Practices officially started last Thursday for the Mathews High School Blue Devils’ football team, which is poised to start its second season following a two-year hiatus from the sport. In the 2024 season, the squad came back to a five-game schedule; this time around, the team has a full 10 games on its schedule. About a dozen players came out for the first day of practice, although head coach Dustin Mullins said he expects twice that number once all his players get their forms for physicals turned in and work out transportation issues. The Devils will take part in a five-team scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 15 at Middlesex High School. The following Thursday, Aug. 21, Mathews will host John Marshall in a scrimmage. The season opener will be held at home on Thursday, Aug. 28, against the visiting Cumberland Dukes, starting at 7 p.m. Above, Jayden Boyd runs through one of the drills, with Sam Hartlove awaiting his turn. Below, Coach Mullins guides lineman Trey Church into a three-point stance...