LAURINBURG — Dominquie Green knows what it feels like to bring a trophy to Laurinburg.
Green was a senior defensive back for Scotland when the program won its first state championship in 2011. Seven years later, Green still remembers the energy his team had while preparing to play against Porter Ridge for the title.
“We were out here having fun,” Green said. “Offense and defense was going at each other. I remember practicing hard, and just enjoying each other’s time.”
Whatever Green did during that week paid off. He intercepted two passes during Scotland’s 42-16 win over Porter Ridge, helping secure a championship ring for himself and the rest of Scotland’s 33 seniors.
That senior class included plenty of next-level talent. Tony McRae, who scored three touchdowns in the championship game, played college football at North Carolina A&T. He is now a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Green walked on at North Carolina and went on to log 38 starts at safety for the Tar Heels.
And Green has a claim to fame: He grabbed the Heels’ only interception of the 2016 season. Green, who was a senior at the time, returned the interception 58 yards for a touchdown against The Citadel.
Green tallied six interceptions over his four years in Chapel Hill. He recovered three fumbles and registered 124 unassisted tackles.
After his football career came to an end, Green was happy to return to Scotland as an assistant coach. But he said transitioning from the field to the sideline wasn’t always easy.
“The hardest thing was getting away from football,” Green said. “But you’re not really away, because you’re out here helping out the younger guys. Getting them educated and getting their knowledge up on football. Taking what I learned in college and giving back to them.”
Green joined the Fighting Scots coaching staff at a time when several coaches from last season’s state championship runner-up team were moving on to other schools. Defensive coordinator Cory Johnson, offensive coordinator Keith Wood, wide receivers coach Matt Grady, defensive backs coach Dennis McFatten and running backs coach Lonnie Cox all found opportunities elsewhere.
That opened the door for Green to become defensive backs coach. He came in with a group of coaches that included wide receivers coach Jay McLaurin, who previously coached at St. Pauls; defensive coordinator Scott Loosemore, who was the head coach of Cedar Ridge’s football team for three seasons; Charles Gunnings, the former coach of the Cape Fear Heroes of the American Arena League; and Dawson Shelley, who graduated from Scotland in 2014.
Loosemore changed Scotland’s defensive scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4.
“I think it was a better fit for this year’s group of kids, and I think that was smart on our behalf,” head coach Richard Bailey said.
Scotland’s defense has experienced plenty of success in the new scheme. The unit’s most recent achievement was a 28-0 win against Seventy-First in the 4A East Regional last week.
And Green’s defensive backs have been making a difference for the Scots. Anchored by seniors Tyshuon Thomas, Joseph McKoy and Isaiah Wilson, the group has contributed to Scotland’s 15 interceptions this season.
“They’re coachable, they’re willing to learn and you can tell there’s a lot more in them,” Green said.
The Scots (9-5) face East Forsyth (14-0) in the 4A state championship game at Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Regardless of the result, Green said he wants his seniors to make the most of their last chance to play in Scotland jerseys.
“I keep talking to these boys every day about embracing the moment,” Green said. “Especially with the seniors. This will be the last practice on Scotland’s football field for them. Embrace it. Take advantage of it.
“When you make it to state, it’s another level.”