The Mathews High School varsity football team dropped to 0-3 on the season with a 20-14 loss Friday evening to the homestanding Northumberland Indians.

After falling behind 20-0, Mathews showed resilience and mounted a comeback that fell just short of upending the Indians, with a dropped pass in the Indians’ end zone in the closing seconds spelling the difference in the game.

Junior running back Jesse Ingram opened the scoring for Mathews on a 65-yard run to close out the first half. Deondre Foster scored the other Mathews touchdown, with the wide receiver taking a handoff on a reverse for a 50-yard score. Placekicker P.J. Johnson connected on both of his PAT attempts.

Freshman Stuart Anderson showed poise at quarterback, coming off the bench just before the end of the first half to lead the Devils to the brink of a victory. He completed four of six passes for 50 yards.

Leading the defense was junior lineman Gus Bauby, who had eight tackles, including five tackles for a loss.

Mathews will be looking for its first win this Friday when the Devils travel to Essex.

Jayvees lose 34-0

The Mathews jayvee boys, meanwhile, were shut out by the Indians last Wednesday night, 34-0. Six costly turnovers helped to seal the junior Devils’ fate. The jayvee team hosted Essex Wednesday night. They will travel to Richmond County next Wednesday, Oct. 2, to face the Rappahannock Raiders in a 6:30 p.m. contest.