Blog Game Blog: Maury 56, Churchland 0 - FINAL

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Greetings from Billy Strickland Stadium in Portsmouth on this 70-degree Friday night, October 7th, as the Churchland Truckers (4-1) play host to the visiting Maury Commodores (3-1) on Homecoming.

We'll have updates on here + via Twitter @hatfieldsports

Before we get started with Maury kicking off to Churchland, our Predictions on this game that you can find on the VIP Board along with a host of others..


Maury (3-1) at Churchland (4-1) . . . Averaging 357.6 rushing yards per game, the Churchland Truckers will try to use their ground attack to knock off a Maury team that has won four straight regional titles. Even with the Commodores missing their stud linebacker Nathaniel ‘Booga’ Knox due to injury, a number of players stepped up in the second half during their 36-14 win over Lake Taylor, where they pulled away after leading just 14-7 going into the fourth period. Sophomore DB Kendall Daniels and freshman LB Ike Simmons combined for 16 tackles, two for loss.

Daniels may not only be a factor defensively in slowing down the Truckers trio of QB Brandyn Hillman, RB Leon Clark and RB Dontavious Booker offensively. He could also be called on to direct the Maury offense if starting QB Mario Miller – sidelined during the 27-6 win over Norcom a week ago – is unable to go. With many wondering how the Commodores minus Knox slow a Churchland ground game that stacks up with the best around, the real determining factor in the outcome of this one might be what can the Churchland defense do to slow Maury’s offense?

In addition to being deep and talented at the receiver spot with Delaware commit Kelvin ‘K.T.’ Seay, Da’Vontae Floyd, Josh Powell and LeBron Bond, Maury boasts one of the premier running backs around in Duke commit Peyton Jones. If the Truckers’ linebackers are unable to step up and tackle him in space, it probably will take upwards of 28 points for them to win this game. Given that the Commodores haven’t given up more than 21 points in a game or lost to Churchland since 2015, expect the crew from Norfolk to find a way, even with a key injury or two.

Matt Hatfield Says – Maury 35-19
Coach Ed Young Says – Maury 30-12

 

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Churchland went 3 & out on its opening possession with a pair of passes, one complete by dual-threat QB Brandyn Hillman to Kingston Hall on a screen for a minimal gain. Churchland's punt is nearly muffed, but officials say it is Maury ball at their own 32 with 10:55 to go in the opening period.

After a sweep by junior WR Da'Vontae Floyd gains a couple and another run picks up four yards, the Commodores turn to the air attack with QB Mario Miller. He completes a screen for a couple more yards to LeBron Bond - who had the game0-ening touchdown on a long pass play vs. Lake Taylor - to set up 4th & 2.

 

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Syncere Hawkins has a pair of tackles for loss for the Maury defense and sophomore Mar'Queveon Morris comes up with one. But on 3rd & 13, the Truckers second series sees them pick up a first down for the first time on the night as athletic QB Brandyn Hillman shows why he's picked up a bunch of offers lately - including Notre Dame, Penn State, Virginia Tech and UNC among others - by darting up the middle for 13 yards.

Punting it away on 4th & 15 from their own 33, the Truckers see it get blocked by sophomore Kendall Daniels.

So the Maury offense is in business for their second possession, at the Churchland 24 with 5:43 to go in the opening period.

 

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Johnson's catch was a terrific grab when it looked like the Churchland defense would hold them as Greg Taylor had a pass breakup on first down, the Commodores got a penalty and then Mario Miller basically failed to gain anything on a 2nd & 15 scramble where Adarius 'Taco' Johnson sent him out of bounds.

But Dyrri McCain's group has won four straight regional titles for a reason. They know how to strike in key situations.

 

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The Churchland offense sees another possession result in a 3 & out as the Maury defensive line has completely taken control of the game, headed up by junior Bless Mack and sophomore Mar'Quevon Morris. They punt it away and Maury begins at their own 23 with 2:48 to go in the first period. Would not be surprised if Maury takes a deep shot with the passing game right away.

 

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The Churchland defense comes up with a much-needed stop as junior LB Tre Taylor bats down a Mario Miller pass on 3rd & 8. On the play before, Miller missed a wide open LeBron Bond on an inside slant that likely would've gotten them some serious chunk yardage. To start things off though, they held Peyton Jones to a gain of 2 on his first run of that possession.

Jones has been a difference-maker in the early going with five rushes for 77 yards, the 60-yard burst setting the tone for the Commodores on the road tonight.

Churchland's fourth possession will start at their own 27 with 1:43 to go in the opening frame. They really need their offensive line to dig in and give the backs some running room.

 

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Am a bit surprised Churchland came out throwing on its first possession, trying to hit Kingston Hall on the corner / fade route near the sideline around midfield. When you miss on those, it makes it harder to move the sticks on a Maury defense that is really confident right now about the havoc it can cause up front. On 2nd & 10, the screen is incomplete with Josh Powell closing down the window for Brandyn Hillman to find his target while simultaneously the pocket collapses around the Truckers signal caller.

Dylan Goad and Nasir Spruill combine to sack Hillman on 3rd & 10, dropping him for a loss of about 11 yards. That forces Churchland to punt, and then Josh Powell gets some solid return yardage to the Churchland 28.

 

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Tells the whole story right there. Maury has not only run the ball effectively, but they've made Churchland one-dimensional and their passing game right now is not good enough - 2 of 7 with minus 3 yards - to keep pace with a balanced Commodores machine.

 

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After losing five yards trying to get Josh Powell to the perimeter, the Commodores come back with their marquee ball carrier and he delivers with ease. Nice block on the outside by Fred Johnson to keep the corner from getting near Jones.

 

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The Maury defense continues to come fast, hard and physical with hard-hitting from Nasir Spruill, freshman Ike Simmons, Bless Mack, Dylan Goad and others. On 3rd & 2, the Truckers get an 8-yard completion, but it's not enough to move the sticks and they punt it away.

Josh Powell returns the punt 23 yards with a 15-yard helmet-to-helmet penalty pushing the Commodores up to the Churchland 26 with 8:50 to in the second period. This may get worse before it gets better for the Truckers on Homecoming.

 

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The rout is on... and the Commodores are thinking about a running clock in the second half, whereas Churchland is just trying to stop the bleeding and make this thing competitive.

 

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Churchland did a fairly decent job on its sixth possession of the night, avoiding a 3 & out and moving the sticks three separate times. It included a Brandyn Hillman run on 3rd & 3, a completion to Ky'Nique Baines worth 17 yards, and a run of 11 by Hillman.

But on 4th & 3 from the Maury 27, it's Joshua Bowe making a big-time tackle, what looked to be for a slight loss.

Up 27-0, the Commodores take over at their own 28, thinking about a knockout punch before the half with 4:05 remaining in this second quarter.

 

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Perhaps Maury Coach Dyrri McCain is sending a message, going for 2 after the last TD made it 33-0, then trying an onside kick, which Churchland recovered.

Right now, he's dialing up some really fine stuff for Maury offensively and they are executing it if not to perfection, certainly at a high level. As great as the Commodores look on that side of the ball, the way their defense has for the most part contained a usually superb Churchland ground attack has most impressed me -- besides the obvious and that being the brilliance of Mr. Jones.

 

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Even a dazzling 15-yard scramble by Churchland QB Brandyn Hillman on 3rd & 28 - which was the case because of a couple of penalties on the Truckers - won't move the chains. The Truckers are forced to punt it away.

Maury takes over at their own 25 with 1:08 left in the second period, ahead 35-0, and they aren't going to run the clock out by any means.

 

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Running clock to begin the 2nd half. We'll have some stats forthcoming...

 

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Stats at the Half:

Maury 35:
Peyton Jones - 7Car. 111Yds. 3 TD's; 1Rec. 46Yds. TD
Mario Miller - 5-9 for 95Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio
Kendall Daniels - 2-2 for 62Yds. TD; 1Car. 2Yds.
Fred Johnson - 2Rec. 54Yds.
LeBron Bond - 2Rec. 28Yds. TD
Da'Vontae Floyd - 1Rec. 18Yds.
Mar'Queveon Morris - 7 Tackles, 1.5 TFL
Syncere Hawkins - 5 Tackles, 2 Solo TFL
Nasir Spruill - 5 Tackles, 1.5 TFL
Bless Mack - 4 Tackles, 0.5 TFL

Commodores - 24 plays for 258 total yards (7-11 for 157 yards passing; 13 rushes for 101 yards); 0 turnovers; 3 penalties for 15 yards


Churchland 0:
Brandyn Hillman - 7-13 for 33Yds; 7Car. 29Yds.
Ky'Nique Baines - 1Rec. 18Yds.
Cam Flood - 2Rec. 12Yds.
Kingston Hall - 3Rec. 8Yds.
Leon Clark - 9Car. 6Yds.
Tyler Edwards - 4 Tackles (2 Solo), Sack
Adarius 'Taco' Johnson - 3 Tackles

Truckers - 30 plays for 59 total yards (7-13 for 33 yards passing; 17 rushes for 26 yards); 0 turnovers; 5 penalties for 48 yards

 

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To begin the third quarter, Maury starts at their own 35. A pass to Josh Powell doesn't gain anything. However, a couple plays later, they get plenty on the completion from QB Kendall Daniels to LeBron Bond, gaining 26 yards into Churchland territory.

After the 4 of 4 start for 88 yards passing, Daniels is picked off on a deep shot by Truckers DB Greg Taylor.

Churchland begins at their own 5 with 8:15 - and counting - to go in the third period.

 

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Churchland moves the sticks on a 14-yard run by Brandyn Hillman. Not sure why they have not run Dontavious Booker at all tonight because coming in he was actually averaging more yards per game than Leon Clark - who has 11 rushes. A few plays later, Hillman is sacked for a loss of 10 by Ike Simmons, a freshman who will be a highly recruited prospect in the years to come.

The Truckers will punt it away on 4th & 20 from their own 12.

 

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Maury then recovers the onside kick in Churchland territory with the clock at 3:43 to go in the third quarter. They have it at the 49 of the Truckers.

 

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Great route running from K.T. Seay Jr. on a 28-yard reception from QB Kendall Daniels. That comes a play after Elijah Moss had a 5-yard reception. They then hit lanky target Fred Johnson on the outside for 8 yards to get inside the 10 and set up a quick rushing touchdown with reserve Melvin Lowe.

A quick 5-play, 49-yard drive that took 3:26 off the clock.

 

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Some of the Churchland fans are beginning to head for the exits. Maury is on its way to a 7th straight win in the series over Churchland, who last defeated the Commodores 19-0 in 2015. That was under the late Chris Fraser. They'll move to 6-0 in the series under Dyrri McCain.

 

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On 3rd & 3 from the Maury 38, Truckers QB Brandyn Hillman is sacked by Nasir Spurill for a loss of 12. That forces them to punt.

LeBron Bond returns the punt 37 yards to the Churchland 43, where they will begin with 8:34 to play in this contest that Maury leads 49-0.

A night earlier, I understand the Maury junior varsity team defeated Churchland 66-0.

 

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Dontavious Booker gets some nice runs going for Churchland - up to 37 yards on 5 rushes. Maury Coach Dyrri McCain will burn a time-out as he and d-coordinator Mike Privott insert some new bodies and try to keep Churchland out of the end zone to preserve the shutout.

On 4th & 7 from the Maury 17, Brandyn Hillman's pass in the end zone falls incomplete. Maury takes over, leading 56-0, as the clock ticks near just a minute left.

 

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More to come later...