Spectators at Friday night’s Mathews-Middlesex game didn’t have to wait long to get a feel for how the varsity football season opener was going to go.

After the first opening kick rolled out of bounds, the Middlesex kicker teed it up again and MHS senior Chris Davis weaved his way through the Chargers’ special teams players to take the ball 65 yards for the score. Although Middlesex closed the gap to 14-6 early in the third quarter, the Devils never relinquished their lead on the way to a commanding 28-6 victory.

"I was very proud of our effort, enthusiasm, and execution versus Middlesex," MHS head coach Paul White said. "It was not an easy game by any margin. Middlesex offensively gives a lot of spread formations and defensively their goal was to stop Chris Davis.

"Chris still had a positive game but James Pavik, Ryan Ewell and Deondre Foster all stepped up offensively," White added. "I know we were hustling because our center...