LIVE Game Blog - Bishop McNamara, MD (2-0) at Maury (1-1)

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Greetings from Powhatan Field in Norfolk tonight, where the Bishop McNamara Mustangs with a record of 2-0 overall visit the reigning two-time Class 5 State Champion Maury Commodores with a record of 1-1 overall.

We'll have updates here and via Twitter or 'X' as it is now referred to @hatfieldsports

Before we kick it off, check out our Full Preview and Predictions on this game + several others right here.

 

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Maury's first series starts at their own 31-yard line following a 24-yard kickoff return by freshman Tijuan Pair. After a negative play and a penalty, the Commodores quickly find themselves in 3rd & 16 from their own 25, where sophomore QB Domo Everette completes his second pass of the night, this one to senior Jaiden Avery for 26 yards into Mustangs territory.

The Maury drive ends up fizzling with a tackle for loss by McNamara lineman Tru Wooten as well as a pass breakup by Jaylen Robinson. The The Commodores end up punting it away on 4th & 11 from their 50.

McNamara starts with possession at their own 7.

 

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McNamara's first possession is going fairly well with chunk plays in the ground game courtesy of D'Kwan Thomas for 12 yards and 20 yards... but a couple of penalties keep the Mustangs from advancing into Maury territory. In fact, four flags for 31 yards plague them a ton on the series.

Coach Greg Calhoun's group is showing a couple of different looks, going with an empty set backed up inside their own 10 early on and then going with a split-back look and being able to effectively run off tackle on multiple occasions.

Facing a 3rd & 11 from their own 37, the Mustangs see their pass intercepted by Maury DB Hunter Collins. Big-time takeaway for the Commodores after McNamara QB KJ Underwood completed his first two passes for a total of 24 yards, one of which was an 18-yard gain by Alex Springs.

Maury Head Coach Dyrri McCain decides to go for it on 4th & 6 from the McNamara 35 just a few plays later and it pays off in a big way with Domo Everette throwing a lazer over the middle on crossing pattern to JMU commit Elijah Moss-Williams, who evades multiple tackles on his way to diving in the end zone.

 

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Bishop McNamara gets a huge run of 32 yards on its second series via Taariq Denson. The Maury defense steps up though with tackles for loss from Pittsburgh commit Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons and Javonti Hughes, helping bring up 3rd & 12 from the 50. Following a 6-yard catch by Xavier Brown, the Mustangs go for it on 4th & 6 from the Maury 44. They fail to convert, giving the Commodores the ball right near midfield with 1:02 to go in the opening frame.

Following an incomplete pass, runs of +2 by TayShawn Branche and +5 by Domo Everette brings up another fourth down decision for Coach Dyrri McCain.

 

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Maury sophomore QB Domo Everette scrambles for just enugh on 4th & 3 from the 50. Javonti Hughes gains 3, then TayShawn Branche is stifled for no gain on a run play to bring up 3rd & 8. The pass by Everette intended for Jaiden Avery bounces off his hands. The Commodores now punt it away.

With 10:01 to go in the second quarter, McNamara takes overar their own 10. A run of five by Taariq Dnson is followed by an incomplete. The Mustangs go deep on 3rd & 5 and a pass interference is called to put them at their own 29. Going trips right, the Mustangs then get a run of +10 from D'Kwan Thomas. Jaylen Ford's first run of the night is dropped for a loss of a couple with Javonti Hughes in on the stop.

A pass on 3rd & 10 from their own 39, McNamara throws over the middle into double coverage and the pass intended for Alex Springs falls incomplete. They will punt it away with 7:11 to go in the first half.

Maury takes over at their own 33 following the punt.

 

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The Commodores get smooth runs of +5 and +9 from junior tailback TayShawn Branche, starting to find his groove after being held in check to four yards on his first five attempts. His hard running only continues on this series, but after a beautiful 15-yard reception by Elijah Moss-Williams, who is able to run a precise underneath pattern for QB Domo Everette to find him, then show make-you-miss ability to get the Commodores into McNamara territory.

Twice on third downs it's Branche moving the sticks - the first time coming on 3rd & 4 from the 32 for a gain of +8 and the next time on 3rd & 4 from the 18 for a gain of +5, where he displays the power. Branche just a few plays later is able to then show more strength, breaking tackles on his way to the end zone as Maury now leads it by double-figures.

 

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McNamara takes over at their own 14 with 3:48 to go in the first half, needing to put together a drive that results in points. A run of +4 is followed by an incomplete pass. With trips right on 3rd & 6, QB KJ Underwood overthrows Alex Springs on the left / far side of the field with NC Central commit Damon McDaniel Jr. running stride for stride with him.

The Mustangs go 3 & out and punt it away, now realizing they must call on their defense to get a stop. However, an offsides penalty on Maury before they can punt it away makes it 4th & 1. McNamara brings the offesne back on the field from their own 23.

 

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The penalty by Maury ends up biting them because Bishop McNamara. Taariq Denson blasts up the middle efor 60 yards and would've scored if not for the speed of junior DB Matt Williams to chase him down for the TD-saving tackle.

McNamara uses its final time-out with 1:50 to go in the first half to avoid getting flagged for having 12 men on the field. Coming out of the time-out, McNamara hits a 17-yard TD pass with Jayden Ford at QB... but... an illegal formation penalty wipes it out. D'Kwan Thomas then runs for about 8 yards to bring up 3rd & 6 from the Commodores 13.

 

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Is Maury susceptible against a powerful ground attack? It appears more so this year than in recent seasons, given the success that Cardinal Gibbons (NC), Varina and now Bishop McNamara (MD) have enjoyed.

Elijah Moss-Williams breaks the ensuing kickoff after the McNamara touchdown to about midfield... but... a penalty backs the Commodores back up at their own 5 with 1:07 to go in the first half. Maury has to feel like they should've been getting the ball around midfield with a 14-0 lead until that self-inflicated offsides penalty allowed the Mustangs to get back in this one.

Three straight runs by TayShawn Branche - netting a total of 21 yards - get the Commodores to their own 26 with just five seconds remaining in the first half.

Jianni Davis - son of former NFL tight end and Maryland legend Vernon Davis - is having a significant impact in this one defensively with 5 total tackles, 3 solo, by my count.

 

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A 10-yard screen pass from Domo Everette to TayShawn Branche concludes the first half for Maury, leading it by a single touchdown in this out-of-state clash.



Some half-time numbers to come shortly... stay tuned!

 

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Stats at the Half:

Maury (VA) 14:
Domo Everette - 5-12 for 85Yds; 4Car. 15Yds.
TayShawn Branche - 14Car. 71Yds; 2Rec. 9Yds.
Elijah Moss-Williams - 2Rec. 50Yds. TD
Jaiden Avery - 1Rec. 26Yds.
Javonti Hughes - 8 Tackles, 2 TFL
Isaiah McDaniel - 5 Tackles
Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons - 4 Tackles, TFL

Commodores - 31 plays for 173 total yards (5-12 for 85 yards passing; 19 rushes for 88 yards); 0 turnovers; 5 penalties for 35 yards


Bishop McNmara (MD) 7:
KJ Underwood - 4-10 for 32Yds.
Taariq Denson - 9Car. 105Yds. TD
D'Kwan Thomas - 4Car. 50Yds; 1Rec. 2Yds.
Alex Springs - 1Rec. 18Yds.
Xavier Brown - 2Rec. 12Yds.
Jadon Byrd - 6 Tackles (4 Solo)
Jianni Davis - 5 Tackles (3 Solo)

Mustangs - 28 plays for 193 total yards (18 rushes for 161 yards rushing; 4-10 for 32 yards passing, 1 intercept); 1 turnover; 5 penalties 36 yards

 

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Bishop McNamara's first drive of the second half begins at their own 40 with an 11-yard run from Taariq Denson. The senior tailback is the main engine of their offense as the Mustangs look to play "bully ball," here out of the gate in this third period.

However, the Maury defense is able to bend just a little, but not break. Linebackers Javonti Hughes and Isaiah Simmons lead the defensive charge.

The Commodores are moving the ball well behind the running of TayShawn Branche.

An injury to lineman Khaleel Gbey will halt play with 8:14 to go in the third period and Maury looking at 1st & 10 from their own 44.

 

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Carson Campbell of McNamara recovers a fumble by Maury QB Domo Everette, who loses the handle as he tries to hand it off... and it gives the Mustangs the football at their own 36 with 7:21 to go in the third quarter. Another missed opportunity for the Commodores to increase their lead.

The Maury defense is able to buckle down, thanks to the tackling of Pitt commit Ike Simmons (7 total stops now) as McNamara has to punt it away on 4th & 9 from their own 37. An odd QB change from first down to second down with Jaylen Ford to KJ Underwood had me scratching my head on that possession. Campbell got beat at right tackle on the very first play of the series.

Maury's offense takes over at their own 37 with 5:33 to go in the third period and they get some posiive yardage with a 9-yard catch by William & Mary commit Jahvon Wiggins, then 3-yard run from TayShawn Branche. However, a sack from Arinze Odunukwe makes it 2nd & 17 shortly thereafter... and then a pass on 3rd & 12 bounces off the hands of Elijah Moss-Williams.

The Commodores have to punt it away again.

 

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Bishop McNamara realized it was time to scrap cute passing plays or bootlegs. They just decided to line up and run it down the throat of the Commodores, really exploiting the smaller d-tackles, and it is working. They even went to a 'Full House' jumbo type of look in the backfield and Maury had clear trouble stopping the run game.

A 15-yard penalty by the Commodores - on a face-mask on a 34-yard run from JMU commit Dkwan Thomas - really put the Maury defense on their heels.

If Thomas gets on the edge, it can be problematic right now for the Commodores, who are without an injured defensive back in senior Jacoby Marshall, an Oscar Smith transfer.

 

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After McNamara ties the game up, Maury has it at their own 20 with 1:41 to go in the third period. A run worth six yards by TayShawn Branche is followed by another run that is for no gain. On 3rd & 4, it's QB Domo Everette competing it in the flat to Branche and he's a yard short of the first down.

An injury time-out as a Mustangs player is checked on allows Maury to look at a play for 4th & 1. That's what Coach Dyrri McCain decides to do, but before they can get the QB sneak out of the heavy package, a false start penalty is called as we conclude the third quarter. All knotted up at 14.

 

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Tied at 14 with 11:49 to go, Bishop McNamara (MD) is looking for a signature win in an out-of-state matchup early in this 2025 campaign against two-time VHSL Class 5 State Champion Maury. Couple of big tackles versus the run by Hunter Collins and Elijah King, both coming on Dkwan Thomas (who had 84 yards rushing on his first 5 attempts) ends up resulting in McNamara going backwards.

Great job by the Maury defense to respond after getting torched the last series. It's even more impressive with top tackler Javonti Hughes off the field for the time being.

The Mustangs use their first time-out of the half with 10:17 to go before a 3rd & 12 from their own 47.

 

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Bishop McNamara QB KJ Underwood makes one of his best passes of the night, hitting Donovan Barnes in the flat for 19 yards. Barnes was able to spin away from multiple tackles along the far sideline and the Maury defense had one of its worst breakdowns of the night on that 3rd & 12 play. Now the Mustangs are in prime position, at the Commodores 36.

Maury then gets hit with a sideline warning.

 

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Another crucial third down conversion - his one on 3rd & 5 from the Maury 31 - with DK Thomas gaining 6 yards to the Commodores 25. Thomas then scampers to the near side and dives for the end zone, just a yard short.

McNamara is playing physical, power football and wearing the Commodores out. Thomas will finish the drive off with a score and the Mustangs take the lead.

The McNamara offense going with two tight ends has really hurt the Maury defense.

 

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Does Maury have some magic or will they suffer a rare home loss here at Powhatan Field?

 

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Elijah Moss-Williams returns the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to Maury's 27. Maury is taking patient small bites with a 5-yard run from TayShawn Branche then 5-yard pass to Jahvon Wiggins. Another run, this one for a gain of 4 by Branche, brings up 2nd & 6 for the Commodores from their own 42.

Jianni Davis makes the sack on second down to bring up 3rd & 11 from the 37. Domo Everette rolls to his left and makes a pretty good throw twwards Moss-Williams, who appears to make the catch, but the officials say he trapped it as it hit the ground.

Coach Dyrri McCain will punt it away with 5:22 to go and his team trailing 21-14.

 

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McNamara has it at their own 9. Ike Simmons and company stop Donovan Barnes for no gain. Then Javonti Hughes - now backs - drops him for a loss of 1 to bring up 3rd & 11. Simmons, the Pitt commit, stops Barnes cold for no gain.

McNamara will punt it away inside their own 10 as the clock ticks under three minutes to go and Maury has all 3 time-outs left.

 

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1:43 to go - McNamara (MD) 21, Maury (VA) 14.

TayShawn Branche rips off runs of 26 and 7 yards to put the Commodores at the McNamara 2. Mustangs burn a time-out.

LIVE Game Blog - Bishop McNamara, MD (2-0) at Maury (1-1) - Forums

Greetings from Powhatan Field in Norfolk tonight, where the Bishop McNamara Mustangs with a record of 2-0 overall visit the reigning two-time Class 5 State Champion Maury Commodores with a record of 1-1 overall. We'll have updates here and via Twitter or 'X' as it is now referred to...

www.on3.com

 

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Using Ike Simmons in the formation as a H-Back, the Commodores run a QB draw play with sophomore Domo Everette who is able to walk his way into the end zone. The all important PAT by Charlie McCoy is good.



REALLY surprised that Coach Dyrri McCain did not try to go for 2 and the lead / win... but he does have 3 time outs left and may have confidence in his defense, be it here to close out regulation and / or in OT.

 

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DK Thomas returns the kickoff 10 yards to McNamara's own 35. Given that Maury has all 3 time outs, the Mustangs are in a tricky spot. Do they try to play for OT or go for the win here in regulation?

Surprisingly, they try to pass on first down and it is incomplete. Their run on 2nd & 10 gains just one yard and Maury burns that first time-out with 1:11 to go before 3rd & 9 from the 36.

 

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Xavier Brown makes a really fine catch on 3rd & 9 on a comeback route on the far sideline with the cushion given by Maury corner Matt Williams, a 2027 talent with a bunch of offers. Really felt they might try to test the other Maury corner, but QB KJ Underwood made the right read and a good throw.

His next two throws are not on the money - incomplete each time. That brings up 3rd & 10 from their own 46 with 56 seconds to go and Maury has 2 time-outs remaining. Samuel Woods is then able to sack Underwood as the pocket collapses around him - with ressure from Simmons and a host of orange jerseys.

Maury uses a time-out with 45 seconds left in regulation.

 

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Eli Moss returns it about 6 yards to the 33 of Maury with 35 seconds left on the clock. What drama we have here in Norfolk.

 

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An incomplete pass and then a 5-yard completion from Domo Everette to Jaiden Avery. Maury Coach Dyrri McCain uses his final time-out before 3rd & 5 from their own 38 with 14 seconds to go in regulation, still knotted up at 21-apiece.

Everette throws it out of play with 10 seconds to go and he's fortunate it was not intentional grounding. The officials actually huddle up and they do throw the flag.

Maury pooch punts it away and we're headed for OT, folks. Actually, McNamara has it at their own 39 with 1 second to go.

 

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The Hail Mary pass by KJ Underwood is intercepted by TayShawn Branche.

If our friends at FourSeasonsFootball are correct - this is the first OT game for Maury since Oct. 2, 1998 when they beat Norcom 10-7 under Cadillac Harris.

 

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Maury wins the coin toss and it'll be Bishop McNamara football to start overtime.

 

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Donovan Barnes weaves his way up the middle for 5. A strech play to the far side with Andrew Hicks gets just 1 yard, but a holding penalty on the Mustangs will push them backwards. That makes it 2nd & Goal from the 15 of Maury.

Barnes tries to run to the outside on the near side, but corner Matt Williams doesn't let the stiff-arm stop him from bringing him down for no gain.

Over the middle on 3rd & Goal, KJ Underwood fires a 15-yard TD pass to Alex Springs. PAT forthcoming...

 

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A wrinkle from Dyrri McCain as Matt Williams is in at QB, handing it off to Javonti Hughes for a gain of 5. On 2nd & Goal, it's Everette going for Jahvon Wiggins in the end zone and it's incomplete... but the officials call a pass interference in the end zone.

Half the distance to the goal and Hughes only gains about a yard. But Domo Everette with a TD run and Maury gets the PAT - despite the McNamara coaching box arguing they had 12 players on the field (for both the TD and PAT).



Once again, surprised McCain's crew did not go for 2 and the win. Not saying he should have or should not. Just surprised.

 

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Quick 7-yard completion from QB Domo Everette to Carter O'Rourke to begin the 2nd OT for Maury. Everette then fakes the toss and keeps it for a 3-yard TD run - his 3rd rushing score of the night. Charlie McCoy adds the PAT.

 

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KJ Underwood's pass to the near side is incomplete. Underwood then scrambles for 5, stopped by LB Javonti Hughes. Brings up 3rd & Goal from the Maury 5.

Will McNamara go for 2 if they score? Well, they're going to burn a time-out before 3rd & Goal.

 

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A jump-ball with KJ Underwood to Alex Springs and Bishop McNamara scores a TD on 3rd & Goal. Heck of a catch with Matt Williams blanketing Springs.

McNamara is going for 2 here.

Oh. wait.

McNamara is going for 2 and the win, trailing Maury 35-34 after a 5-yard TD pass from KJ Underwood to Alex Springs on 3rd & Goal.

However, a penalty after the TD changes the decision for the Mustangs to try a PAT instead of the 2-point conversion.

 

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Pressure-packed kick is good.

McNamara ball to begin the 3rd OT session.

 

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McNamara ball to start the 3rd OT session at the Maury 10.

Donovan Barnes gains about 3. Barnes tries to run outside and the closing speed of Pitt commit Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons for a loss of 8. That is his 15th total tackle of the night and 8th of the solo variety (2nd for loss).

Time-out is called - believe by McNamara - before 3rd & Goal from the 15. We've been here before...

Underwood's pass in the corner of the end zone is incomplete. An official time-out before what will likely be a 33-yard field goal try for the visiting Mustangs.

 

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Couldn't tell for sure, but looked like the freshman Tijuan Pair blocked the field goal for Maury.