Mattoon can’t hold onto early lead in 56-20 loss to Triad

Correction: The original version of the story credited Owen Hawkins with an 80-yard touchdown reception. Jake Butler caught that pass as this story now reflects.

By Greg Powers

An early Mattoon lead evaporated quickly as the Green Wave lost the season opener 56-20 at Triad on Friday night.

On a hot, steamy evening on a turf field, Mattoon lacked the depth and size of Triad, who rattled off 42 straight points to cruise to a 56-20 win.

“Triad does a lot of things well and they have good size,” said MHS second -year head coach Jarad Kimbro. “They controlled the line of scrimmage. Our biggest player is 6-3, 220, so it was an uphill battle upfront.”

The Wave struck first.

After the Knights missed a 31-yard field goal attempt on their first drive, Mattoon caught Triad off guard when quarterback Slater Trier fired the ball to Jake Butler near the Mattoon sideline for a quick reception. Butler outraced the Triad secondary to the end zone, scampering 80 yards for the touchdown. Braden Clatfelter tacked on the extra point and Mattoon had its first and only lead of the night.

But the lead didn’t last long.

Colin Qualls scored the first of his four straight touchdowns just two minutes later and the Knights knotted the game at seven. Qualls added three scores in the first half and the Knights held a 28-7 lead at intermission while Mattoon’s offense stalled most of the first half. The Knights only had three first-half first downs as quick scoring plays led to their big lead.

Triad scored quickly to open the second half on a 38-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Isaac Ackerman and added another score minutes later on a nine-yard dash by Tashon Cockarell to put the game out of reach.

Trier found the end zone for the second time of the night, connecting with Butler on a seven-yard pass play, cutting the Triad lead to 49-14 midway through the third quarter. The play capped an 85-yard drive, taking 3:36 off the clock.

However, Triad answered quickly, as Qualls added his fifth touchdown of the night, and a running clock ensued the rest of the contest.

Mattoon’s final score came when reserve sophomore quarterback Shayden Neff punched it in from a yard out.

While the final score was lopsided, Kimbro felt there were some positive takeaways.

“We threw the ball well tonight and Trysten Sewell ran hard,” he’d said. “Our defense played better in the second half. I’m eager to watch the film and see what we need to improve on.”

Mattoon tallied 309 yards of offense, compared to Triad’s 431 yards.

Mattoon hosts Richland County next Friday night when it will rededicate Gaines Field in honor of longtime Mattoon coach Harry Gaines.

Mattoon 7 -0 – 7 -6 — 20

Triad 7 -21 -21 -7 — 56

SCORING PLAYS

First Quarter

MHS: Owen Hawkins 80 yard pass from Slater Trier (Clatfelter PAT), 6:13

THS: Colin Qualls 29 yard run (Warren PAT), 3:56

Second Quarter

THS: Qualls 11 yard run (Warren PAT), 11:55

THS: Qualls 2 yard run (Warren PAT), 9:20

THS: Qualls 6 yard run (Warren PAT), 3:05