Sideline Report This Week in District High School Football

Game of the Week

No. 5 Dunbar at No. 10 Good Counsel

Saturday, 7 p.m.

It doesn't count in the league standings. Win or lose, the result won't affect Dunbar's chances of going to its 10th consecutive Turkey Bowl.

But the Crimson Tide knows there is life outside the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association, and that's why it plays games such as Saturday's at No. 10 Good Counsel, a power in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

For all the recognition Dunbar has earned as the DCIAA's top program over the past decade, questions linger when the Crimson Tide is compared with the rest of the region. Skeptics look at the wide talent disparity in the DCIAA -- or other teams that have a strong season here or there -- and claim that Dunbar is fattening up on the dregs of the league.

"These games are usually like a playoff and championship atmosphere," Dunbar Coach Craig Jefferies said. "That's what I'm trying to get them in the mood to do."

Jefferies and Good Counsel Coach Bob Milloy said the game came about when both teams were struggling to fill out their schedules. Milloy said he was calling schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to no avail. Jefferies said he didn't want to give critics ammunition by scheduling a patsy.

The two leagues often fill gaps in their schedules by playing against one another, but the results have been pretty one-sided. The past two seasons, with the exception of a pair of Dunbar victories over Carroll and Ballou's victory over Ireton last year, the WCAC has won 10 games against DCIAA opponents.

It's given Dunbar, at least, a sense of insecurity, Jefferies said.

"I hated reading that story about the superiority of their league," he said. "We're looking for that respectability. Everybody in the metropolitan area criticizes how poor our league is. Some of that is due to the poor facilities and equipment, and it was easy to say that, but we're improving it."

Sure enough, Ballou is coming off a 14-7 victory over McNamara last week, while Theodore Roosevelt shut out Carroll. Along with next week's games featuring Wilson against Carroll and H.D. Woodson against Good Counsel, the Crimson Tide know it's the team's turn to uphold the DCIAA's turnaround. "Our program looks forward to games like this," Jefferies said.

Other Games

Friendship Edison (0-1) vs. Theodore Roosevelt (2-0) at Cardozo

Tomorrow, 5 p.m.

This game was moved from Roosevelt, whose new field will be ready in time for the next home game, Sept. 28 against Eastern. That shouldn't affect Roosevelt, whose defense, after allowing a first-quarter touchdown on a coverage breakdown against Anacostia, has played seven straight scoreless quarters. Senior Samuel Reddick returned an interception for a touchdown against Anacostia and scored on a 40-yard run last week against Carroll. Senior defensive back Aaron Peterson has also been strong, according to Coach Torrance Dawkins.

Friendship Edison, on the other hand, has built itself toward this season, as many of its three-year starters are now seniors. The Knights gave a huge scare to Dunbar last week, before losing, 32-28. "I'm not big on moral victories," Knights Coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim said, "but I think we're heading in the right direction."

They'll need it; their next two games are against No. 1 DeMatha and Martinsburg (W. Va.), a state finalist last season.

Coolidge (2-0) at Eastern (0-0)

Tomorrow, 7 p.m.

Coolidge may not want to come back to the District. The Colts have gone to West Virginia to secure a couple of nice paychecks and have come away with a pair of incredible comeback victories. Two weeks ago, down 20-6 at halftime, Coolidge outscored Marshall (W. Va.), 44-15, in the second half for a 50-35 victory. Last week, the Colts scored 26 second-half points to beat Parkersburg South (W. Va.), 34-29. What's the link between the two victories? Sophomore quarterback Jubar Knight, a returning starter, who has thrown for 606 yards combined in the two games.