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Dunbar’s Tavon Austin ends his high school career as the all-time
state leader in four different offensive categories.
(Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah)
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By Perry Green
AFRO Sports Writer
(December 11, 2008) - There isn’t much more you can accomplish throughout a high school football career than what Dunbar High’s Tavon Austin has over the last four years.
Heading into this season, Austin had already set the state record for career touchdowns with 92 and was heavily recruited by just about every school on the East Coast.
Yet the 5-foot-9, 170 pound tailback wasn’t done, and after leading the Poets to its third consecutive 1A state title last Saturday at M&T Banks Stadium, most can argue that Tavon is the best high school football player that Baltimore has ever seen.
After finishing this season with 218 carries for 2,660 yards and 34 touchdowns, Austin is now the all-time state leader in touchdowns (123), points (790), rushing yards (7,460) and total offensive yards with 9,258.
But despite all the individual goals he has achieved, Poets coach Lawrence Smith says Austin has always put the team first.
“He wants to win every game,” Smith told the media. “When you have a player like that, one who puts his team first and works well with others, and all the skill and talent he has, it makes your whole team better because everyone on the team has to take their game up to his level.”
According to the {Baltimore Sun,} Austin has narrowed his college options down to Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and West Virginia, but will wait until signing day on Feb. 4 before he announces his decision.