WJGSPORTS FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clay Matthews
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Throwing for over 200 yards and 3 scores while beating your cross town rival is no small feat, but for C.B. Aycock junior quarterback Clay Matthews, there was another layer to his cake.
“When I first injured it, I knew something was wrong and my hand was tingling,” Matthews said. “I laid there and they came and checked me. When I stood up, that’s when I saw it and I knew I was done.”
Friday night against Rosewood was Matthew’s first football game back since breaking his arm last fall — ending his sophomore season just four games into the year.
“I’m proud of him and the way he’s come back and fought adversity and fought back from the injury,” C.B. Aycock head coach Steve Brooks said. “As I’ve said all along, I think he’s got a different perspective and he’s seen the game from a different place, and I think those things helped him in the win Friday night.”
Some questioned if Matthews would come back to football after the injury, because Matthews is one of the best baseball players in Wayne County and will probably get a chance to play at the next level. Matthews said he couldn’t leave the game.
“I love the game too much, I can’t leave the game,” Matthews said. “I like playing two sports, it keeps me busy really. Playing two games I love.”
Matthews will now get a chance to lead possibly one of the most loaded Aycock teams in the last decade. On Friday, the young gunslinger distributes the ball to nine different receivers on the way to scoring 41 points. Brooks said Matthews’ leadership will be the key for The Golden Falcons’ season.
“Nothing ever affects him, he’s the same demeanor no matter what,” Brooks said. “He’s never out of a play, he’s never out of sequence, he’s just calm, cool and relaxed. That allows him to play fast and play within the tempo that we need him to play and nothing is ever too hard for him.”
