Will’s Got A Plan

By Stefan Cooper
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Updated: November 21, 2024

Maryville QB directs 99-yard drive after goal-line stand

Maryville quarterback Will Jones rolls to throw during the Rebels’ second-round win over Science Hill at Shields Stadium. Photos by Wallace Bowden

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Price Davis blowing up that safety was intense.

The collision with the Science Hill defender on a second-quarter 6-yard run set Maryville on fire. You could see it.

When backup Ory Vananda-Walker capped a 99-yard Rebel march with a 24-yard sprint to the end zone a few plays later, Maryville never looked back in routing the Hilltoppers, 42-7, in a Class 6A second round game on Friday at Shields Stadium.

Maryville (11-1) hosts Region 2-6A rival Bearden (9-3) in 6A quarterfinal on Friday.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The winner travels to the Riverdale/Oakland victor for next week’s semifinal.

The Davis strike will live on in legend. Seriously, he hit that guy like he was Thor! The Maryville senior also added a 1-yard scoring run on a night five different Rebels found the end zone.

Defensive back Jackson Llewellyn staggered the Hilltoppers with a 25-yard pick-six one Science Hill snap following the Vananda-Walker touchdown. Maryville quarterback Will Jones scampered 4 yards to the end zone to lift the Rebels to a 28-7 lead at the half.

When play resumed, a Bryson Barrett pick put Maryville in business at the Science Hill 38. Jones rolled to his left and lofted a 14-yard touchdown toss to Casey Cobble soon after. With still five minutes to play in the third, Vananda-Walker danced in from 3 yards to conclude the scoring.

A Price Davis second-quarter run lit a fire under the Rebels the Hilltoppers couldn’t put out.

All that withstanding, Blount Press Row is giving its game ball to three players: Defensive linemen Zak Hampel, Alex Boyd and Ryan Henry.

The game took a bad turn for the Hilltoppers when, beginning with first-and-goal at the Maryville 4, Science Hill was unable to crack the Rebel goal line on four rushes right up the gut. On fourth-and-goal, Henry, Boyd and Hampel all beat their blocks off the ball and got into the gaps. Linebackers Matthew Covert and Dax Cole then stood up the ballcarrier.

Jones took Maryville 99 yards to score on the ensuing series, with Llewellyn following with the dagger one Science Hill play later.