A much larger Mt. Zion football team relied on its strength on both lines to take an early lead and then kept pressing Mattoon for a 31-7 victory Friday night at EIU’s O’Brien Stadium.

The Braves outgained the Green Wave 318-181, 197 yards coming on the ground. The Braves’ Matthias Adams carried 22 times for 81 yards and Zach Girard added 63 on 14 carries.

Taeriek Grace led Mattoon by rushing for 35 yards on six carries, a 5.8 average. Mattoon quarterback Jackson Spurgeon gained 16 yards on 12 carries. The Green Wave averaged three yards a carry with 22 rushes for 65 yards.

Spurgeon also completed 11 of 18 passes for 116 yards with two interceptions. The senior scored Mattoon’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run that capped a nine-play 50-yard drive.

Matthew Gordon caught three passes for 53 yards while Slater Trier caught four for 27 yards.

Mt. Zion scored 13 points on its first two possessions in the first quarter. Kahee ran in from 10 yards to cap a nine-play, 51-yard drive that took 2:55 to make it 7-0 after the PAT.

The Braves then scored on a 65-yard pass when Tedd broke tackles on a short pass before taking off downfield for the touchdown to make it 13-0 when the PAT failed

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  • Senior Matthew Gordon makes a catch gaining Mattoon some much needed yardage Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Senior Aidan Spurgeon sacks the Mt. Zion quarterback in the backfield for a loss on the play Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Senior Tanner Baker tackles the Mt. Zion ball carrier Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Mt. Zion celebrates a touchdown Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Senior quarterback Jackson Spurgeon looks to make a pass Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Mattoon defenders attempt to take down the Mt. Zion ball carrier Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Senior quarterback Jackson Spurgeon is stopped by Mt. Zion defenders Friday at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • Senior quarterback Jackson Spurgeon runs the ball Friday during the game against Mt. Zion at O’Brien Field. (Photo/Dominic Baima)