Maryville Returns to the State Championship

(MARYVILLE, Mo.) A Maryville native, Matt Webb's familiar with the success of Spoofhound football.

"I know the expectations in Maryville."

And his football team has met those expectations returning the state championship for the first time since beating Brentwood 35-0 in St. Louis in 2009, a game that the current Maryville seniors remember fondly, but also use as fuel.

"It was pretty awesome to see, and to be a part of and just watch the seniors and how they acted," Maryville quarterback Jonathan Baker said. "And how they got the job done in the end is a big motivator."

The 2012 Spoofhounds are hoping to Duplicate that 2009 shutout of Brentwood.

Webb, a former Division I defensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana, has teamed up with Maryville D-coordinator Nathan Powell to build a unit that hadn't given up more than 20 points until the Class 3 Quarterfinals against Center.

"Coach Powell calls all our defenses, and we all get together and talk about our schemes and what an offense does and what we can do," Webb said. "It's very prideful as a coach on the defensive side, it's where I've been."

Maryville will need to be sharp on the defensive side of the ball against John Burroughs School in the Class 3 Championship Friday.

The Bombers boast one of the best running backs in the state, Ezekiel Elliot.

Elliot, an Ohio State commit, has rushed for more than 200 yards in four of his last six games.

"They've got the best tailback I think I've ever seen on film," Webb said. "I've coached college ball in years past, and I've seen a lot of good players, and he's dynamic. He does everything right. He catches the ball out of the backfield, he runs the ball well. He runs physical, he runs fast. There's a reason he's committed to Ohio State."

"We know we're going to have to play our top game because we're playing the number one team in state," senior defensive back Trent Nally said. "Obviously they're a very sound team."

Even though they are playing a team with D-I talent all over the field, the 'Hounds are not approaching the state title game any differently.

"Going to the Dome was not the goal we set at the beginning of the season," Webb said. "The goal that we set at the beginning of the season was to win one game at at time, and this is the next game on our schedule."

Kickoff between the Spoofhounds and the Bombers at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis is 1pm Friday afternoon.