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| Bryson Rollins shows off game day at Maryville at a glance -- including the grass field and athletic quarterback play. Maryville athletics photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey |
By Brian Lester
D3sports.com
Tyler Bost was part of a Maryville team that went just 4-6 his sophomore year in 2021.
Yet, the senior linebacker was confident things would improve, and they have in a big way over the last few years. This year, the Scots are 8-1, completing their best regular season since 1978, punctuating it with a USA South Athletic Conference championship.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Bost said. “I came here the COVID year and my first full year we went 4-6. We’ve been building every year, and seeing how much the program has changed has been awesome.”
Maryville was 5-5 in 2022 and went 8-2 last year but missed the playoffs as its bid for conference title fell short. Two games proved costly that year. The Scots lost 37-35 in triple overtime to Brevard and a punt return in the final seconds against Huntingdon handed Maryville a 28-21 loss.
“There were games we missed out on winning, but we focused on getting over the hump this year,” Bost said. “Everything we have worked for, all those hours of practice, all those workouts, it’s all built up to this. It was all worth it.”
Maryville head coach Ben Fox, who took over the program in 2021, said his team has earned its success.
“We ask a lot of our players, and they have been committed to working hard,” Fox said. “Now they are receiving the benefit of all the work they have done. I’m happy for them.”
After last year ended without a conference championship and playoff bid, Fox said the focus was on flipping the script a bit.
“We did a good job of finding where we could make up the difference,” Fox said. “We won games we had not won in the past.”
Maryville went into this season believing 2024 had the potential to be special.
“Coach said we had a good chance with the group of guys we had,” junior quarterback Bryson Rollins said. “We worked our tails off and just kept winning.”
Rollins said it’s great being able to win with this group and make history along the way.
“It’s awesome,” Rollins said. “Being able to come out here every day and be with this team, and go down in history with them, it just means a lot to every one of us.”
Rollins threw for 222 yards in Maryville’s final regular season game, a 35-14 win over North Carolina Wesleyan, throwing a pair of touchdown passes, extending his streak of touchdown throws in a game to 15 consecutive dating back to last year.
Maryville has scored at least 35 in every game during its seven-game win streak.
Rollins said his success as a quarterback wouldn’t be possible without his teammates. He has thrown for 2,352 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“I couldn’t do any of it without the guys around me,” Rollins said. “It starts with the five guys up front. They’ve done a great job and have made me look better. I’m able to be a playmaker and have confidence in any of my guys to make a play. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Scots are averaging 434.7 yards per game and allowing 212.4. Bost, who leads the team in tackles with 50, said the defensive success is all about everyone doing their job.
“Everyone has a role, and they are committed to that role,” Bost said. “We don’t have any selfish players. We make sacrifices for the good of the team and do what we are supposed to do. Our defense works so well because we all play our roles so perfectly.”
But Maryville’s success goes beyond stats and beyond game plans. Fox said the buy-in to the program and the expectations of it have been critical.
“A lot of it is our players. We have good coaches, too,” Fox said. “They all work really hard. The kids have come in and believe in the vision of the program and want the things we want of our players. We want guys that work hard, that want a challenge and want to be the man God called them to be. And you have to want all of that. It can’t just be pieces of it. That’s helped a lot.”
The little things matter as well, according to Bost.
“The biggest thing is we have stuck together, and we do all the small things, like waking up to go to class, getting in the weight room, looking at film. We know how important all of that is in trying to win a championship. It’s the small things that people don’t see. We did those things and it’s how we became conference champions this year.”
Senior leadership has been vital, too. The Scots have 24 seniors on the roster. You can’t coach that kind of experience.
“They’ve banked a level of reps and know how to practice and prepare for a game. They know the importance of things like rest and being ready to play,” Fox said. “You build that experience over time and when you make mistakes, you know how to play through them and keep improving. That’s what we are doing.”
Maryville’s opponent for Saturday is Berry, which is 8-2 and are the co-champs of the SAA.
“We’re going in with a great attitude and want to win rather than just be happy we are there,” Rollins said. “We’re going in with a lot of confidence.”
Fox is hoping his team hasn’t played its best game yet.
“We’ve moved past the happy to be here phase,” Fox said. “We’re focused on doing our jobs and I hope we haven’t played our best game yet. I believe we can be even better. There is no I in team, but there is an I in win. Everyone has to own their role and the more players who do that, the better our team is going to be.”
The interesting thing about this playoff matchup is this will be a conference game next year as Maryville is joining the SAA.
Fox pointed to the competitiveness of the league based on how this postseason looks.
“In 2025, there will be four teams that will have been in the playoffs this year,” Fox said. “That speaks to the talent and depth of the league.”
Fox added that he’s glad Maryville is exiting USA South on a high note.
“We wanted to win the conference this year and I felt like we could be the best team in the league. I’m glad we were able to achieve that goal. I’m happy and excited for our team for accomplishing that.”
Bost looks back now on the tough times and is thankful for being in the position that he is in this year. He always knew this was possible and wants to do all he can to help keep pushing the program forward.
“Getting to the playoffs is the next step for us,” Bost said. “We have said all year every game is a championship game, especially now, because if we lose, we are out. We have to prepare like it is our last game and go out and give our best.”
Rollins is thankful to have at least one more week with his teammates.
“It’s special to play in November, and getting to be around this team a little longer means a lot to all of us. We love being around each other,” Rollins said.