Jonathan Perry's 14-yard touchdown pass to Sean Farr with two seconds remaining and Tavon Austin's two-point conversion lifted Dunbar of Baltimore to a 20-19 victory over Fort Hill of Cumberland in the Maryland 1A high school football championship game Saturday.
Austin, the state's all-time rushing leader, finished with 28 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns as the Poets (13-1) won their third consecutive state title. Austin, a senior, finished his career with 8,071 yards rushing and 128 touchdowns, both state records.
After Fort Hill missed a field goal attempt, Dunbar took over on its own 10-yard line with 1:56 left and no time-outs remaining. Perry, who had previously thrown 12 straight incomplete passes, was five-of-six on the winning drive, which included a 13-yard run by Perry on a fourth down and eight situation.
Fort Hill led 13-12 at halftime following a five-yard touchdown run by Marcus Lashley and an 11-yard touchdown run by Eric Howser. Lashley's three-yard touchdown run gave the Sentinels a 19-12 lead with 8:05 left, but Fort Hill (11-2) was stopped on its two-point conversion try.
Austin had touchdown runs of 36 and 47 yards to give the Poets a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.
