Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Jackson-Milton senior quaterback Jack McDevitt rushes in the first half at home on Thursday vs. Mathews.

NORTH JACKSON — The Brian Shaner era at Jackson-Milton got off to a solid start. Fending off a second half surge from Mathews, the Blue Jays held on to dispatch the Mustangs, 20-13.

“It feels really good to win,” Shaner said. “These kids, I wanted them to be 1-0 so bad. They had a great offseason. I knew Mathews, that team’s ready to win. They were built to win and our guys, they just gutted it out.”

Jackson-Milton struck first, grounding and pounding its way down the field, culminating in a 5-yard rushing touchdown by DJ Osborne.

Mathews responded in-kind on the ground, with Drew Spagnoletta rushing in from seven yards out.

The Blue Jays retook the lead late, with senior quarterback Jack McDevitt connecting with Jeremy Fishel on a 7-yard strike.

In the second half, Mathews responded in a big way. Caden Brubaker intercepted McDevitt’s pass inside the red zone, stalling a promising Jackson-Milton drive. After a 3-and-out, the Mustangs punted, but a Blue Jays fumble set Mathews up nicely on offense.

They didn’t waste the opportunity.

Caden Brubaker connected with his brother Dane on a 48-yard catch-and-run to give Mathews a chance to tie. But the Blue Jays blocked the extra point, and held onto the lead.

Jackson-Milton fumbled the ensuing kickoff but were able to stop the Mustangs on the goal line, preventing a score.

The Blue Jays could have hung their heads after three turnovers, but they stood strong and held Mathews off.

“I loved the response,” Shaner said. “We tried to lose the game. We turned the ball over three times. That hasn’t been characteristic of us all summer long, turning the ball over. Again, our boys found a way to hold them on a fourth down and give the offense back the ball, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

After the Blue Jays’ following drive stalled out, Mathews had the opportunity to take the lead once again, but they were stifled, giving Jackson-Milton the chance to run the clock out.

The Blue Jays continued what worked, running the ball down the field. McDevitt was able to ice the game, breaking through the line on a 3rd-and-4, rushing 23 yards to score. The extra point snapped was high, and Osborne, the holder, ran off with the ball, but couldn’t get it in the endzone.

With 1:19 left in the game, one timeout and needing a touchdown and extra point to send the game to overtime, Mathews had to start on their own 12-yard line after a fumbled kickoff. They were unable to move down the field, turning the ball over on downs, and allowing Jackson-Milton to kneel the ball down.

Both teams hit the road for Week 2 of the season. Mathews travels to Columbiana County next week to take on Leetonia, while the Blue Jays take on Newton Falls.

While optimistic after what he saw in the first game, especially the beginning of that second half, Mustangs coach Matt Polta knows there’s a lot more for his team to do to get where they want to be.

“It’s a great way to start a half, but we didn’t finish the half,” Polta said. “We had several drives. We got a fumble off of them, we stopped them down here in the end zone, and we stalled out. That kind of stuff will kill you, so we’ve got to get better next week.

“We have to play our plays and get better at what we do. We had a couple injuries tonight, too, and that kind of stuff always kills you so hopefully everybody’s good, and next week we’re ready to go and run what we run better. Come in with a little bit more attitude, a little bit more grit, and get better at what we do.”