By Greg Powers

Big plays kept the Mattoon football team close with a storied Highland football program through three quarters Friday night.  In the end, the Bulldogs’ potent running attack kept the Mattoon offense off the field for most of the fourth quarter, preventing any Green Wave comeback. 

“It was us beating us in this one,” Mattoon head coach Jarad Kimbro said. “We can’t get off the field on third and fourth and long when we needed to.”  

Specifically, Hunter Frey’s 53 yard run on fourth and long early in the fourth quarter provided more than enough offense for the homestanding Bulldogs, propelling them to the 44-22 win.

But this one was much closer than the final score indicated. 

Highland scored first with 4:47 to play in the first quarter on a 32-yard Tyson Rakers run. However, the extra point was blocked and the Bulldog lead remained 6-0. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Mattoon junior Deaiden Arnold took a line drive kickoff at his own 10-yard line and streaked between defenders up the right side, outsprinting Highland to the end zone for the 90-yard kickoff return. Braden Clatfelter’s extra point was good and Mattoon led for the first time. 

A Blake Gelly run from eight yards out gave Highland a 12-7 lead early in the second quarter. 

The Wave responded again, this time on a hook and ladder pass play.  On fourth-and-11 at the Highland 32-yard line, Slater Trier fired a strike to Owen Hawkins just past the first down marker.  Hawkins then shoveled to teammate Trysten Sewell who dashed to the end zone, and Mattoon regained the lead on the 32-yard pass play. 

That would be Mattoon’s last lead.

Frey provided Highland’s third score of the day, this one from seven yards out and the Bulldogs appeared as if their lead would be 20-14 heading into intermission.  A quick possession for the Green Wave gave the Bulldogs the football back and they capitalized.  Cole Ellis drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and Highland took a 23-14 lead into intermission.

Mattoon’s defense started the second half strong, forcing Highland’s first punt of the night.  The Wave offense responded with its longest drive of the night, capping the possession on a 23 yard touchdown pass to Gavin Cline in the corner of the end zone.  Trier floated the pass perfectly to Cline, who caught it in stride.  A fake extra point pass, after which Trier connected with Cale Kimbro, was good for the two-point conversion and Mattoon trailed just 23-22 midway through the third quarter.  

The Highland offense controlled the rest of the contest.  The Bulldogs scored the last three touchdowns of the game, picking up a number of long third and fourth down conversions, putting the contest out of reach.  Highland also intercepted a Mattoon pass in the end zone between those scores, limiting any Mattoon comeback.

“Overall, Slater threw well and Owen got going a bit tonight”, Kimbro added. “We took what they gave us offensively, but they wore us down some defensively.  We’re excited about getting into conference play.   We just have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Highland racked up 447 total yards, 338 on the ground. Mattoon had 232 total yards, with 170 of those through the air. 

Mattoon opens Apollo conference play Friday, hosting Effingham in the homecoming contest. 

1234F
Mattoon7780 – 22
Highland617714 –44

SCORING

First Quarter 

HHS: Tyson Rakers 32 yard run (PAT Kick Failed), 4:47

MHS: Deaiden Arnold 90 yard kickoff return (Clatfelter PAT), 4:33

Second Quarter 

HHS:  Blake Gelly 8 yard run (PAT Run Failed), 9:27 

MHS:  Tysten Sewell 16 yard pass from Slater Trier (Clatfelter PAT), 7:13 

HHS:  Hunter Frey 7 yard run (PAT Gelly Run), 3:10

HHS:  Cole Ellis 35 yard field goal (0:00)

Third Quarter 

MHS: Gavin Cline 23 yard pass from Trier (PAT Pass Kimbro from Trier), 7:41 

HHS: Rakers 24 yard run (Ellis PAT), 2:46 

Fourth Quarter 

HHS: Hunter Frey 53 yard run (Ellis PAT) 11:06 

HHS: Hunter Greenwald 8 yard pass from Gelly (Ellis PAT) 2:26 

MHS Statistics:  

Passing:  Trier 11-21 170 yards 2 TD 1 INT

Rushing: Sewell 8-38 

                 Arnold 4-10 

                 Trier 5-3 

                 Shayden Neff 2-11 

Receiving:           Hawkins 6-72 

                              Kimbro 1-31

                              Sewell 0—16 TD

                              Jake Butler 2-24 

                              Luke Branson 1-4

                              Gavin Cline 1-23 

*Note* Official scoring for the hook and ladder touchdown credits Trier with a TD pass, Sewell with a TD plus yardage but no reception, and Hawkins credit for the reception and amount of yards he caught the ball.                       

Highland Stats: 

Passing:               Gelly 10-15 109 yards 

Rushing:               Frey 13-136 2 TD

                              Rakers 8-104 2 TD

                              Gelly 22-74 TD 

Receiving:           Greenwald 3-49 TD