Maury tops Salem to return to region final
Commodores mix good defense with just enough offense for victory
Maury head coach Dyrri McCain has the utmost respect for the Salem football program, especially the SunDevils’ stingy defense.
“They’ve always been tough defensively,” said McCain, who was facing Salem in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years. “I always go into the game knowing they’re going to have a tough defense. That’s a given.”
The Commodores (4-1) got just enough offense — and played some good defense of their own — to beat No. 1 seed Salem 20-7 and advance to their third consecutive Class 5 Region A final. The Commodores, the No. 4 seed, will travel to play the winner of the Deep Creek-Cox semifinal played late Saturday.
Getting to this point wasn’t a foregone conclusion. The Commodores, the two-time defending Class 5 Region A champions, needed a win and some help going into the last week’s regular-season finale to qualify for the playoffs. They got both.
McCain also had to replace 10 starters from that state championship team.
“Many people didn’t put too many expectations on this team,” McCain said. “But this just shows you the brand of Maury football we play.”
The game, which was scheduled for Friday night but was postponed to Saturday because of continued lightning delays, got off to a fast start thanks to Maury.
On its first play from scrimmage, quarterback EJ Gibson threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Da’Vonte Floyd.
The Commodores (5-1) added to their lead in the second quarter. Facing third-and-19, Ahmarian Granger scored on a quarterback keeper from 40 yards. The extra point failed, but Maury led 13-0.
Maury would need that cushion as Salem — which hadn’t played a game since March 12 due to games being canceled because of opponents having COVID-related issues — scored on its first possession of the second half. Desmond Green, playing quarterback, scored on an
80-yard run to give the SunDevils some momentum.
Granger took some of the air out of the comeback when he scored on a 25-yard touchdown at the end of the quarter to give Maury a 20-7 lead.
“He’s a difference-maker,” McCain said. “A guy like him, he’s waited his turn. And he’s done a good job of stepping up to the plate.”
Maury’s defense did the rest as the Commodores advanced.
“I think people look too much into our offense and don’t give our defense enough credit,” McCain said about the defense under coordinator Mike Privott. “I think we do a good job helping each other out.”