After falling in back to back state titles, a date with redemption has been on the Commodores mind's ever since. The opportunity to avenge those heartbreaking games finally presented itself on Saturday as the Commodores returned to that stage against a familiar foe. Maury lost to Stone Bridge in the 2021 title game and this year the Bulldogs stood in the way of a title once again.
In the first quarter AuTori Newkirk found Lebron Bond for an early 6-0 lead. But the Commodores suddenly looked sloppy. On the next drive they fumble and its recovered by Stone Bridge who takes it to the end zone for a 7-6 lead. Later in the first, Newkirk threw an interception allowing the Bulldogs to get the ball back. A few plays later however the momentum shifted back to Maury.
The Bulldogs go for a field goal but its blocked by the Commodores and recovered by Trevon Cannon who sets Maury up in good field position. From there they would score again when Newkirk finds Fred Johnson to go up 13-7. They went up 32-10 at the half and seemed to be cruising.
But in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs had a response and wound up finding the end zone, trailing 45-25. It was followed by a blocked punt safety and Stone Bridge was suddenly within 11 trailing 45-34.
But Maury was able to settle down from there and clinched the game off a final interception. It was the perfect ending to the Commodores undefeated season; a state championship team two years in the making.
In Class 3 from Lynchburg, the Lafayette Rams made their second state title appearance in four years were facing Liberty Christian, a team who outlined the Rams by a margin on the line. But the Rams didn't back down. In the first quarter Elijah Matthews intercepts the Bulldogs pass to give the Rams a chance to score.
The only problem was it didn't result in points. On their first possession the Rams fumble it back to Liberty Christian, setting up an easy 7-0 lead for the Bulldogs. Lafayette was down 21-0 at halftime but bounced back after the break.
In the third quarter Hayden Oleksy went in for the quarterback keeper trailing 21-7. In the start of the fourth they get within a possession when James Spencer goes in from two yards out to make it 21-14.
But Liberty Christian added another score late in the game and the Rams could not keep up. The Bulldogs take the Class 3 crown with a 28-14 win over Lafayette.