On Friday night, Manual’s football team outplayed the Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers, winning 40-14. The game was designated a pink-out.
Prior to kickoff, Louisville Metro Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell was present for the coin flip and to present a plaque to Manual’s principal, Dr. Michael Newman, to celebrate Manual Stadium as a newly-named historic landmark.
First Half:
The game started out with the kickoff from PRP’s Demetrio Arellano Marin (#47,11) to the Manual’s endzone, where the Crimsons ran the ball down the field to the 45-yard line.
In the first play, Willis Nofsinger (#5,12) ran the ball down the field, giving the team a first down. Kaden Mack (#6,10) then took over for the Crimsons’ attack. He passed the ball to Rashad High (#7,10) and to Brayland Miles (#14,10) getting two back-to-back first downs.
Despite early offensive momentum, the Crimsons were then held off by the Panther’s defense on third down. Parker Friedman then attempted a 35-yard field goal, but missed.
The Panthers then got the ball back, where PRP’s Calvon Mitchell (#4,10) ran the ball down the field for a first down and the first offensive play of the game for the Panthers.
A few plays later, the Panther’s Dean Hynniman (#7, 12) fumbled the ball, giving possession back to Manual at the 10 yard line.
The ball was then passed off to Manual’s Nofsinger who ran into the endzone for the first touchdown of the game. The field goal was blocked by the Panthers, however, but Nofsinger’s touchdown gave the Crimsons an early lead, 6-0.
“I’m feeling great, always fun,” Nofsinger said.
The Crimsons’ defense held strong following PRP regaining possession, sacking the Panther’s quarterback, giving the ball back to the Crimsons.
However, the Crimsons didn’t make much progress, and were forced to punt. Their punt was blocked by the Panthers, though and John Hammond (#5, 12) picked up the ball and ran down the field to the endzone for a touchdown. The kick was good and the Panthers were now in the lead, 7-6.
With Manual back in possession of the ball, Corey Fitch (#23, 10) ran and leaped over the Panther’s defense for a first down. Fitch then booked it down the field into the endzone for a 50-yard rushing touchdown. This allowed the Crimsons to re-take the lead, 13-7, wth the extra point by Parker Friedman (#53, 12) good.
Once Manual got the ball back following a three and out by PRP Mack (#6, 10) ran the ball down for several first downs. He then threw the ball to Manual’s High, who caught it for a touchdown. The score was now 19-7, with Friedman missing the extra point.
Before the end of the first half, Mack made another run for a last minute touchdown. The extra point by Friedman was successful. The Crimsons went into halftime leading the Panthers, 26-7.
Second Half:
The second half started out with a kickoff to PRP, where Manual’s special team stopped their progression at the 10-yard line.
The Panthers’ Mitchell later got the ball and ran 80 yards down to the endzone for a PRP touchdown. Their kick was good and the score was now 26-14 with Manual still in the lead.
Manual then got the ball back and Mack threw the ball to Nofsinger for an apparent touchdown, but it was ruled incomplete by the referees after some deliberation. After a couple rushing plays following the incomplete pass, the Crimsons’ Jeremiah Stephens (#0, 10) caught the ball in the endzone for a touchdown. Friedman made the extra point, and the Crimsons now led the Panthers 33-14.
Manual’s defense once again tackled and held off the PRP offense until possession was regained by the home team.
Nofsinger then got the ball and ran into the endzone for his second touchdown of the night. The extra point by Friedman was good and the score was now 40-14, Manual in the lead.
“Jump on them early, put points [up in] first half, and get them early,” Nofsinger said about the game plan.
The Manual defense was able to hold off the Panthers’ offense, preventing them from scoring for the rest of the game, making the final score 40-14, in Manual’s favor.
“We’ve got a great group of guys…they really find a way to grind things out and get a big win against a talented team,” head coach Keith Eckloff.
The Crimsons’ next game is on Friday, Oct. 25 against Meade County at Manual Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
