The top two high school football teams in Hampton Roads — both coming off state championship seasons — will travel outside the state for challenging tests in their openers on Friday.
Maury, ranked No. 1 in the 757, goes to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play Cardinal Gibbons, and No. 2 Oscar Smith heads to Washington, D.C., to play Gonzaga College High School.
Cardinal Gibbons, ranked No. 8 in North Carolina by MaxPreps, beat Dudley 34-6 in a season opener. The Crusaders are led by three-star quarterback and Wake Forest commit Gannon Jones, who is rated the No. 45 senior in North Carolina. They also have three-star running back Noah Terry, who is rated the No. 64 senior in North Carolina.
Maury, after posting back-to-back 15-0 seasons, will have a different look after the graduation of quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk, a two-time Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year.
Domo Everette, the younger brother of Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette, will lead the Commodores.
“He spent last year learning behind Au’Tori,” said Maury coach Dyrri McCain, whose teams have made five state final appearances — including three state titles — and won seven consecutive region titles in eight seasons. “Now it’s his time to take over.”
He’ll get plenty of help from LB/TE Isaiah Simmons, WR/DB Jahvon Wiggins, WR/DB Elijah Moss-Williams, DB Matt Williams, RB/DB Tayshawn Branche, DB/WR Hunter Collins and LB/RB Javonti Hughes.
Oscar Smith travels to Gonzaga, which is less than two miles from the U.S. Capitol. The school produced Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and New York Jets offensive lineman Olu Fashanu, who were both selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
The Eagles play in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, widely considered one of the most competitive high school athletic conferences in the nation. The only other time Oscar Smith has played a team from the WCAC was 2016, when the Tigers lost to DeMatha Catholic 42-7.
Gonzaga has plenty of talent this season, including at defensive end with Michigan commit Carter Meadows (6-6, 220) and Penn State commit Tyson Harley (6-4, 220). Meadows, a five-star prospect, is rated the No. 30 player nationally by Rivals. The Eagles also have tight end and Maryland commit Brayden Marko (6-6, 240).
The Tigers are making their first trip outside Virginia since 2011, when they played Gilman School in Baltimore, and Oscar Smith hasn’t played an out-of-state opponent since meeting West Forsyth, of North Carolina, in 2018.
The Tigers are led by wide receiver and Michigan commit Travis Johnson, defensive back and Virginia commit Jayden Covil, linebacker and Buffalo commit Na’Rod Jarvis, linebacker Malachi White and junior quarterback Lonnie Andrews III, who last season threw for more than 2,700 yards. He has more than 10 offers, including Virginia Tech, Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, East Carolina and Old Dominion.
Johnson can’t wait for the game as he and Meadows have been doing a lot of bantering all summer.
“Me and Carter have been talking about this game for a minute,” he said. “This is my first out-of-state game, so it’s very special to me and the guys. It’s going to be a great game and great atmosphere.”
No. 1 Maury at Cardinal Gibbons, N.C. (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Larry’s pick: Maury 26-20. Marty’s pick: Maury 21-18.
No. 2 Oscar Smith at Gonzaga, Washington, D.C., 6:30 p.m. Friday
Larry’s pick: Oscar Smith 28-24. Marty’s pick: Gonzaga 35-34.
Thursday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
No. 4 Green Run at Tallwood, 6:30 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Green Run 41-20. Marty’s pick: Green Run 49-13.
No. 12 Kempsville at No. 7 Salem, 6:30 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Salem 26-23. Marty’s pick: Salem 17-16.
Landstown at No. 15 Cox, 6:30 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Cox 28-20. Marty’s pick: Cox 20-14.
Bay Rivers District
New Kent at Gloucester, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: New Kent 14-12. Marty’s pick: New Kent 21-7.
Grafton vs. Warhill at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Warhill 28-13. Marty’s pick: Warhill 28-21.
Jamestown vs. Tabb at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Tabb 21-14. Marty’s pick: Tabb 35-14.
Beach District
Bayside at Princess Anne, 6:30 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Bayside 33-20. Marty’s pick: Bayside 35-24.
First Colonial at Kellam, 6:30 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Kellam 27-20. Marty’s pick: Kellam 14-13.
Non-district
Norview vs. Great Bridge at Great Bridge Middle, 6 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Norview 21-20. Marty’s pick: Norview 20-14.
Booker T. Washington vs. Kecoughtan at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Booker T. Washington 23-13. Marty’s pick: Kecoughtan 14-6.
Denbigh at Manor, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Manor 13-12. Marty’s pick: Denbigh 28-7.
Grassfield vs. Churchland at Norcom, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Churchland 27-26. Marty’s pick: Churchland 28-20.
Menchville at Western Branch, 6 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Western Branch 26-20. Marty’s pick: Western Branch 28-24.
Norcom vs. Thomas Jefferson at Virginia Union’s Hovey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Norcom 20-13. Marty’s pick: Thomas Jefferson 37-8.
Windsor at Lakeland, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Lakeland 20-13. Marty’s pick: Lakeland 17-14.
Friday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
No. 11 Granby at No. 9 Indian River, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Indian River 27-26. Marty’s pick: Indian River 21-13.
No. 10 Lafayette at Smithfield, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Lafayette 37-20. Marty’s pick: Lafayette 49-7.
No. 14 Poquoson vs. York at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Poquoson 27-20. Marty’s pick: Poquoson 28-13.
Non-district
Lake Taylor vs. Heritage at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Lake Taylor 26-13. Marty’s pick: Lake Taylor 24-14.
Patrick Henry of Ashland vs. Bethel at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Bethel 37-13. Marty’s pick: Bethel 28-14.
Private schools
Atlantic Shores Christian vs. Roanoke Catholic at Vinyard Park (in Vinton), 7 p.m.
Fork Union Military Academy at Catholic, 7 p.m.
Fuqua at Greenbrier Christian Academy, 7 p.m.
Hampton Roads Academy at Norfolk Christian, 7 p.m.
Isle of Wight Academy at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Mallard Creek, N.C. (1-0) vs. No. 6 Warwick at Todd Stadium, noon
Larry’s pick: Warwick 27-20. Marty’s pick: Mallard Creek 14-13.
