The Mathews High School varsity football team will be looking to build on last year’s 2-7 record, but second-year head coach C.J. Kelly believes that his squad will do more than just grow. Kelly’s prediction? “I think our district is wide open and I believe we can challenge for our district title.”

The Blue Devils will carry 27-32 players on game days, including 12 seniors. The coaching staff is pointing to a strong off-season and stability as two factors they believe will help this team be competitive.

Because of the coaching carousel last year, “We didn’t really have an off-season and this season we did,” Kelly said, “so this year everyone came into practice knowing our playbook, knowing our defensive scheme, knowing the personnel we have, and we actually have an identity as a team.”

That identity begins on the offensive and defensive lines. “The middle of our offensive line, our guards and our center, are gonna b...