Thanking the big guys: Maury’s high-powered offense starts in the trenches with a stout and experienced line
Maury coach Dyrri McCain has gained respect as an innovative offensive play-caller.
His teams have won four consecutive region titles and a state title in 2019, the program’s first in 80 years.
On Saturday, the Commodores play at Green Run in a Class 5 state semifinal at 2 p.m.
But McCain knows that none of his success would be possible if wasn’t for the offensive line.
“Plenty of people give me the credit as far as being the play-caller,” he said. “But I can’t do that without an offensive line. They have to be doing something up front for us to be able to do what we do offensively.”
For that, he credits offensive line coach Tevis Terrell.
“Without him,” McCain said, “I’m nothing.”
Like the 2019 team that won the state title, he said the line means everything. The line consists of Savion Moore, Keith Anderson, Isaiah Whitehurst, Lorenza Fuller and Jayden Hargett.
Unlike the 2019 team, this line has faced much adversity. It went through COVID canceling the season last fall. Then the Commodores had an abbreviated season in the spring. And this season, the Commodores played the fewest games of any postseason team in Class 5. Some teams played eight or more games, but Maury played just six heading into the playoffs.
“Those guys have been through the fire,” McCain said. “So when you’re not getting those actual games that we were supposed to have, at least I know this unit has kind of been there, done that, seen winning, been around it, and played in it. Our experience has helped us get over missing those games. So that’s a plus. If we were young and didn’t have that experience, it would be tough right now. But I feel good about this group.”
Whitehurst, a junior center, said, “It’s more than just a position group. It’s a family.”
Fuller, a senior, said, “We all put in work through the summer. We all came together and just bonded. It was a struggle, but we made it all worthwhile.”
Terrell said this group is a little different than the 2019 offensive line.
“We’ve taken a lot of growing pains,” he said. “Some weren’t in the shape that we needed them to be in. But these kids have dedicated themselves to be the best that they could be.”
Quarterback Saquan Miles also knows the importance of having a strong offensive line.
“I know they’re going to push and get the blocks,” said Miles, who has accounted for 2,485 all-purpose yards and 32 touchdowns. “I know they’re going to handle their business. It’s just a relief knowing that I can trust them and put my confidence in them.”
Moore said being an offensive lineman isn’t for everyone.
“I take very much pride in it,” he said. “When you’re a lineman, it requires you to put your team on your back. That’s just what you got to do. It’s being in the trenches. Everybody can’t be in the trenches.”
Added Anderson: “When you put the shoulder pads on, you have to have a different mentality. I can look to my left and look to my right and just know that my guys got me.”
Hearing McCain praise the unit gives the players more confidence to play well.
“It means a whole lot and I’m happy that he has that confidence in us,” Hargett said. “We’re going to make him proud and we’re going to do what we got to do.”
Added Terrell: “This group of kids have worked their butts off and they took to coaching. We just want to see how it’s going to turn out because it’s on their shoulders to get us to where we need to be.”
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.
