Benicia duo leads All-Area team for VTH
Burrell led powerful offense, McNorton caused havoc on defense for Panthers
The Benicia High football team had so many athletes contribute heavily to a 10-2 record and Diablo Valley Athletic League title in 2019, it’s difficult to narrow down its success to just two players.
For example, in 10 of the Panthers’ games at least four different players scored touchdowns. Ten different players had at least 25 tackles on the season, seven different players had at least one interception and six different players had at least four sacks. So trying to name an MVP on offense and defense was kind of like picking the two best Star Wars films or foods to barbecue on Fourth of July.
But to end the suspense we’ll just tell you that the answer is “A New Hope” or “Empire Strikes Back”, brisket or ribs, and Maurian Burrell (offense) and Dairyus McNorton (defense).
In fact the Panther standouts were so good they represent the Vallejo Times-Herald All-Area offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively. There were many superb players in the area during the year, but these two stand alone.
McNorton got to opposing quarterbacks quicker than a Dallara P217-Gibson at Le Mans as the senior registered a North Coast Section Division leading 14 sacks. Meanwhile the offense of the Panthers was led by Burrell, who was the team’s most consistent threat by scoring nine rushing touchdowns (third most in the section) while gaining 629 yards. Burrell often didn’t
“What stands out about Maurian is his agility and his quickness. He does it all and is one of my main guys. He plays defense well, too.” — Dairyus McNorton, Benicia High football.
play the fourth quarter or second half due to large leads by Benicia or else his numbers would have likely increased.
“What stands out about Maurian is his agility and his quickness,” McNorton said with pride about his teammate. “He does it all and is one of my main guys. He plays defense well, too.”
Benicia head coach Craig Holden didn’t usually have to think twice about giving the ball to Burrell as he almost averaged a first down per carry (9.4 yards). Burrell said he worked hard in the offseason to become a better fullback.
“I believe I really improved on learning how to play the game better, whether it was with my blocks or just reading a defense,” Burrell said. “I watched a lot of film this year. In the offseason I worked on my legs and squats as I tried to get stronger.”
Burrell gave a lot of credit to coaches Paul Richardson and Scott Swartz, while also adding that seniors Kendall Lane and Kameron Lane gave him a lot of motivation during the season. Burrell formed a great duo in the backfield during the year with Kendall Lane.
“They couldn’t stop us,” Burrell said. “It’s either going to be him or myself. I like pounding the ball and waking the opposing defense up and then then we’d switch up with Kendall on a sweep.”
Burrell’s best game might have been a three-touchdown effort against St. Patrick-St. Vincent, which could also be said for McNorton, who had seven tackles and one sack in the same victory. McNorton’s best stretch may have come in a three-week period from Oct. 18 to Nov. 1 when he recorded eight sacks in three games.
However, just being out on the field for McNorton was something special as he did not play football his junior year so he could spend more time on his studies.
“I missed everything about the sport,” McNorton said about his junior year, which was done with independent study. “I went to one or two games to watch and it was tough at times because I knew I could go in there and just dominate.”
Confident, maybe. But the defensive end also wasn’t wrong. He felt his favorite game was against Northgate on Oct. 25 when he had three sacks.
“I felt the offensive lineman I was going against that night was really frustrated,” McNorton said. “He kept saying, ‘Oh my God’ when I would go by him. I was kind of getting in his head I think. It’s such an adrenaline rush when you sack the quarterback.”
McNorton, 17, thanks Swartz for helping to make him a better player during his senior year.
“All my coaches, but especially Coach Swartz made me get my mind right this last year,” the Panther said. “I told me that I never wanted to regret not doing something, so I always gave it everything I could on the field.”
McNorton said he will compete in track and field for the first time this spring. Eventually McNorton wants to play football in college, but he isn’t sure where yet.
“I don’t have any offers yet, but I know some coaches do want me,” McNorton said. “I love playing defensive end, but I’ll play anywhere they want me to.”
Burrell for one, believes any coach would be lucky to have him moving forward.
“He’s very big and hard to block,” Burrell said about McNorton. “He’s fast and he can do just about anything on the football field. He’s very diverse.”