There’s a certain pride that comes with wearing the Ada jersey—especially when you’re one of the biggest, most trusted players on the field. For Dawson Matthews, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound senior, that pride comes with responsibility. “My mindset is always to go through the whistle and, at all costs, protect my QB and my running back,” Matthews said.

As the team’s starting left tackle, Matthews has his quarterback’s blindside—and the team’s hopes for a title—on his shoulders. “My personal goals are to win state with my friends and having no sacks on my QB,” he said. And he’s not just focused on himself. “The team’s goal is to go 14-0; the whole team is taking it to the next level.”

That shift in team-wide intensity is something Matthews has noticed day after day. “This season, so many more people are bought into the process, mentally and physically,” he said. “The team’s mentality has changed, and we have so much more energy.”

According to Matthews, that buy-in is what sets Ada apart. “The team’s strength—we are all bought into the process. There is no one cutting reps and they are bought in.”

He brings a film room mindset to the trenches. “I look at their stance and their feet—it shows what they’re going to do before they do it,” he said. And to stay ready week after week, he takes recovery seriously. “I have a lot of recovery processes that prepares me for the next game to stay healthy.”

Matthews isn’t shy about what he’s aiming for long-term either. “I want to be the best football player to ever come through Ada,” he said. That dream is backed by the support of an entire town. “The fans and the people of Ada don’t know how much this season means to the coaches and the players.”

When it’s time to lock in before kickoff, there’s only one track on repeat for Dawson. “My go to hype song is Mo Bamba.” And as for the memories that will stay with him most? That’s easy. “Every game won with my friends and family is the best memories.”

For Dawson Matthews, greatness isn’t just a goal—it’s the standard.