LISBON — Lisbon senior Tanton Mattson had a few firsts in last Saturday’s Class D South semifinal win over Oak Hill. His first career start at fullback. His first career interception. His first high school win over the Raiders.

But first, Mattson had to deal with an injury during the season that made him miss multiple games — including the Greyhounds’ first matchup with Oak Hill.

“It would have been way tougher if we lost,” Mattson said of missing a 36-14 regular-season win over the Raiders. “Our team really came together with me not being there. That was a great team win. So I didn’t feel too bad about that. I just knew with this Oak Hill game coming up that I had to make up for it, leave it all on the field.”

The rematch in the playoffs was Mattson’s first extensive action after missing more than half the season due to a foot injury. He played in the Greyhounds’ first two games, then didn’t return until the regular-season finale against Medomak Valley.

Mattson never thought the remainder of his season was in doubt, though he did lament that if his injury had occurred only an inch or two a different way then his recovery time would have been shorter. As it was, he came back about as quickly as he could, thanks to a combination of a healthy diet, supplements such as calcium, and just being a young and healthy person.

“Tanton is not just a dedicated four-year football player, he’s dedicated in the offseason. I don’t have a lot of kids who work as diligently as he does,” Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan said. “And the real disappointment was, not just him, but seeing any senior lose part of their senior year is tough, on our team and other teams as well. It’s just great to see him back and finishing off the year with us, getting a chance to be back out there.”

Mynahan said the biggest loss with Mattson not on the field was missing his on-field leadership, especially being the middle linebacker and defensive signal-caller. Mattson proved his worth in that area last week.

“On Saturday against Oak Hill, where they have so many variations to their formations, we went over the calls all week, and finally I said, ‘You know what, Tanton, I can’t call anything because I don’t know what’s happening,'” Mynahan said. “So he ended up making all the calls out there on Saturday, and he can do that. He’s really good at observing and paying attention.”

When Mattson was forced to the sideline during the season he continued to use his knowledge and vision to help the defense.

“I knew if I did as much as I could, even with the injury, I could still help, with our linebackers and stuff, the people filing in for my position, and make them as good as they could possibly be,” Mattson said. “I think that it really taught me a lot, too. I really like to educate myself on the game.”

Education helped Mattson make one of the biggest plays of Saturday’s game. So did intuition.

“I noticed that they subbed in a tight end,” Mattson said. “I either expected a screen to him or they already ran a 5-yard deep drag. So I sat on it.

“Our coach kind of talks about visualizing plays in your head before the game,” continued Mattson. “I couldn’t sleep at all. I was visualizing that one a while, so when it happened it was like it had already happened before. It didn’t even occur to me that it was so important. I was just excited that I could create a opportunity for our team.”

Mattson picked off Oak Hill quarterback Matt Strout just three plays after the Greyhounds had taken an 8-3 lead. With favorable field position, thanks to the pick, they drove down and scored again just before halftime to make it 16-3. Lisbon then never looked back.

“I realize it now, that was my first career interception. Last home game, like what better place?” Mattson said.

On the other side of the ball, the career lineman found himself in an unfamiliar position last Saturday. While he may be all but irreplaceable on defense, the Greyhounds filled his spot along the offensive line and seemed to not miss a beat.

But Mattson is an experienced and talented player, so surely there was some place he could play for Mynahan.

Low and behold, there was.

The Greyhounds have fiddled around with different formations on offense this season, and with a bye week to start the playoffs it was the perfect time to fit Mattson in at fullback.

“It was different,” Mattson chuckled. “I’ve been a lineman like, every single year of my career. So putting me back there, you kind of feel out of your element. But the game plan we had for me wasn’t too difficult.

“The major difference is, if you play offensive line you’re in the same spot every single time. When you’re in the backfield, all the different formations. I had to know all those formations.”

Mattson may have been in a different spot, but as a fullback, just like a lineman, blocking is blocking. And Mattson didn’t miss a beat in that area.

“I think that picture in the paper showed it all. He had his person blocked well outside,” Mynahan said. “He’s a great blocker. I think that he might be one of the top linemen that I’ve ever had. His blocking is next to none in this league.”

Mynahan said he “wasn’t disappointed at all” in Mattson’s first foray at fullback. Whether he gets another crack at it in this Saturday’s Class D South final against Winthrop/Monmouth remains to be seen.

Wherever he plays — which will no doubt be middle linebacker on defense, but offense is another story — Mattson will once again leave it all on the field.

“You got to go into every game thinking it’s going to be your last game at this point,” Mattson said. “It could be. If you don’t leave it all on the field, and that ends up being your last game, you’re going to regret it.”

wkramlich@sunjournal.com

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