CAIRO — On a team full of youth, senior Riley Maynard is looking to be an anchor not only on Cairo’s offensive line, but in terms of leadership this year. 

Maynard started last year at right guard, left guard and center, and this year he stands out on his team as a preseason Class 4A all-state selection. 

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “Last year Cole (Phillips) and Walter (Grant), alumni here — friends of mine who I hung out with were named. It’s some good company to be in.” 

Maynard actually came into this year with a scare, having injured his knee during the offseason. Thankfully for him, he was able to get the surgery and rehab he needed to be ready. 

“We were in the gym doing something for two-a-days, and it twisted and I tore my meniscus,” Maynard said. “I’m happy to be able to start again after I hurt my knee. I had to get back on the starting lineup. That’s a relief that we’re about to start the year and I’m starting at right guard.”

It’s certainly a relief for the Syrupmakers as well, who will need all the senior leadership on the field that they can get. 

“(It’s) just showing them how to play with energy and that you’ve got to play hard,” Maynard said, “going hard every play and just forgetting the last play. If you do something bad, you’ve just got to forget about it. We’ve got a lot of young guys, but I believe in every one of them.”

As an offensive lineman, Maynard knows his role is crucial to the success of the offense, even if his position is not always the most heralded. 

“You say nothing and do a lot,” he said. “Not many people give you credit but the running backs, the quarterbacks, the people who really matter — they’ll pick you back up.”

The outlook for Cairo this year is a question mark with all the new faces. It’s likely that there may not be another 7-0 region record on the horizon, but Maynard and the rest of the Syrupmakers will be working hard to get to wherever they end up.

“We want to go as far as we can,” Maynard said. “We don’t know where that is, but we’re gonna play our butt off until we get there.”