He had 178 yards and two TDs in a 28-16 win over
Western Reserve.

By JIM FLICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BERLIN CENTER — Behind the steady pounding of its relentless rushing attack, Mathews defeated Western Reserve 28-16 Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-0) were led by Brad Hughes, who gained 178 yards on 14 carries, including a 56-yard dash and scoring two touchdowns.But Hughes wasn’t alone in launching a steady assault on the Blue Devils (0-1). Eric Ocheltree gained 113 yards on 12 carries, while Brent Jackson contributed 89 yards on 14 carries for Mathews.

With the running backs leading the charge, Mathews quarterback Lucas Buckner threw the ball only four times all night, completing two for 23 yards. Buckner also scored the game’s first points, running the ball seven yards into the end zone.

Mathews scored first, handling the opening kickoff and driving 74 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Mustangs scored steadily, tallying a touchdown in each quarter.

Blue Devils bounce back

On the other hand, the Blue Devils’ offense came alive only in the second quarter, scoring all of its points in that period to take a 16-14 lead at halftime.

Quarterback Shane Ewing led Western Reserve’s offensive output, gaining 56 yards on 13 carries and passing for 114 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior Matt Kalbfell. However, only eight of Ewing’s 21 passes found their mark.

Senior Jason Lude led Western Reserve in rushing, gaining 59 yards in six carries, while Nate Lude gained 57 yards in eight carries and Paul Arditi contributed 43 yards in six carries.

After Mathews scored the game’s first points, Western Reserve scored two second-quarter touchdowns. After Kalbfell’s TD catch, Arditi dashed 30 yards into the end zone and the Blue Devils held a 13-7 lead.

The Mustangs regained the lead when Hughes carried the ball into the end zone. But Western Reserve sophomore Dave Duncan kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 16-14 lead they carried into the locker room at halftime.

Dominated second half

Mathews scored two second-half touchdowns while holding Western Reserve scoreless in the game’s final two periods. The Mustangs regained the lead, 21-16, in the third quarter, when Hughes dashed 41 yards into the end zone. Jackson tallied Mathews’ fourth touchdown, the final points in the game, when he scored on a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“It was a hot night and we wanted to spread the ball around,” Mathews coach Jim Parry said.

Parry also credited the team’s offensive line. “The guys up front did a good job of clearing the way for the backs. Sometimes the backs were six yards or more upfield before they needed to make a cut.”

“We didn’t throw the ball a lot because we wanted to keep the ball out of Western Reserve’s hands,” Parry added. “Their offense can move the ball.”

Mustangs get revenge

Last year, Western Reserve defeated Mathews 42-21, and Mathews coach Jim Parry said his team badly wanted to avenge that pounding. “It was a challenge for us all winter. It was a great motivator.”

More motivation is one of the things his team needs, morose Western Reserve coach Mike Kopachy said after the game. “Tonight was unacceptable,” he remarked. “Our guys will improve because we [the coaches] will get after them harder.

Kopachy added that his team suffers from lack of experience by his players. “We’re here to learn from it, and our inexperience showed tonight.”

But Kopachy also credited Mathews.

“They came out tonight and did what they had to do to win.”