CHARLOTTESVILLE — When the Maury Commodores lost to Highland Springs in the Class 5 state football title game last season, the only thing they talked about this season was Dec. 9 — the date of this season’s state championship game.
Even after every win — including huge victories over nationally ranked Highland Springs and defending Class 4 state champion Dinwiddie — they didn’t celebrate, but talked about playing on Dec. 9.
That day finally came Saturday, and the Commodores made it a memorable one as they built a big lead and held off Stone Bridge of Ashburn 45-34 to win the title at the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium.
The victory was made even sweeter because it came against Stone Bridge, which beat them in the 2021 state title game on the last play.
But the best part is they got a title for the seniors.
They came in as freshmen the year after the Commodores won the 2019 state title. They lost in the state semifinals that first year and suffered back-to-back losses in the Class 5 state title game as sophomores and juniors.
“This feels so surreal, but I know we put in the work for it,” said senior running back Melvin Lowe. “I knew it had to come at some point, and the time just came. It still feels like a movie, but I love it.”
The Commodores, who finished the season 15-0, looked like they were going to make quick work of Stone Bridge as they jumped out to a 32-7 lead in the second quarter.
Leading the way was junior quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk, who completed 10 of 13 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards with two more scores. But he did have a costly fumble that was returned by Na’eem Gladding for a 79-yard touchdown, which would be the Bulldogs’ only touchdown of the first half.
“It was nerves at the beginning, but I calmed down and played my game,” Newkirk said.
Maury’s big-play first half included Newkirk’s 59-yard TD pass to LeBron Bond, a 68-yarder to Fred Johnson and a 52-yarder to Josh Powell. Newkirk ran for a 7-yard score and Leon Clark added a 10-yard run.
TOUCHDOWN Maury. Josh Powell 52-yd pass from Au’Tori Newkirk. Maury 19, Stone Bridge 7. :17 1Q. pic.twitter.com/TIuFmbUnqQ
— 757Teamz (@757teamz) December 9, 2023
Maury coach Dyrri McCain was proud of Newkirk’s performance, especially since he was a first-year starter.
“He proved to us in those first few games that he was good enough to bring us a championship, and he did that,” McCain said.
Stone Bridge (9-5) slowly cut into Maury’s lead in the second half, including outscoring the Commodores 17-0 in the fourth quarter.
Stone Bridge coach Mickey Thompson was pleased by his players’ fight, including after losing their starting quarterback early.
“We were playing until the last whistle. That’s all you can ask from the guys, is play to the last whistle,” said Thompson, whose team was playing in its 12th state title game and has now finished runner-up nine times.
Thompson said they didn’t do anything different on defense late to shut out out the Commodores in the fourth quarter. He said it was all about momentum.
“Once you get some hope and you see the offense start moving the ball, you play with a little bit more energy,” he said. “There’s that adrenaline now, and you make plays that you normally wouldn’t make.
“Once we started scoring a few points, then it was like maybe, maybe. The energy level went up, and I think a lot of that was just we were a little more in tune with what we were doing and played a little bit better. It wasn’t a huge adjustment situation, we just played a little bit better.”
Maury defensive coordinator Mike Privott was pleased with the title, but didn’t like how the Commodores finished late.
“I thought the first half we made all of the stops we needed to make,” he said. “But I think the second half we kind of got relaxed on defense and we didn’t play well. The game shouldn’t have been that tight. But we’ll be back next year to try to repeat.”
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WHAT. A. CATCH. Maury’s Lebron Bond hauls this in to set up a TD on the next play. pic.twitter.com/x6O0b8xnW9
— 757Teamz (@757teamz) December 9, 2023
But the Commodores did just enough late to win their second state title under McCain.
“There’s so much that we’ve seen and faced. There was nothing that was going to get us too rattled in this game,” McCain said. “We figured out how to close the game. It’s the state championship game. They made some plays, we stayed poised enough to finish the game. We got more points on the scoreboard at the end, and we’re state champs.”
The Commodores, ranked No. 83 nationally by MaxPreps, should have a good chance to repeat as they expect to return eight players on offense and eight on defense.
But Saturday was all about the seniors.
“We did it for our seniors. I’m proud of this group,” said defensive end Ari Watford. “We’ve been working since January just for this. It means a lot to us.”
Added McCain: “That group of seniors, who have been through so much, it was only right for us as a coaching staff to deliver them a championship. And I feel like the rest of the guys who are underclassmen wanted to win them a championship. I’m proud of the way they played.”
Maury celebration pic.twitter.com/rHu1tuwndw
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) December 10, 2023
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
