NORFOLK — The Maury Commodores have been hearing all season that they’re not the same team as last year.
And they’re not. But guess what: They’re going back to another Class 5 Region B final as Maury dominated Warwick 42-10 Friday at Powhatan Field. Next up for the Commodores is No. 1 seed King’s Fork, which beat Bethel.
The Commodores, the two-time defending Class 5 state champions, heard the chirps about not being the same team from Warwick players prior to the game. It got so bad that both teams had to be separated.
“It’s just been a lot of talk about us not being the same team as last year,” Maury coach Dyrri McCain said. “But we know what we got, and we’re confident in what we got. We work our tails off. So, if we’re not the same team as last year, I’m cool with the result.”
Tayshawn Branche of Maury blocks a punt by Tyler Ruder of Warwick during the second quarter in a Class 5 Region B semifinal at Powhatan Field in Norfolk, Va., on Nov. 21, 2025. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
And the Commodores (11-1) didn’t waste any time sticking it to the Raiders as sophomore quarterback Domo Everette, on the first play from scrimmage, threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Matt Williams.
“That’s what we do,” McCain said with a smile. “The plan is to attack. We can do this and we can do that, but the guys still have to execute. So credit those guys for executing that play for it to go for a score on the first play.”
Following a Warwick field goal, the Commodores piled it on from there as they scored 35 unanswered points.
Everette completed 14 of 18 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns and also scored on a 1-yard run. Running back Tayshawn Branche caught one touchdown pass and also scored on a 22-yard touchdown run.
Branche 22 TD run
Maury 14, Warwick 3 pic.twitter.com/NYhzNhNDOH
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) November 22, 2025
The defense did the rest as Maury held Warwick (8-4) to just 55 yards in the first half and to 118 yards for three quarters before McCain put in his second string for the fourth quarter.
Senior linebacker Isaiah Simmons downplayed the chirpiness before the game with the Warwick players.
“We’re in the playoffs, there’s no extra motivation needed right now,” he said. “We know our goal and where we’re trying to get to on December 13 (for the state championship game). So there’s no extra motivation about what any team has to say.”
After onside kick recovery, Moss-Williams 44 pass from Everette. Maury 42, Warwick 3. Running clock pic.twitter.com/qfqAAQYOs0
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) November 22, 2025
The Commodores have now won the last six meetings against Warwick, including the past three seasons in the playoffs.
“If you saw our first three games, you might have thought that we were in a down year and may not make it here,” McCain said. “But we’re back in the region championship with a different group. And if we’re not the same group as last year, I’m cool with this bunch.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
