I transferred to Dunbar, and it all started in the summer. We worked hard, we were disciplined and it all came together today.”

With the Crimson Tide up by two touchdowns, H.D. Woodson's offense finally got things going on the following drive. The Warriors moved the ball into Dunbar territory and Ricardo Young hit Kayvone Spriggs on a 38-yard touchdown pass to bring Woodson within seven points. The Warriors had a chance to tie the game before the half ended, but Young missed an open wide receiver in the end zone to keep it a 14-7 game.

Finding the end zone in the second half would not be any easier for H.D. Woodson. Dunbar's defense kept the Warriors from scoring during the game’s final 24 minutes and Jharron Armstrong intercepted a pass and returned it for a score to seal the victory for the Crimson Tide. Armstrong was the named the game’s Defensive MVP, recording six tackles, two interceptions, one touchdown and one assist.