“A lot of people don’t know this, but I’m a Type-1 diabetic and I have to go to the bathroom all the time,” Sewell said. “I knew I was going to have to be out here talking you guys. Once I knew the game was no longer in jeopardy I made a run for it.”
Seconds later, Sewell took a double dose of ice baths when the final horn sounded on Haughton’s 50-36 victory against Captain Shreve in the District 1-5A opener for both squads.
“I’ve never had one of those, it’s a shock to the system to be honest,” Sewell said. “I really wasn’t expecting it.”
Why the wild celebration for a regular season win?
For starters, the Buccaneers moved to 4-0 for the first time since in seven years, but no statistic can thoroughly explain the emotions that overflowed Friday night.
“Excited for our coaches and players -- we’ve been through a lot the last couple of years – most of what we’ve been through has not been their fault,” Sewell said.
After a large group of underclassmen produced a 5-15 record (two total wins in 1-5A) over the previous two seasons, Haughton was selected to finish last this season by the league’s coaches in the 2026 preseason poll.
“We’re ready to prove something,” senior defensive end Luke Hensley said. “We got picked ninth in the district – we like that. It motivates us.”
Hensley was nearly unstoppable against the Gators. He tied the school record with five sacks (Tad Prescott), including one that put the game on ice.
Even the halftime show was emotional, as the Big Red Buccaneer Band hit the field for the first time following a devastating week and received a standing ovation from the jam-packed home side following their performance.
For the football team, a 3-0 start didn’t attract outsiders onto the bandwagon as the opponents came from Class 1A (Glenbrook), 2A (Homer) and 4A (Southwood).
“This means a lot. Everybody said we haven’t played anybody,” Bucs running back Brandon Craig said. “This was the game to prove to everybody about the hard work we’ve been putting in. We knew we were a better team than them, we just had to show everybody.”
Many of the players who took the field Friday were there to take the beatings the past couple of years.
“Our league is hard, the schedule we play is hard, so you get thrown in that fire early, it’s tough,” Sewell said. “It’s so rewarding watching them stick through this and trusting us.
“Every time I’d come back after we’d lose, I would say, ‘God, please keep coming back.’ Every Monday, they kept coming back. I’m proud of them, they are so resilient.”
Quarterback Taylor Weathersby headlines that group of seniors who played as sophomore, and he may have played the best game in his 31st high school appearance.
“He was in total control,” Sewell said. “There is nothing he hasn’t seen. He was very composed and does a great job of taking care of the football and directing the offense.”
Weathersby completed 14 of 25 passes for 271 yards and three scores. He was stellar on the ground, too, with 92 rushing yards on just 10 carries.
The 5-foot-10 signal caller’s perfect strike to Donald Marshall down the right sideline resulted in a 70-yard touchdown and set the tone for a wild few minutes to begin the second half.
Weathersby’s next pass was an 82-yard score to Ethan Johnson.
NOW, Sewell can turn his attention to baby No. 2, Annie Barnes Sewell, and it’s unlikely Matthew will have to sprint anywhere in the waning moments.
“I guess we won this one for my new baby girl,” he said. “It’s coming Monday. I’m so excited about that.”