By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
One down, and the rest of the season to go.
Four different Bulldogs scored touchdowns on Friday at Frank Dutton Field as Mahomet-Seymour snapped its two-game losing streak with a 35-14 triumph over Mattoon.
The Apollo Conference victory was also the first career win at M-S for first-year head coach Jon Adkins.
“It was extremely nice to get the monkey off our backs,” Adkins said. “For the hard work that has been put in, it was refreshing for everyone.”
Before the game was 4 minutes old, Carson Thomas intercepted a Green Wave pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown that lifted M-S into a lead it never lost.
Thomas then made the first of five consecutive extra-point kicks. M-S held a 7-0 lead at the 8-minute, 30-second mark of the first quarter.
“He also had a big tackle near the goal-line to save a TD,” said Adkins, referring to a possession where Mattoon turned the ball over on the M-S 2-yard-line late in the second period.
The Braden Finch to Clay Hubble connection worked for a 25-yard scoring strike in the second period and the Bulldogs (1-2) carried a 14-0 lead into intermission.
Mitchell Gallier opened the third quarter with a 14-yard scoring jaunt 30 seconds into the period.
Finch teamed up with Hubble 5 minutes later on an 18-yard TD pass. The final M-S points came at the 4:20 mark of the third period when Jack Koller scored on a 9-yard run.
The Bulldogs held an edge in total offense, 350-301.
The biggest takeaway for the coach was the ability to put the first two games out of their minds.
“I liked how we bounced back after an 0-2 start and came back with a positive attitude,” Adkins said. “Staying the course when there is change is extremely difficult.
“It’s important that they keep buying into the process and taking the journey.”
Finch connected on 7 of 13 passes for 123 yards. Hubble and Zach Travis each had three receptions.
On the ground the Bulldogs netted 227 yards on 39 carries.
Hubble (94 yards), Finch (71) and Gallier (41) were the team’s top rushers.
Defensively, the Bulldogs top tacklers were Colton Morris and Skyler Yancy, each with six stops. Dallas Carnell and Hayden Nelson contributed five tackles apiece.
Nelson also had one kickoff return for 43 yards.
M-S carried a 35-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We challenged our defensive backs to play man-on-man and they rose to the challenge and shut down their passing game,” Adkins said. “The energy and emotion we showed made it a one-sided game.”
It wasn’t just the secondary which excelled.
“(Linemen) Costen Campion and Harrison LaCour batted down several of their passes,” Adkins said.
Mattoon resorted to throwing the ball because of what was taking place up front.
“Mattoon relied on the run and we challenged our box kids to shut down the run,” Adkins said. “We forced them to have to throw.”
M-S returns to the field on Friday at Effingham (3-0).
“Effingham will power right at you and mix in some play-action,” Adkins said. “We’ll have our hands full.”
After Friday, Adkins believes opponents could have their hands full with his team as well.
“Our guys think they can win,” Adkins said.
