Patuxent Denies Dunbar Its 17th Maryland Football State Championship

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND – Compared to his previous games, Evan Blouir wasn’t overwhelming  Friday. But, only one thing that mattered for the Patuxent (Md.) High standout: winning a championship.

Blouir capped his brilliant career in style as Patuxent defeated Paul Lawrence Dunbar, 8-6, in the Maryland Class 2A/1A state title game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Blouir’s 71-yard touchdown pass to Keiden Gutierrez in the first quarter and a couple of key defensive stops was all the Panthers – ranked No. 11 in this week’s SI on High Schools Maryland Top 25, needed to win their first state championship and complete a perfect season (14-0). 

Blouir, who will play for the Naval Academy next fall, finished with 220 total yards, about 200 yards below his average. The 6-foot-2 dual threat quarterback converted a pair of third downs, helping the Panthers run out the final 5 minutes and 32 seconds of regulation.

Nate Sands had a fumble recovery and Evan Jones added an interception for Patuxent, which denied No. 9 Dunbar five times inside its 30-yard line. 

Coedae James rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Poets (13-1), who had their 51-game winning streak snapped. The Baltimore City school, seeking its fourth straight 2A/1A title, failed to score three times inside the 10.

Dunbar 0 0 6 0 – 6

Patuxent 8 0 0 0 – 8

First quarter

Patuxent – Gutierrez 71-yard pass from Blouir (Blouir run)

Third quarter

Dunbar – James 18 run (pass failed)

Team Statstics

First downs – Dunbar 12, Patuxent 15

Rushing yards – Dunbar 177, Patuxent 129

Passing yards – Dunbar 138; Patuxent 106

Total yards – Dunbar 315, Patuxent 235

Offensive plays – Dunbar 49, Patuxent 46

Rushing – Dunbar (Coedae Jones 23-162, Savion Witherspoon 10-16, Team 1-minus 1; Patuxent (Evan Blouir 29-114, Evan Jones 3-15, Gutierrez 1-9, Team 1-minus 1

Passing – Dunbar (Witherspoon 9-15-1-138); Patuxent (Blouir 6-12-0, 106)

Receiving – Dunbar (Brian Collins 5-84, James 2-14, Jalen Gause 1-20, Samuel Eades 1-20); Patuxent (Jones 3-22, Guitierrez 2-76, Tayton Garvin 1-8)

Tackles – Dunbar (Darian Edmonds 7, Samuel Eades 5, Jabari Torbit 5, Eli Turpin 3; Patuxent (Duane Jack 11, Marques Reid 7, Garvin 6, Jordan Dargun 3)