For a moment the roaring crowd collectively held its breath to see what play coach Bryan Dendy was going to call with the game – and the conference title – on the line.
Manchester Academy, which was leading by 15 points early in the second half, was now down by a single point in overtime, and St. Joseph had just jumped offsides after the Mavericks lined up to kick the extra point that would tie the game.
The crowd roared with approval as the Mavericks offense came onto the field. It was a do-or-die situation, and even the Fighting Irish defense could have little doubt what was coming.
The Mavericks had been pounding the football up the middle with success most of the night, and Warner Griffin had been leading the charge with the best game of his career with 24 carries for 145 yards and three touchdowns, including the overtime score that cut the lead to 37-36.
In this situation he seemed to be unstoppable.
And he was.
Griffin broke through the line for the two-point conversion, and Manchester Academy defeated the No. 1 ranked team in a game sure to earn a permanent spot in school history.
“We went out there to kick it, but when they jumped offsides, we didn’t hesitate,” Bryan Dendy said. “I looked our guys in the eyes, and I knew they wanted to go for the win.”
Local football fans had this contest circled on the calendar from the beginning of the season, and the teams did not disappoint.
Griffin scored the first touchdown of the night, and Reid Bain added the extra point, but St. Joseph quickly answered to tie the game 7-7.
With 2:01 left in the first quarter Rainer Roberts turned a potential setback into a touchdown when he grabbed a Griffin fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Bain added the extra point for a 14-7 lead.
Ty Kilpatrick came down with an interception on the first play of the following drive to put the Mavericks back in business on their own 25. The Mavericks were later forced to punt, however, and St. Joe quarterback scored on a six-yard keeper.
Jacob Nelson punched in the two-point conversion to give the Fighting Irish their first lead of the night at 15-14.
With 7:03 to go before halftime Manchester went for it on fourth and one, and Blayke Dendy came through with the first down.
An Upton Hitt pitch to Will Fouche for a first down set up first and goal on the eight yard line.
Griffin then had three straight carries, and he scored on the third. Bain added the kick to give the Mavericks a 21-15 lead with 3:58 to go before halftime.
Taylor Porter recovered a fumble to put Manchester back on offense with 1:16 to go before halftime.
With 24 seconds on the clock, the Mavericks once again capitalized on a potentially bad situation when Bob Black seized a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Bain’s kick was good once again, and Manchester led 28-15.
Parks Poe recovered an onside kick that dashed any hopes St. Joe had of cutting into the 13-point lead.
Manchester had to punt on the first drive of the second half, and Chris Guthrie delivered an excellent punt that pinned the Irish back on their own three yard line.
St. Joe’s center then snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head and through the back of the endzone for a safety that gave Manchester a 30-15 lead.
Manchester seemed to have the momentum at this point, but St. Joseph didn’t get to be the No. 1-ranked team by accident.
The Irish still had plenty of fight left in them.
With 3:44 to go in the third quarter, Trey Adams scored on a 28-yard reception, and St. Joe added the two-point conversion to cut MA’s lead to 30-23.
With 9:24 on the clock in the fourth quarter, Jonathan Jordan scored on a 59-yard catch to tie the game at 30-30.
The remainder of the final quarter proved to be a defensive struggle with some big plays keeping Manchester’s hopes alive.
With 5:44 to play Will Fouche grabbed an interception to stop an Irish drive.
With 2:28 left to play, Tyler Reynolds broke through the line for a crushing sack that brought up fourth down with 11 yards to go. Roberts grabbed an interception on the following play that ended up sending the game into overtime.
St. Joseph scored in overtime and kicked the extra point, setting up the Mavericks’ opportunity for victory.
Fouche had 21 carries for 126 yards and one catch for 11 yards for the Mavericks.
Blayke Dendy had 16 carries for 60 yards. He also helped lead the defense with five tackles, four assists and a fumble recovery.
Griffin had four tackles and four assists. Roberts had four tackles and an interception. Kilpatrick had two tackles and an interception. Fouche had a tackle and an interception.
Nick Cohea and Bob Black each had three solo tackles. William Fuller had two tackles, and Hunter Sadler had one.
Porter and Reynolds, who supplied heavy pressure throughout the night, each had a tackle and game-changing sacks.
“I give all the credit to our kids and our assistant coaches,” Bryan Dendy said. “This was the first goal we set for this season, and they worked hard to accomplish it. Everyone contributed, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Now we’re in the playoffs, and every team might as well be 0-0 at this point.”
Manchester hosts Clinton Christian Friday at 7 p.m. The Mavericks defeated Clinton Christian 43-0 during the regular season.
Bryan Dendy said Clinton Christian has improved considerably since their last meeting, and he is not taking them lightly.
If the Mavericks win Friday, it could set up a rematch with St. Joe, who hosts Winona Christian this week, in the second round.
