Toby Hammes sports@themercury.com
Last season, Manhattan High football escaped Hays on a walk-off touchdown pass. This time, the top-ranked Indians leaned on their defense to close it out.
A fourth-down stop in the final two minutes sealed a 10-8 victory Friday night at Bishop Stadium, giving Manhattan (3-0) its second straight nail-biting win over Class 5A No. 2 Hays (2-1). Homecoming king JJ Dunnigan provided the spark with an 87-yard punt return touchdown, while senior kicker Prescott Balderson added a fourth-quarter field goal for the scoring
Hays outgained Manhattan 229-225 behind senior running back Holden Lind’s 138 yards on 23 carries, but the difference came in the defense blocking a field goal before halftime and turning back two red-zone trips in the second half.
