- April 20, 2024
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A Matanzas player catches a pass at practice. File photo
Matanzas lost to Ed White 18-6 in the preseason kickoff classic on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 16, at Matanzas High School in a game that was shortened to three quarters due to a lightning delay.
The Pirates fumbled on their opening drive of the game and later on in the first quarter. Matanzas also recovered a backward pass on the Commanders’ opening drive.
Late in the opening quarter, Pirates quarterback Demontre Neely found senior Branden Gilyard open for a 62-yard touchdown to give Matanzas the first of the game.
"We've just got to find our formula," Pirates coach Don Mathews said. "We've got to find what works for us, and we just haven't done that... . I got to coach it better, and we've got to be more efficient with the things we do."
He added: "We have to do a better job of explaining what's expected for our kids. I know it's the first year of a new offense, but we've been running it since spring, and we've still got people who don't know what they're doing. That's my fault. I've got to figure out a way to make it work."
On a positive note, Mathews said that although the offense wasn't moving, there were still "gaping holes" in the opponent's defense on occasion.
"The plays are there," he said. "We're just not quite all on the same page yet."
