Durity leads Sherwood into rivalry game

At 5 feet 9 and 183 pounds, Phil Durity looks more like a kicker than a middle linebacker. The Sherwood senior, though, has been playing the latter since he was an 8-year-old in Pop Warner, so he's found ways to compensate.

"He's just tough," Warriors Coach Pat Cilento said, when asked to describe the reason why Durity has been Sherwood's leading tackler the past two seasons. Pressed for more detail, Cilento said: "No, you don't get it. He's got a toughness about him that you don't see in a lot of kids."

Durity personifies the unimposing yet incredibly successful Sherwood program over the past few years. Friday's game at No. 6 Quince Orchard is a matchup not only of the past two Maryland 4A champions, but also two programs that have sustained dominance over the past five years. Since the start of 2005, Sherwood, the defending 4A champ, is 55-8 with three state final appearances; Quince Orchard is 53-6 with a state title in 2007.

But with Quince Orchard reclassified to 3A this season, this game doesn't mean much for either team's postseason future. Both have qualified for the playoffs and each are currently atop their respective regions -- Sherwood in the 4A West and Quince Orchard in the 3A West. And since they can't meet in the playoffs, it could come down to a glorified exhibition.

Not really.

"It's pride, absolutely," Durity said. "We beat them twice last year; they beat us twice the year before. This is kind of like the county championship, I guess."

Pride and toughness go hand in hand for Durity. He began lifting weights on the advice of his mother, Donna, who was a competitive bodybuilder. As he grew stronger, naturally, his toughness increased.

When school ended in 2008, Durity, coming off surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, was looking at joining the varsity as a junior at backup linebacker. Over the summer, projected starter Brian Lucas transferred to Damascus, but a senior seemed destined for that spot. Durity didn't let that happen.

"When he came up to the varsity, you could tell right away he was going to be a player," said Sherwood defensive coordinator and longtime Montgomery County coach Bob Hampton, "but I made him earn his position. Immediately, he proved himself to me and to his teammates."

Durity said: "It made me feel like I was wanted, like I was part of it."

Despite missing two games late in the regular season with a torn meniscus in his left knee (for which he had surgery after the season, as well), Durity tied All-Met Steven Gamble for the team lead with 117 tackles as the Warriors went 14-0.

This season, Durity's 103 stops are, once again, leading Sherwood.

"I saw Gamble call all the plays and I just watched him, how he taught me how to call plays and read defenses," said Durity, who is flanked by nine new starters on defense this season, "and now I'm doing it this year for the new guys."