Matthews, Itawamba open season tonight against Buggs, Gulf Coast
Octavius Matthews expects to have another strong season at Itawamba Community College, but the Auburn running back commitment who rushed for 808 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman knows it won’t be easy.
It never is in the competitive Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC), where SEC-level talent is found frequently on the football fields throughout the league.
“I’ve been working hard, trying to get better, stronger and faster,” Matthews said. “I’m just looking forward to the season. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Matthews and Itawamba begin the season Thursday night against one of the top teams and defenses in country. The Indians host No. 4-ranked Gulf Coast Community College, which features the top-ranked junior college defensive end, five-star recruit Isaiah Buggs.
The games pits Matthews, who was named MSGridiron’s MACJC’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, against Buggs, the website’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Matthews and Buggs are well aware of one another. Both are being recruited to Auburn, have visited Auburn at the same time and keep in contact. The two communicated as recently as last week.
“(Buggs) said they were young on defense, but they had everyone back on offense,” Matthews said. “We have some older guys back on offense at the skill positions, but we lost four starters on the offensive line and we’re really young on defense.”
Still, Matthews thinks Itawamba has a good chance to avenge two losses last year to Gulf Coast.
“If we play our best, I think we have a great chance of getting a win,” Matthews said.
Matthews and Buggs will have a chance to talk about the game Saturday in Auburn. Both will be on the Tigers’ campus for the season opener against Clemson.
“That should be a great game,” Matthews said.
Matthews, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 208 pounds, will graduate in December and enroll at Auburn in January. The former standout at North Jackson High in Stevenson, Ala., will have two years of eligibility.
Matthews finished his freshman season a year ago with 94 carries for 808 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 147 yards and two scores, and returned three kickoffs for 111 yards.
