Squires Fall In Weather-Shortened Game
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - The Manchester Squires' home opener against ranked Heritage was a wash, literally. The Squires fell behind 28-6 with 5:15 left in the second quarter and that's how the contest would end. Thunderstorms accompanied by torrential rains forced officials to call the contest nearly two hours after play was suspended.
Until play was stopped the rushing attack of Heritage was causing much of the fireworks. Senior standout Doug Wasylik led the way for the Patriots with 111 yards rushing on just 10 carries.
Wasylik opened up the scoring for Heritage with a 15-yard scamper to put the Patriots ahead 7-0. Heritage had a short field to work with after Manchester attempted an onside kick to start the game that failed giving the Patriots the ball at midfield.
The Squires struggled to move the ball on their first drive moving backwards two yards in seven plays. Quarterback Brian Runkel, who stepped in for injured starter Joe Egner, was hounded early and often by a ferocious Heritage defense being sacked twice on the opening drive. Egner was injured in the season opener against Mississinewa and there is no word on when he's expected to return.
With or without Egner, the Squires were unable to stop the running attack of Heritage. Kurt Castleman took the majority of carries on the Patriots second drive to setup a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Bultemeier to Ian Aurand. Castleman finished the evening with eight carries for 46 yards.
On the ensuing drive, Manchester began at it's own 29 yard line before being pushed back to the 21. On fourth down a fumbled snap rolled down to the Manchester six yard line where Heritage recovered. Heritage then let Castleman storm the end zone with two runs of four and two yards to put the Patriots up 13-0 with 3:30 left in the first quarter.
On Heritage's first drive of the second quarter after starting at it's own 47, Castleman scored again from four yards out. Heritage ran the ball five straight times on the drive with it's shortest carry being four yards.
Castleman's second touchdown of the evening pushed the Patriot lead to 28-0 with 9:42 left in the first half.
As the thunderclouds began to roll in, Manchester was finally able to see a small silver lining.
Jared Barrett, younger brother of former Manchester all state running back David Barrett, broke off a 21-yard run to begin the Squires' only scoring drive. Manchester's longest run play of the night was followed by the Squires' longest pass play.
Runkel found Nick Poe on a crossing pattern over the middle. 56 yards and a pile of slop later Manchester was on the board.
With Heritage driving once again thunder rolled in and lighting could be seen in the not too far off distance forcing play to be halted.
For first year Manchester head coach Brandon Baker the decision to cancel the game instead of postponing it until tomorrow was not an easy one but it was correct.
"It's tough. It's a tough call to make but it's probably the right one. If Heritage scored again they were putting their JV in so they weren't going to accomplish anything out of it. And if we're going to get better we've got to play against their first team. "
While the night may have been a wash with Baker in search of his first win at Manchester, the goal hasn't changed.
"We scored on a great catch, a great run by Nick Poe and we had them stopped for the time being so there were some positives. But at the same time there were a lot of negatives too. The ultimate goal for us is to win conference which we start next week so we've got to build on what we did right tonight so we've just got to iron out the mistakes."
The Squires, 0-2, open up TRC play in Death Valley Friday night against Valley.
HERITAGE 28, MANCH. 6
Heritage 21 7 0 0 - 28
Manchester 0 6 0 0 - 6
Her Man
First downs 7 2
Rushing yards 171 1
Passing yards 10 73
Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-2-0 2-5-0
Total offense 181 74
Fumbles/lost 1/0 2/1
Punts/avg. 0-0 2-33
Penalties/yards 1-5 3-15
First Quarter
Her -ÊDoug Wasylik 15 run (Jason Boone kick) 7-0, 9:39
Her - Nathan Bultemeier 10 pass to Ian Aurand (kick failed) 13-0, 3:30
Her - Kurt Castleman 2 run (Castleman run) 21-0, 1:05
Second Quarter
Her - Castleman 4 run (Boone kick) 28-0, 9:42
Man - Brian Runkel 56 pass to Nick Poe (kick failed) 28-6, 7:19
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Manchester, Runkel 5-(-30). Nate Stoops 4-6, Jared Barrett 2-25; Heritage, Wasylik 10-111, Castleman 8-46, Aurand 3-14
Passing - Manchester, Runkel 2-5-0-73 0 TD 0 INT; Heritage, Bultmeier 1-2-0-10 1 TD 0 INT
Receiving - Manchester, Poe 1-56, Damion Helvey 1-17; Heritage, Aurand 1-10 [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - The Manchester Squires' home opener against ranked Heritage was a wash, literally. The Squires fell behind 28-6 with 5:15 left in the second quarter and that's how the contest would end. Thunderstorms accompanied by torrential rains forced officials to call the contest nearly two hours after play was suspended.
Until play was stopped the rushing attack of Heritage was causing much of the fireworks. Senior standout Doug Wasylik led the way for the Patriots with 111 yards rushing on just 10 carries.
Wasylik opened up the scoring for Heritage with a 15-yard scamper to put the Patriots ahead 7-0. Heritage had a short field to work with after Manchester attempted an onside kick to start the game that failed giving the Patriots the ball at midfield.
The Squires struggled to move the ball on their first drive moving backwards two yards in seven plays. Quarterback Brian Runkel, who stepped in for injured starter Joe Egner, was hounded early and often by a ferocious Heritage defense being sacked twice on the opening drive. Egner was injured in the season opener against Mississinewa and there is no word on when he's expected to return.
With or without Egner, the Squires were unable to stop the running attack of Heritage. Kurt Castleman took the majority of carries on the Patriots second drive to setup a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Bultemeier to Ian Aurand. Castleman finished the evening with eight carries for 46 yards.
On the ensuing drive, Manchester began at it's own 29 yard line before being pushed back to the 21. On fourth down a fumbled snap rolled down to the Manchester six yard line where Heritage recovered. Heritage then let Castleman storm the end zone with two runs of four and two yards to put the Patriots up 13-0 with 3:30 left in the first quarter.
On Heritage's first drive of the second quarter after starting at it's own 47, Castleman scored again from four yards out. Heritage ran the ball five straight times on the drive with it's shortest carry being four yards.
Castleman's second touchdown of the evening pushed the Patriot lead to 28-0 with 9:42 left in the first half.
As the thunderclouds began to roll in, Manchester was finally able to see a small silver lining.
Jared Barrett, younger brother of former Manchester all state running back David Barrett, broke off a 21-yard run to begin the Squires' only scoring drive. Manchester's longest run play of the night was followed by the Squires' longest pass play.
Runkel found Nick Poe on a crossing pattern over the middle. 56 yards and a pile of slop later Manchester was on the board.
With Heritage driving once again thunder rolled in and lighting could be seen in the not too far off distance forcing play to be halted.
For first year Manchester head coach Brandon Baker the decision to cancel the game instead of postponing it until tomorrow was not an easy one but it was correct.
"It's tough. It's a tough call to make but it's probably the right one. If Heritage scored again they were putting their JV in so they weren't going to accomplish anything out of it. And if we're going to get better we've got to play against their first team. "
While the night may have been a wash with Baker in search of his first win at Manchester, the goal hasn't changed.
"We scored on a great catch, a great run by Nick Poe and we had them stopped for the time being so there were some positives. But at the same time there were a lot of negatives too. The ultimate goal for us is to win conference which we start next week so we've got to build on what we did right tonight so we've just got to iron out the mistakes."
The Squires, 0-2, open up TRC play in Death Valley Friday night against Valley.
HERITAGE 28, MANCH. 6
Heritage 21 7 0 0 - 28
Manchester 0 6 0 0 - 6
Her Man
First downs 7 2
Rushing yards 171 1
Passing yards 10 73
Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-2-0 2-5-0
Total offense 181 74
Fumbles/lost 1/0 2/1
Punts/avg. 0-0 2-33
Penalties/yards 1-5 3-15
First Quarter
Her -ÊDoug Wasylik 15 run (Jason Boone kick) 7-0, 9:39
Her - Nathan Bultemeier 10 pass to Ian Aurand (kick failed) 13-0, 3:30
Her - Kurt Castleman 2 run (Castleman run) 21-0, 1:05
Second Quarter
Her - Castleman 4 run (Boone kick) 28-0, 9:42
Man - Brian Runkel 56 pass to Nick Poe (kick failed) 28-6, 7:19
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Manchester, Runkel 5-(-30). Nate Stoops 4-6, Jared Barrett 2-25; Heritage, Wasylik 10-111, Castleman 8-46, Aurand 3-14
Passing - Manchester, Runkel 2-5-0-73 0 TD 0 INT; Heritage, Bultmeier 1-2-0-10 1 TD 0 INT
Receiving - Manchester, Poe 1-56, Damion Helvey 1-17; Heritage, Aurand 1-10 [[In-content Ad]]