Patterson's football team likes to take advantage of any opportunity an opponent allows, but the Clippers don't expect this many presents — not even on quarterback Aaron Overton's 19th birthday.
The Clippers scored four touchdowns off Dunbar turnovers and used them to take their second straight win over the No. 13 Poets, 32-20, in the Baltimore City league opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Poly. Overton converted two of those touchdowns off turnovers — one rushing and one passing — and finished with 187 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
"I was happy that we rose to the occasion," Patterson coach Corey Johnson said. "Dunbar was playing really good defense, and fortunately for us, they had some mistakes on special teams and had some mistakes in the second half on the exchange from center. When they made mistakes and we were presented with a short field, we took advantage of it and put the ball in the end zone."
Joshua Beasley started the Clippers off after 6-foot-5 defensive end Marcus Woodard tipped quarterback Bryant Vass's pass. Beasley grabbed it, wheeling 79 yards for the touchdown.
It would be that kind of day for the Poets (1-1), who turned the ball over six times and frequently sabotaged their momentum in a game they led 14-12 at the half after falling behind 12-0.
"You can't play a good team and turn the ball over like that," Dunbar coach Lawrence Smith said. "That was the difference. We gave up 28 points on turnovers, and you can't do that."
The Clippers (2-0) took the lead for good after Raymond Anderson recovered a fumbled Dunbar handoff on the Poets' 23-yard line. Four plays later, Overton dragged three Poets along for the 5-yard touchdown run.
On the Poets' next play from scrimmage, they fumbled another handoff, and Beasley recovered on their 46-yard line. Another four plays and Overton hit Pete Carter for a 6-yard scoring pass and a 24-14 edge heading into the fourth quarter. Woodard forced another Poets fumble five minutes later, and Beasley ran 21 yards with the recovery for a 32-14 lead.
Although Patterson turned the ball over five times, the Poets capitalized just once. After Terrence Williams' interception, JaQuan Holt gained almost all the yardage on a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 5-yard touchdown run that gave the Poets their 14-12 lead.
katherine.dunn@baltsun.com
D;0;14;0;6;—;20
P;12;0;12;8;—;32
P—Beasley 79 int. return (run failed)
P—Woodard 30 pass from Overton (run failed)
D—Hawkins 3 run (Hawkins run)
D—Holt 5 run (run failed)
P—Overton 5 run (pass failed)
P—Carter 6 pass from Overton (pass failed)
P—Beasley 21 fumble return (Woodard pass from Overton)
D—McManus 10 pass from Vass (run failed)
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