By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Maryville winning a Class 4A state championship is now a forgone conclusion, the only suspense is who will be the victim.
The Rebels used a trick play to break open a close game with Maplewood and finished with a 28-13 win and their fourth consecutive state title. It also marked Maryville's 60th consecutive win.
With the Rebels clinging to a 21-13 lead late in the third quarter, Maryville (15-0) head coach George Quarles called a trick play called "Gamecock" on a second-and-7 at the Maplewood 30-yard line.
The play worked yet again for Maryville as Mr. Football Back winner Brent Burnette threw a lateral pass to wide receiver Stephen Shiver down the left sideline.
Shiver then paused and threw to a wide open Thomas Shuler who raced down the right sideline after coming out of the backfield for a 30 yard touchdown pass.
A night after fellow Blount county school Alcoa made history by winning four consecutive Class 2A state titles, Maryville joined the Tornadoes in the history books. The two schools have been dominant in their respective classifications.
The 24 Rebel seniors finished their careers undefeated at 60-0 with four state titles.
"Sixty in a row is unreal," Burnette said. "To never lose a high school football game, it makes for some great memories."
Burnette threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 15 of 22 attempts to win Offensive MVP honors, but Shiver has also been a big weapon for the Rebels on the big stage, throwing three touchdowns on trick plays in the last three title games.
The Rebels eighth state 4A title in the last 10 didn't come easy. Maplewood (12-3), making its first state championship game appearance since 1975, didn't appear nervous.
After Burnette hit junior wide receiver Chris Jordan for a 17-yard touchdown on the first possession of the game, Maplewood responded with a score of its own.
Maryville retook the lead at 14-7 with its first possession of the second quarter, marching 75 yards on 10 plays with Shuler scoring from three yards out.
But once gain, Maplewood responded on its following possession as Markus Cantrell scored his second touchdown, this time from four yards out.
But Howard's point after attempt was no good and Maryville led 14-13.
Burnette then hooked up with Jordan again from 34 yards out to give the Rebels a 21-13 halftime lead.
Shuler led the way for Maryville with 115 yards rushing while Cantrell led Maplewood with 86 yards.
