For a second straight week, the Manhattan Indians found themselves facing a team with notably less strength and speed. Once again, MHS made the opponent pay for it.
The Indians jumped on Topeka West early and cruised to a 42-7 victory Friday night at Hummer Sports Park to stay unbeaten this season.
“We came out of the locker room and took control of the game,” MHS coach Joe Schartz said. “We did what we had to do to win this game. Overall, I’m pleased.”
Manhattan (5-0, 3-0 CL) led 22-0 after one quarter and 36-0 at the halftime break before the Tribe’s backups handled much of the snaps in the second half.
“It was sloppy once again (in the second half),” Schartz said. “The kids have to understand they’re getting a chance to get in the game, and they have to perform.”
MHS opened the scoring on a 7-yard run by Keadrian McDonald after recovering a fumble on the second play of the game. Shortly after, senior quarterback Erik Prockish added a 15-yard touchdown run to give MHS all the points they would need.
The Indians scored two more times on big plays, including an 82-yard McDonald run late in the first quarter. Blake Coughlin added a 73-yard score on the very next play MHS ran.
Meanwhile, the MHS defense contained dual-threat Topeka West quarterback Josh Reynolds for most of the night, intercepting him twice.
“(Reynolds) is a great athlete,” Schartz said. “Overall, our kids did a good job of containing him in the pass and the run game.”
Prockish finished the night 5-of-8 passing for 81 yards. He added 45 yards on the ground. Coughlin led the Indians with 117 yards on just eight carries.
The game was delayed in the second quarter as MHS fullback Daniel Izquierdo went down with a leg injury. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and was treated at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka for a dislocated ankle, according to Schartz.
MHS is on the road again next week as the Indians take on rival Junction City.
