Riding his son Mason’s bike, Matt Cordell leads the Madison-Plains football team onto the field prior to the start of their Sept. 27 home game against West Jefferson. The game was dedicated to Mason, a 2019 Madison-Plains graduate, who lost his life in a fall from his motocross bike in July.
(Posted Oct. 2, 2019)
On Sept. 27, two communities came together in an outpouring of support for a grieving family and for one another.
That night’s Madison-Plains High School home football game with West Jefferson was dedicated to the memory of Mason Cordell, son of Matt and Amanda Cordell of South Solon. Mason, a 2019 Madison-Plains graduate, lost his life in a fall from his motocross bike in July.
At the gate, each spectator received a decal printed with Mason’s name and motocross racing number, 337, along with information about a scholarship fund established in his name.
Mason’s father, Matt, riding his son’s bike, led the Golden Eagles onto the field and, with 3 minutes and 37 seconds to go before game time, the scoreboard clock was stopped for a moment of silence.
Both the Madison-Plains and West Jefferson players wore special stickers on their helmets. The Madison-Plains stickers feature the number 37, the number Mason wore as a Golden Eagles football player. The team has been wearing the stickers all season. The West Jefferson stickers bore Mason’s name and his racing number. West Jefferson’s players gave their stickers to the Madison-Plains players after the game.
Students and fans from both schools wore t-shirts that paid tribute to Mason. One of the shirt designs included the phrase, “We are the storm,” a reference to a favorite quote of Mason’s father that reads: “The devil whispered in my ear, ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ Today, I whispered in the devil’s ear, ‘I am the storm.’”
Proceeds from t-shirt sales and a raffle of the game ball went to the Mason Cordell Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is open to students from Madison-Plains, West Jefferson and London. Scholarships will go to one senior from each school.
Donations made payable to “Mason Cordell Scholarship Fund” may be sent to: Merchants National Bank, 279 Lafayette St., London OH 43140. Donations also may be made through PayPal at MasonCordellscholarshipfund@gmail.com.
