ASHBURN — All week long, all Maury coaches and players heard about was Stone Bridge’s defense.
And rightly so. The Bulldogs had allowed just 52 points this season, including seven shutouts.
But Stone Bridge, of Ashburn, had never faced an offense like the Commodores.
And the Commodores took the talk to heart.
“I did, I did,” said Maury running back Tayshawn Branche. “Then we get here and they tell us that we don’t belong here. That took a toll on us.”
Branche did all the talking for the Commodores and rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns to lead Maury to a 48-27 win over host Stone Bridge to advance to the Class 5 state championship game next Saturday in Harrisonburg. The Commodores, who play Highland Springs of Richmond, are trying to win their third consecutive state title.
Branche and the Commodores didn’t waste any time getting started. They drove 75 yards on their first possession, capped by Branche’s 20-yard touchdown run.
Branche 20 run. Maury 7, Stone Bridge 0 (1st) pic.twitter.com/gmxqO8jLne
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) December 6, 2025
Branche then scored on a 1-yard run at the start of the second quarter to give the Commodores a 14-0 lead.
The whole time, Maury coach Dyrri McCain was smiling because he remembered all the talk about Stone Bridge’s defense.
“That’s all we heard all week was about Stone Bridge’s defense. So, guys came out here and played ball,” he said. “They’re a well-coached team, so I’m not going to take that away from them, but we came to play.”
The TD was set up by this amazing 42 run by Branche pic.twitter.com/kgKaaCztXv
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) December 6, 2025
The Commodores had to do it without star linebacker and recent Pitt signee Isaiah Simmons. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s Class 5 Region B championship game.
But the Commodores picked up the slack, including Javonti Hughes, who was all over the field making plays. He had one stretch where he made three consecutive tackles.
“As a team, we had to play for our brother and get the win,” said Hughes, who finished with double-digit tackles. “I feel like we have the best defense in the state. Their defense is good, but we’re better. They were doing a lot of talking. So, it feels good to silence them.”
Stone Bridge (10-2) did score in the second quarter to make it 14-7, but Branche broke off a 51-yard touchdown run to give the momentum back to the Commodores.
Maury (13-1) took a 27-14 lead into halftime, and never looked back.
“I played amazing, but I can’t do it without thanking my O-line,” Branche said. “They were giving me the holes, and I was able to read them and go. And I have to thank my receivers. They were blocking their tails off out there.”
Branche finds the end zone for the THIRD TIME. This time on a 51 yard run. Extra point failed. Maury 20, Stone Bridge 7 (4:51) pic.twitter.com/4PdnuMA1DT
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) December 6, 2025
McCain couldn’t say enough about Branche’s performance.
“Branche is a dog. I don’t think he gets the credit that he deserves. To me, I think he’s the best back in the state, especially in (Class 5),” he said. “He’s a kid who’s going to keep putting his head down and continue to work, and things are going to come his way. He heard all week, too, about Stone Bridge’s defense.”
Quarterback Domo Everette also had a big game as the sophomore finished with 228 all-purpose yards and accounted for three touchdowns, including two passes.
Now the Commodores focus on another state power in Highland Springs, which will be playing in its seventh state championship game in the past 10 seasons. The Springers, who beat Indian River to advance, have won five state titles. Maury and Highland Springs met in the 2021 state title game, won by the Springers.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
