Norfolk brothers lead respective teams to victory in overtime
It was a big weekend for brothers Daylen and Domo Everette.
Big brother Daylen had six tackles to help lead No. 5 Georgia over No. 15 Tennessee in overtime.
Norfolk’s Daylen Everette starred at Norview High before he transferred to IMG Academy. He now stars for Georgia.
Not to be outdone, little brother Domo completed 13 of 26 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 31 yards and three touchdowns to help lead Maury over McNamara, of Maryland, in three overtimes.
A first-year starter, Domo said his brother gave him advice as he took over for Au’Tori Newkirk, a two-time Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year now at North Carolina.
“He told me to just stay calm, stay out of your head and don’t overthink it if you make a bad play,” Everette said.
Everette said he feels he’s done OK so far, but has plenty of room for improvement.
“It’s really about coming to practice every day and getting the trust of the older guys because their quarterback was gone in Newkirk. So I got to earn the trust of those guys,” he said. “Au’Tori is my guy and he would expect way more out of me. So, I’m not pleased at all.”
The Commodores (2-1) have played three games against tough opponents from outside the area. They lost the season opener to Cardinal Gibbons (North Carolina), but beat Varina of the Richmond area.
All three games were close.
Maury coach Dyrri McCain said he has been pleased with Everette’s play. For the season, the sophomore has completed 48 of 70 passes for 690 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also rushed for 88 yards with three touchdowns.
“In all three games, he showed super poise,” he said. “When we went to down to Cardinal Gibbons, he played lights-out. Last week when we played Varina, he made some young mistakes that put us in some holes. But when it came down to it and we needed him to make a play, he made a hell of a throw. Then here, when it came down to closing in overtime, he played big.”
The Commodores have a bye this week before hosting unbeaten Churchland (3-0) on Sept. 26.
“We’re preparing for November and December right now,” McCain said about the playoffs. “We’re not worried about trying to beat this team by whatever. We’re going to take the next few weeks to tailor and get ready for that, and clean up our mistakes.”
Cox kicker off to a fast start
Cox senior Brycen Widhalm leads Hampton Roads with five field goals in three games this season.
Widhalm made a 40-yarder with six seconds left to help the Falcons beat Landstown.
His 51-yarder this season ranks fourth in South Hampton Roads history.
First Colonial’s Jeff Heath has the longest of 58 in 1983, followed by Norfolk Academy’s Craig Jones (55 yards in 1975) and Cox’s Drew Jarrett (54 in 2008).
“I just want to be able to help my team, so having a kicker that can add those needed points really makes the difference,” said Widhalm, who was second-team All-Tidewater last season.
He said the school record for field goals in a season is 15, held by Jarrett. He also hopes to get a chance at the state record for longest field goal.
“I’m excited to just keep playing,” he said. “I want to take as many chances as I can and possibly attempt a state record of 58. I for sure want to have the school record and hit a 52-yarder.”
Southeastern District showdowns loom
Two key Southeastern District games are this week: No. 6 Nansemond River travels to No. 14 Western Branch on Friday and No. 2 Oscar Smith hosts No. 8 Indian River at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Western Branch is 3-0 for the first time since 2022, but Nansemond River has won the past two meetings and five of the past seven.
Oscar Smith has dominated the series with Indian River. Since 2000, the Tigers are 24-1. The Braves’ lone win was in 2018, when they won the Southeastern District title.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
