The Mathews High School varsity football team has finally snapped its winless streak. The Blue Devils showed tenacity in Friday night’s contest, coming from behind to beat the Charles City Panthers, 28-21.
Trailing 21-20, the Devil offense responded with a late drive capped off by Thurman Hudgins’s quarterback sneak touchdown and Josh Foster’s two-point conversion to give Mathews the lead. Mason Kent’s second interception of the game helped seal the victory for the Devils.
“We came in and really stunned them,” MHS head coach Ryan Wenner said of the now 3-6 Panthers. The win came on Senior Night for the Charles City squad.
Mathews started off the game strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving downfield, eventually scoring on Tyler Zabel’s 3-yard run. After Charles City tied up the score, Mathews came back, and on Cody Correll’s 15-yard touchdown run, recaptured the lead. Kent picked off a pass near the end of the first half to maintain the Devils’ lead at 14-7 at halftime.
The Panthers received the second-half kickoff and Zabel picked off a Charles City pass, returning it about 50 yards to give Mathews a 20-7 lead.
At this point, the Devils let their guard down. The offense sputtered and the defense allowed the Panthers to convert several fourth-down plays to pull back ahead, 21-20. Then the Mathews boys got serious.
Correll had another 100-yard rushing performance, picking up another 20 yards receiving. “He had a really solid day,” Wenner said. Zabel gained 35 yards rushing.
Lasagna fundraiser
Mathews ends its season tonight with a 7 o’clock showdown with the Middlesex Chargers. Middlesex comes to Ken Brown Field with a 1-8 record; the team’s only win was a 21-14 victory over Mathews in the Sept. 5 season opener.
Prior to tonight’s game, there will be a lasagna dinner fundraiser at the MHS cafeteria. From 4:30-6:45 p.m., diners will be able to enjoy lasagna, salad, bread, dessert and beverage, all for $10, with proceeds going to support MHS athletics. Meals are available for eat in or take out. Tickets can be purchased from any Blue Devil fall athlete. Call the school at 725-3702 for more information.