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Final |
| Friendship Collegiate | 25 |
| Dunbar | 13 |
Staff Reports
OK3Sports.com
OK3Sports Football: Friendship Collegiate vs Dunbar
First Look: OK3Sports photojournalist Olen Kelley’s raw edit from the 2023 DCSAA Football State tournament semifinals game between the Friendship Collegiate Academy Knights and the Dunbar Crimson Tide at Greene Stadium in Washington, DC, on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
VIEWS FROM THE FIELD
As the Friendship Collegiate sideline rushed the field amid flashing stadium lights and a drum line from the school band Saturday at Howard University, the Knights chanted “S.O.B.!” — “Stand On Business” — a motto that came to define their season as they ended it by defending their D.C. State Athletic Association Class AA title with 25-13 win against Dunbar.
“S.O.B. means everybody stands on their assignments and do what they have to do,” quarterback Brenton Toles said. “Whatever they say before the game, they need to stand on business and actually really mean it and step up to it.”
In a rematch of a season opener that Friendship (11-2) won after a slow start, the Knights, this time, scored early and leaned on a defensive line that smothered any progress from Dunbar (9-3).
The bookend matchups against Dunbar provided evidence of growth for the Knights, whose difficult schedule included losses only to national power St. John Bosco (Calif.) and area stalwart Gonzaga. And it was a chance to prove just how dominant they can be on their way to a sixth DCSAA title.
“We’re always going to challenge ourselves, not only with games but how we practice and how we attack the weight room,” Coach Mike Hunter said. “So we want to get these kids to play more than just for a football game but for how life is going to go. You will have some challenges, some things you must overcome, and they’re ready for it.”
Against Dunbar — the freshly crowned Turkey Bowl champ — and its methodical running game, the Knights stepped on the field ready for one more fight.
A two-yard rush by Toles on the Knights’ opening drive put them ahead midway through the first quarter. Then the defense did damage, with five-star edge rusher Dylan Stewart picking up a fumble in the second quarter and returning it 26 yards for a touchdown.
“It means a lot to do that in my last game,” Stewart said of his scoring play. “… It comes from playing good teams, knowing what adversity is, and training for it.”
The Knights appeared to lose their discipline a bit with a spate of penalties, but a 57-yard touchdown run by Damarjae Jones in the third quarter put them back on track.
A 41-yard touchdown pass from Toles to Keyon Starkey-Webb in the fourth quarter all but sealed the win, even as Dunbar wide receiver Isaiah Brandon scored twice within two minutes off passes from Brosnan Dukes.
The next goal for the Knights: “To raise the bar,” Toles said. “We’re going to go undefeated.”
