Staff photo / Brian Yauger Mathews quarterback Ethan Petak gets tackled by an Edison defender Saturday night at Lakeview.

CORTLAND — Heading into Saturday’s game, Mathews expected a battle. It’s a game they’ve had their eye on for months as one of, if not the most challenging game on their schedule.

The Mustangs trailed 14-10 at halftime, but Edison exploded in the second half, scoring four touchdowns in the third quarter to hand Mathews its first loss of the season, 48-10.

“They just outplayed us in all phases of the game,” Mathews coach Bill Bohren said. “We had some key injuries and we took a good, old butt kicking.”

Things started well for Mathews with an opening-drive score by Tim Gregorino off a pass by Ethan Petak. Then the Mustangs stalled an Edison drive. The Wildcats got on the board late in the first to knot the game at 7-each.

Dom Spagnoletta kicked a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter which would be the last time the Mustangs would score on Saturday.

The Wildcats went on to pile on the points, as they would tack on five second-half touchdowns.

Injuries plagued the Mustangs, as Mathews had to sideline multiple skill position players during the second half. Dom Toto, Spagnoletta, Gregorino and Petak are just a few that left the game early. It’s uncertain what their status is going forward.

The Corson brothers, Wyatt and Logan, each impressed on both sides of the ball. They were two of the only starting skill position players that weren’t sidelined due to injury and weren’t shying away from getting after a ball carrier.

“They’re both good football players,” Bohren said about the pair. “Logan is a good linebacker and Wyatt does a lot for us. Both Corsons played well for us.”

Edison moves to 4-0 on the year after the win. They host Steubenville Catholic Central next week.

“I’m very proud of our kids and how they played,” Wildcats coach Mike Collopy said. “That was the first time we kind of had our backs against the wall and I’m proud of the way we came to play. That’s a good team. Coach Bohren is a legend and we’re just happy to get the victory.”

Mathews hosts Weirton Madonna (W Va.) at Lakeview’s Don Richards Memorial Stadium. After a week of practice to ice up the bumps and bruises, Bohren thinks his team will be just fine.

“We’ll bounce back next week,” Bohren said. “We’ll play well.”