NORFOLK, Va. — For last year’s seniors on the Maury Commodores football team, winning the state championship was as sweet as it gets.
“It’s been a lot of emotions because I came in my freshman year and lost, my sophomore year we lost in the state championship and lost again last year," recalled senior cornerback LaVontay Bond.
After three years of falling just short, he admits there was a lot of self-doubt.
“I didn’t even want to play anymore but I just stuck with it because God’s got a plan for everybody.”
But a little patience went a long way.
“I stuck with it and got us a ring this year.”
Maury held off Stone Bridge of Ashburn in the Class 5 state title game in December, 45-34, at UVA's Scott Stadium. It capped off an undefeated season for the Commodores at 15-0 but a state title wasn’t even the best thing to come out of it.
“It was like we built a brotherhood with all the same people. It's just a lot of goofballs on the team and it's just so fun hanging out with those guys every day. I laugh with them all the time. Those are my guys," said Bond.
But throughout the year, he added more to his trophy case, winning the 300-meter dash at the Class 5 Indoor State Track Meet with a time of 33.56, the fifth fastest time in the nation this season.
“Running it in 33 seconds was my ultimate goal for the state indoor and I accomplished that goal and I still won.”
Bond also fulfilled his goal to play football at the collegiate level, heading to play for the NSU Spartans this fall.
“It just felt like the best option for me to put my best foot forward at Norfolk State next year.”
Bond will see some familiar faces within the program. He is one of eight student-athletes from the Hampton Roads region who are part of the 2024 recruiting class.
