On Thursday, September 26, Manual’s football team fell to the Centurions of Christian Academy of Louisville, marking the first loss of the 2024 season. This is also the second consecutive year the Centurions have handed the Crimsons their first loss of the season. The game was designated a jersey night by the Crimson Crazies.
First Half
Manual received the kickoff, but struggled to make yardage down the field.On the Centurions first drive down the field, quarterback Connor Hodge set the tone early, finding wide receiver Bryce Wilson wideopen downfield, who ran it to the end zone for the first score of the night. At the 7:22 mark in the first quarter, CAL led 7-0.
Another quick three and out for the Crimsons—led Christian Academy to start their second drive of the night, which seemed to mirror their first drive. However, Hodge threw an interceptionAiden Blakey (#8,12) caught Hodge’s pass, but he fumbled, allowing the Centurions to scoop up the ball and return it for a touchdown. Christian Academy extended their lead against Manual, 14-0.
The Crimsons still could not get an offensive flow, and as a result, the Centurions continued their dominance. As anual’s defense struggled to keep up with Christian Academy’s wide receivers, Hodge completed a long pass downfield to put them in the red zone once again. Shortly after, Hodge ran into the end zone on a quarterback keeper, untouched. The score was now 21-0, with Christian Academy in the lead right before the end of the first quarter.
“I think that we didn’t have as much time to prepare for the game and mentally lock in. So I think that kind of messed up how we did for the week,” David Pellman (#55,11) said.
At the start of the second quarter, Manual’s possession resulted in another incomplete drive. Despite this, during the next drive by the Centurions, they fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Crimsons’ defense. After the fumble, Manual relied heavily on Gerian Traynor (#34, 11), as the Crimsons quarterback Kaden Mack (#6,10) struggled to find his footing. On the next play, a run from Traynor led to a targeting penalty on Christian Academy. Following this penalty, Mack completed a pass to Willis Nofsinger (#5,12) for the first score of the night for Manual. Parker Friedman (#53,12) completed the PAT, and the score was now 21-7, Centurions in the lead.
Back and forth drives continue during the rest of the first half. During the end of a Manual drive, the Crimsons’ Jackson Pritts (#17,10) steps up and delivers a 64-yard punt. Despite the impressive punt, Hodge found a wide open Garyon Hobbs, who finished the 70-yard play in the endzone. With 1:54 left in the first half, the score was 28-7.
The first half concluded with Christian Academy leading 28-7.
“We can control how we respond to situations [like the schedule change]. We didn’t respond well,” head coach Keith Eckloff said.
Second Half
The third quarter was no different from the rest of the game. While both teams scored few points, possession of the ball went back and forth for most of the quarter. While Manual’s defense did step up and hold the Centurions scoreless in the quarter, their offense still struggled, only adding three points from a successful field goal by Friedman. The score at the end of the third was 28-10.
Similarly the fourth quarter ended in the same result. Drives were very slow and both teams went unsuccessful in the red zone. The Crimsons did take over in the red zone after a fumbled punt for Christian Academy, but unfortunately Pritts, who took over at quarterback, fumbled two snaps which left Manual at 4th and 77.
The last mark the Centurions left on Manual was with under a minute to go in the game, running a flea flicker, a trick play disguised as a throwing play instead or a rushing play. Hodge shoveled the ball to Tyree Stoner who connected with Darwin Cotton, for an extra seven points.
The final score was 35-10.
“Hopefully we change the way we prepare, and if they feel the preparation is right, they’ll feel confident,” Eckloff said.
The Crimsons’ next game is against St. Xavier on Friday, Oct. 11, at St. Xavier High School at 7 p.m.
