Blog LIVE Game Blog - Maury (6-1) at Lake Taylor (7-1)

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Greetings from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, VA, where it's a battle for first place in the Eastern District as the reigning two-time VHSL Class 5 State Champion Maury Commodores (6-1) under the direction of Dyrri McCain take on the host Titans (7-1) under the guidance of Hank Sawyer.

Sawyer's Titans have won three state titles since 2012, while McCain's Commodores have captured three state titles going back to 2019. Each is in line to earn a No. 1 seed; Maury in Region 5B and Lake Taylor in Region 3A.

One week before Halloween, it's 59 degrees and pleasant. Kick is slated for 7 PM ET.

We'll have updates here and via Twitter or 'X' as many know it @hatfieldsports throughout the evening.

 

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Tijuan Pair returns the opening kickoff 41 yards for Maury to get them near midfield - at their own 47 - with 11:47 showing on the first quarter clock for the Maury Commodores.

After an enroachment on Lake Taylor, it's big chunks with runs of +23 for QB Domo Everette and 10 from TayShawn Branche, followed by another nice run of +13 for the sophomore triggerman. Lake Taylor has come out with a four-man front defensively.

From there though, the Commodores had some trouble in the red zone with their execution. Give some credit to the Lake Taylor defense with DeVaughn Powell and Latavion Hill each making stops for loss.

 

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Lake Taylor tries to establish the running game up the middle in an effort to slow down this high-octane Maury attack that's averaging 52 points per game. Of course, Lake Taylor is no slouch offensively in putting up 48.6 PPG. But the Titans go 3 & out as RB Keon Johnson and QB Kevin Adams are unable to move the chains. That Maury defensive line didn't get pushed off the ball, plus the LB's behind them in Javonti Hughes and Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons (Pitt commit) were strong to the ball carriers.

Maury fair catches the punt at their own 40 with 6:37 to go in the first quarter.

 

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Maury moves the chains with a 24-yard run from QB Domo Everette, who once he gets that burst to go with his arm talent, look out. He glides pretty well on the run for the time being as a sophomore. However, three incomplete on passes on the next four plays with a short 2-yard run from RB TayShawn Branche sprinkled in means a turnover on downs.

Big props to the Lake Taylor defense, which saw Messiah Basnight for breaking up the pass on what was a 4th & 8 from the Titans 34 on a what appaered to designed tunnel screen.

Lake Taylor now will try to chew some clock and go methodical on offense after that big stop. The Titans are helped out on the very first play of the second series with a really questionable pass interference penalty on Maury. That moves them up to their own 49.

 

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Wonderful game-plan by Head Coach Hank Sawyer and his longtime OC Mike James. They come out with double-tight. They were patient, didn't try any crazy pitches or tosses out of the twin-veer with the option game that could result in a fumble. Their QB, Kevin Adams, fires a nice pass to TE Casaun Hesson, wide open on a crucial 3rd & 7 play.

Now they face a huge 3rd & Goal from the Maury 3.

 

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Really like the job that Lake Taylor's offensive line did that entire drive. Now we'll see if Maury gets fired up with the Titans scoring on them. They'll likely go race-horse / up-tempo style with their next possession. Hunter Collins returns the ensuing kickoff about 40 yards or so to midfield.

 

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Maury moves the chains with a 15-yard run from TayShawn Branche, who then adds a six-yard run. The Commodores went with the Wildcats / direct snap out of shotgun if you will. A 27-yard pickup from QB Domo Everette, but right as he's heading to the new artificial turf here at Lake Taylor, he coughs up the ball. It's forced by DB Kevin Adams. Recovering it is Keon Johnson.

Now Lake Taylor has the ball at their own 10 with 10:21 till half-time. What a turn of events.

 

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Lake Taylor gets backed up to their own 5 following a penalty, but just a couple plays later, it's a jump-ball that WR Magerald Clark hauls in from QB Kevin Adams in double coverage worth 40 yards. Shortly thereafter, Maury hurts themselves with a personal foul at the end of a 4-yard run from Clark. That's followed by an encroachment.

I know former Titans standout linebacker and now Maury defensive coordinator Mike Privott is steaming with the mistakes his group is making.

Needing a stop, the Commodores get it and think they are in business with a long return on the interception from freshman phenom Tijuan Pair, hauling it on his own 5 on a 4th & 2 that the Titans had at the Maury 23. Pair ran it all the way back to about the 10 or so of Lake Taylor. However, there's a penalty on the return. It means the Commodores have it at their own 20 with 5:11 till half-time.

Surprisingly, this is still a 7-all game. Lake Taylor is hanging in it, believe they can pull a shocker tonight.

 

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Maury thinks they will get a neutral zone infraction penalty on Lake Taylor during a handoff to Javonti Hughes, but he ends up fumbling the ball and it's recovered by LaTavion Hill. The flag that was thrown is a penalty on Maury, which the Titans decline. Maury's coaches are highly annoyed right now. It's their second giveaway of the night, and instead of leading by two scores, we're still deadlocked at 7.

Lake Taylor's latest series begins at their own 44 with 3:48 to go in the first half. Consecutive runs from Jeremiah Ferebee move the chains to the Maury 46.

A blinside block penalty on Lake Taylor wipes away an incredible run by Keon Johnson, where he appeared in trouble for a loss of at least five yards, yet reverses his field and gains yardage on the near side of the field as he heads out of bounds.

 

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Joshua Thomas sacks QB Kevin Adams on 3rd & 19 following an incomplete pass from the Titans. That brings out the punting unit for Lake Taylor.

A penalty on Maury during the return by JMU commit Elijah Moss-Williams brings the Commodores back to their own 16 with 43 seconds to go in the half. They still have time to get on the board, though.

Domo Everette scrambles for 11 yards. DeVaughn Powell pressures Everette on a pass that is incomplete. Rought passing night for the sophomore triggerman, who is just 1 of 6 through the air before heating up. Everette completes three straight passes, two of which go to Damon McDaniel Jr. for a total of 30 yards and helps move them into Lake Taylor.

 

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Must admit that some calls are not going Maury's way tonight, yet the Titans are playing inspired football.

The holding penalty on Maury did not look egregious. However, on the untimed down, the officials do not call what looked to me like an obvious pass interference.

Big break for Lake Taylor, thrilled to be tied at the break with the two-time defending Class 5 State Champs.

 

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Stats at the Half:

Lake Taylor 7:
Kevin Adams - 3-5 for 78Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio
Keon Johnson - 8Car .23Yds. TD; Fumble Recovery
Jeremiah Ferebee - 6Car. 13Yds.
Magerald Clark - 2Rec. 49Yds; 2Car. 4Yds.
Casaun Hesson - 1Rec. 29Yds.
Messiah Basnight - 3 Solo Tackles, PBU

Titans - 27 plays for 118 total yards (3-5 for 78 yards passing, 1 intercept; 22 rushes for 40 yards); 1 tunover; 4 penalties for 30 yards


Maury 7:
Domo Everette - 4-10 for 46Yds.1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 8Car. 94Yds.
TayShawn Branche - 7Car. 55Yds.
Damon McDaniel Jr. - 2Rec. 30Yds.
Matt Williams - 1Rec. 11Yds.
Elijah Moss-Williams - 1Rec. 5Yds. TD
Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons - 8 Tackles, 0.5 TFL

Commodores - 26 plays for 203 total yards (4-10 for 46 yards passing; 16 rushes for 157 total yards, 2 lost fumbles); 2 turnovers; 7 penalties for 66 yards

 

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Lake Taylor begins the second half with the football at their own 35. They effectively run a trap play with Jeremiah Ferebee gaining nine yards. On the next play though, the Maury defense with LB Javonti Hughes and DL Samuel Woods drop Keon Johnson for a loss of a yard.

It's then a false start before Kevin Adams scrambles for a first down run on run on 3rd & 7 until the officials indicate it's a holding.

Maury's defensive line is not controlling the action tonight and that has to be a concern for them moving forward, even beyond tonight.

A late developing screen pass to Keon Johnson gets just enough for a first down to the 46, nearing midfield.

 

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Lake Taylor's offense was in a bit of touble after a penalty moved them back to set up 2nd & 16 from their own 40 and the long shot down the field in double coverage by Kevin Adams is intercepted freshman Tijuan Pair. He's a future star in th making the coaches believe and I can see why.

 

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Excellent job on the outside by Matt Williams, a highly regarded junior, to help TayShawn Branche get the room necessary to break off the long run.

Lakee Taylor will now have it at their own 23 with 7:31 to go in the third quarter.

 

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What a job by that Lake Taylor offensive line of Elijah Thomas, Ziyon Thomas, Kaleb Shortridge, Travis Williams and Kamarie Lamb. They helped make it possible as the Titans ground game attacks the A-gap of the Maury defense and the most explosive run of the night from Maury for a 78-yard TD is answered by a 77-yard burst.

Thought Johnson might get caught by someone on that Maury defense, but he had enough juice to find the end zone on his scamper.

Is Maury's lengthy Eastern District winning streak that's about 35 in a row I believe now in jeopardy? They haven't lost a district game since Lake Taylor beat them 27-14 on March 5, 2021 during the COVID-shortened season.

 

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Absolutely love the play-calling and trickery from Coach Dyrri McCain to do the end zone TD pass after a handoff to the back and it's Matt Williams - who has experience playing QB - throwing it to the sophomore Domo Everette.

They got in scoring range thanks to a nice 45-yard deep ball throw from Everette to Williams just one play before, which came following runs of +9 and +13 from RB TayShawn Branche.

 

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An injury to running back Keon Johnson - part of a Lake Taylor two-some in the backfield that has produced more than 2000 yards rushing on the season - might make things tough for the Titans on offense. They took the field with 5:38 to go in the third period, only trailing Maury 21-14. But they're now punting it away on 4th & 17 from their own 27 following a third pass down pass that was broken up by Hunter Collins.

Johnson got hurt early on the possession. Lake Taylor also gets flagged on a personal foul on the punt, where a player hit the Maury return man calling for fair catch. Now the penalty yardage is evening out with the Commodores smelling a chance to get separation, at the LT 45 with 3:42 left in the third period.

 

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A quick 4-play, 45-yard drive that took just 1:06 for the Commodores to find pay-dirt. Following an 8-yard completion to Matt Williams, the Commodores go with a 4-receiver stack formation to the right side. Stud linebacker Isaiah 'Ike' Simmons, who lined up at fullback late in that thrilling triple-overtime win over Bishop McNamara and has been used more on offense this year, is in there at tight end to the right side.

Maury runs with TayShawn Branche to the left side, shaking off a tackler. He's undergoing that process from really good to elite, which my expectation is will happen during the upcoming playoffs and heading into next season.

 

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Lake Taylor goes 3 & out again with another penalty on offense hurting them. During the 2nd & long play, it's QB Kevin Adams sacked by Commodores junior defensive lineman Samuel Woods. Magerald Clark hauls in the pass from Adams on third down for a gain of six to bring out the punting unit.

Casaun Hesson makes a TD-saving tackle on the punt return for Maury to prevent a 70-yard return to the house by JMU commit Elijah Moss-Williams.

A holding penalty has Maury beginning at the LT 40 to start the fourth quarter.

 

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Bad news for Maury as they find the end zone on a TD pass of 40 yards from QB Domo Everette to WR Jaiden Avery. Junior starting offensive guard Jaiden Hodge has to be helped off the field and it doesn't look that good for a unit that lacks some of the depth of other positions. An illegal chop block called on Maury wipes out the TD and backs them up 15 yards.

A run of 10 yads by TayShawn Branche, followed by a 20-yard connection from Everette to Elijah Moss-Williams gives Maury a fresh set of downs at the Titans 35.

 

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Maury had at least three penalties on that scoring series, including an offensive pass interference that wiped away a touchdown. It doesn't discourage them at all, though. A nice thrown ball by sophomore QB Domo Everette to WR Matt Williams, who is able to get separation from the defender on the inside post route.

Lake Taylor gets the ball at their own 20 and it's a three-yard loss on the run play with Jeremiah Ferebee being stopped behind the line of scrimmage from Jacoby Marshall, now healthy after being dinged up earlier in the season.

 

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A penalty-filled drive halts Maury, and on 4th & Goal from the Titans 10, a pass that looked like a TD to me in th back of the end zone with QB Domo Everette to freshman WR Tijuan Pair is called incomplete by the officials.

 

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Lake Taylor gets backed up in its own 10 and has to punt it away. The punt is not a great one, giving Maury superb field position at the 29.

It does not take long for the Commodores quick-strike offense to capitalize.



Meanwhile, we have a combined 29 penalties for 292 yards in this one, the main reason why it has taken so long to play.

 

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More to come later...