H.S. Coach of the Year

Lawrence Smith, head football coach at Dunbar High School, has been named the 2007 Ravens High School Coach of the Year. Presented by Toyota, this is the 11th year of the Ravens’ award program that honors Baltimore-area high school coaches who have made a significant impact on their athletes.

Smith led Dunbar to a Class 1A state title on Saturday (12/8), defeating 8-time state champ Allegany 58-34 and capping an undefeated 14-0 season. Though the Poets were defending their title, they played with something to prove. With an impassioned crowd leading them on, they were not to be stopped. Dunbar scored touchdowns on 5 of its first 6 possessions. QB Jonathan Perry threw 11-of-20 for 235 yards, with 3 touchdowns to WR Sean Farr. RB Tavon Austin ran for 3 touchdowns of 10, 59 and 32 yards. Austin had an 82-yard TD run negated by an illegal motion penalty and a 30-yd TD catch negated by penalty.

Smith led Dunbar to the Class 1A state title.

Allegany mustered all it could, but the team could not stop the Poets. The offense was on fire, and the defense joined in on the action, as well, with Dunbar DB Michael McNeil returning a Campers’ fumble 80 yards for the score.

In its four playoff games this season, Dunbar scored 186 points, a new state record.

This win marks back-to-back state championships for Dunbar, as head coach Ben Eaton led the Poets to a title in 2006. Eaton passed away suddenly on Aug. 27, right before the start of the 2007 season. In attendance to hoist the championship trophy were Eaton’s wife, Sandra, and son Ben, Jr.

Lawrence Smith said earlier this year, “Our whole season is dedicated in honor of Coach Eaton.”

Smith earned the Ravens High School Coach of the Week nod in week 1, when his Poets defeated Gwynn Park, 27-6. He is in his eighth year of coaching overall.

Each of the season’s weekly Ravens High School Coach of the Week winners was present at the Ravens vs. Colts game on Dec. 9 for the naming of the Ravens High School Coach of the Year.

A panel of area high school experts selected the coach of the week and year. The recipients received the following:

• A $2,000 donation to the school’s football program
• An award certificate signed by Ravens head coach Brian Billick, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Gene Washington, the NFL’s Director of Football Development
• A specially-designed hat

As the 2007 Ravens High School Coach of the Year, Lawrence Smith received an additional $4,000 donation towards Dunbar’s football program.

The Ravens High School Coach of the Year Award has been a fixture in youth athletics since 1997. Previous recipients include Augie Waibel of Poly (1997), Nick Arminio of Eastern Technical (1998), Pete Pompey of Edmondson-Westside (1999), Dominic Damico of McDonogh (2000), Steve Turnbaugh of Hereford (2001), Dave Eubank of Dundalk (2002), Gene Brown of South Carroll (2003), Ben Eaton of Dunbar (2004), Brad Wilson of Westminster (2005) and Dante Jones of Edmondson-Westside (2006).

2007 Ravens HS Coach of the Week Recipients

Week 1 Lawrence Smith Dunbar
Week 2 Doug DuVall Wilde Lake
Week 3 Brian Abbott Loyola Blakefield
Week 4 Steve Turnbaugh Hereford
Week 5 Jeff Oeming North Carroll
Week 6 Skip Hartley Digital Harbor
Week 7 Chip Armstrong Mount St. Joseph
Week 8 Marc Mesaros Eastern Tech
Week 9 Roger Wrenn Baltimore Polytechnic
Week 10 Brian Van Deusen River Hill