By Mike Monahan

Friday will be a special night at Gaines Field.

Not only will the Green Wave be playing host to Olney and hoping for its first win.

But there will be a rededication of Gaines Field along with many other festivities. 

Both teams are coming off a loss. Mattoon fell to Troy Triad 56-20 while Olney lost to Taylorville, 41-6. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

“Tackling was a big one from a defensive standpoint as our tackling was below where it needs to be,” said Mattoon coach Jarad Kimbro. “We have been working on wrapping up, which is clearly the thing to be a good tackler. We have also been working on our quick game pass possessions as that is our bread and butter and we have to make sure we can protect the quarterback on quick games.”

The Tigers were 7-3 last season, making the Class 4A playoffs before falling to Waterloo in the first round. Olney has a new coach this season – Luke Carmody, who replaced Matt Music, who posted a 62-52 record across 12 seasons, including eight trips to the playoffs. 

“Offensively, they do a lot of things, including a double-wing and they go unbalanced,” said Kimbro. “They give you a lot to prepare for. They have good size up front on the offensive and defensive lines. They are primarily a 4-4 cover three team from the one film we saw. They fly around aggressively and give you everything they have got. That is for sure.”

Kimbro said everyone is healthy after several players had cramps last week. 

Mattoon had 10 different receivers catch at least one football last week.

“When the game gets out of hand, it is an opportunity to put in other guys and see what they can do and some of the guys did a good job,” said Kimbro. 

Olney’s only touchdown last week against Taylorville came in the first half on a kickoff return by Ian Pianfetti, which made it 20-6 in the first half. 

“We had a solid week of practice,” said Kimbro. “The kids don’t get discouraged. We have to move forward and keep fighting and polish things up that we did well and polish things up that we didn’t.”

As for the the approach tonight, Kimbro emphasized tackling. “We definitely have to tackle better.  We also have to limit their big plays. Triad killed us in big plays. We have to sustain drives as we can’t turn the ball over. Sustaining drives and getting through is what we are trying to do.”

The football field was named in Gaine’s honor following his retirement  in 1972 after 21 years as the Mattoon High School Athletics Director. He taught and coached in the Mattoon school system for 34 years from 1938-72. 

There will be free food Free food and a live performance by Nashville Country duo Lazy Jane from 5-6:15 p.m. There will also be  a flyover by a World War II plane – a 1949 North American T-6G Texan.

Said Kimbro: “It will probably be the biggest crowd that we have had in recent years other than home playoff games. Even more people in a normal Homecoming. The kids are excited, but they are focused on what we want to do.” I don’t foresee that (the other festivities before the game) being an issue.”

Note: While attending Mattoon High School, Gaines was captain of the basketball, football and track teams during his senior year in 1934. He held the MHS 880-yard record in track for 33 years and was captain of Mattoon’s only Big 12 Conference championship basketball team.Gaines was named Illinois Athletic Director of the Year. While at the U of I, he earned six letters, three in cross-country, and three in track. He served as captain of the Illini Track Team in 1938. He served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II, as well as a physical trainer and War Bond Officer. He also served as a high school and college basketball official for 22 years.