Squires To Face No. 1 Luers In Sectional Semifinal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Just so long as the one day the Squires are better is Friday when the two teams clash in a Class 2A Sectional 27 semifinal game at Luers.[[In-content Ad]]On paper, the top-ranked and defending state champion Knights are an overwhelming favorite.
Baker is well aware of that fact, but he also knows that his team's season isn't over until Bishop Luers beats Manchester on the field.
"They can be better than us 364 days of the year, that's fine," said Baker, whose team takes a 4-6 record into Friday's game. "We only have to be better than them one day. They get up in the morning and get dressed just like we do. They go to school and to practice just like we do. I guarantee you they don't work any harder than we do. Are they good? Yes, they're very good. But they're not unbeatable."
After opening the season with a 34-19 win over Mississinewa, the Squires lost six straight games.
Since then, Manchester has won three consecutive games, beating Wabash (47-27) and Northfield (28-13) to close out the regular season, and topping Winchester (47-20) to open sectional play.
The Knights opened the season with eight consecutive wins and take a 9-1 record into Friday's game.
Bishop Luers' lone loss is a 36-14 setback to Class 4A No. 2 Bishop Dwenger in the regular-season finale.
The Knights opened sectional play last week with a dominating 63-14 win over Eastern.
A year ago, Manchester had its best season in more than a decade, as the Squires posted an 8-1 record in the regular season and earned a share of the Three Rivers Conference championship.
Bishop Luers ended Manchester's season by beating the Squires 45-21 in the sectional opener.
Though his team is the overwhelming favorite, veteran Luers coach Matt Lindsay said the Knights are taking Manchester seriously.
"Last year's game was a dogfight most of the first half," said Lindsay, who boasts a record of 209-96 in 24 years at Luers. "We need to prepare the same way we do for any opponent."
Through 10 games, Manchester averages nearly 23 points per game, while giving up nearly 30 points per contest.
Luers, on the other hand, scores an average of 38 points per game and gives up just under 16.
"They can put so many athletes on the field," Baker said of Luers. "They're not huge, they're just so quick and fast. Defensively, I'm not sure we can stop them. We're going to have to at some point, but they've just got so many people that can hurt you."
Luers has seven players who have scored at least four touchdowns this season, led by Kenny Mullen's 10.
Mullen, who will play at Indiana University on a full-ride scholarship, leads the Knights in rushing with 59 carries for 439 yards.
Steve Kiermaier has carried the ball 48 times for 418 yards, while DeAngelo Fincher has racked up 365 yards on 49 carries and Jaylon Smith has 257 yards on 42 carries.
Each of those four backs average at least six yards per carry.
As a team, Luers has rushed the ball 310 times for 2,006 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per attempt.
"We know they're going to get big plays," said Baker. "They're a very good football team. But we have to keep plugging along and keep fighting if we're going to have a chance to win. The main thing is getting the kids to believe we can step on the field with them. We have to believe that we can win."
Preston Penrod leads Manchester's running game with 159 carries for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Logan Brunn has scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 266 yards on 85 carries.
Austin Flack has carried the ball 43 times for 271 yards and a pair of scores.
Brunn has completed 48 of 143 pass attempts for 696 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Seth Brubaker leads the Squires in receiving with 11 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns, while Anthony Saunders has caught 10 passes for 147 yards and two scores and Flack has 10 receptions for 111 yards.
Manchester is in search of its fourth sectional championship and first since 1991.
The Knights are looking for their third sectional title in four years.
Overall, Luers has won 18 sectionals, 14 regionals, 12 semistates and eight state championships.
The Knights have won two of the last three Class 2A state championships.
"Experience," Matt Lindsay said when asked what his team's biggest strength is. "We have talented athletes and tremendous speed. The most pleasant surprise has been the consistent performance of our offensive line this season."
The winner of Friday's semifinal game will play either Bluffton (4-6) or Madison-Grant (8-2) the following week.
Just so long as the one day the Squires are better is Friday when the two teams clash in a Class 2A Sectional 27 semifinal game at Luers.[[In-content Ad]]On paper, the top-ranked and defending state champion Knights are an overwhelming favorite.
Baker is well aware of that fact, but he also knows that his team's season isn't over until Bishop Luers beats Manchester on the field.
"They can be better than us 364 days of the year, that's fine," said Baker, whose team takes a 4-6 record into Friday's game. "We only have to be better than them one day. They get up in the morning and get dressed just like we do. They go to school and to practice just like we do. I guarantee you they don't work any harder than we do. Are they good? Yes, they're very good. But they're not unbeatable."
After opening the season with a 34-19 win over Mississinewa, the Squires lost six straight games.
Since then, Manchester has won three consecutive games, beating Wabash (47-27) and Northfield (28-13) to close out the regular season, and topping Winchester (47-20) to open sectional play.
The Knights opened the season with eight consecutive wins and take a 9-1 record into Friday's game.
Bishop Luers' lone loss is a 36-14 setback to Class 4A No. 2 Bishop Dwenger in the regular-season finale.
The Knights opened sectional play last week with a dominating 63-14 win over Eastern.
A year ago, Manchester had its best season in more than a decade, as the Squires posted an 8-1 record in the regular season and earned a share of the Three Rivers Conference championship.
Bishop Luers ended Manchester's season by beating the Squires 45-21 in the sectional opener.
Though his team is the overwhelming favorite, veteran Luers coach Matt Lindsay said the Knights are taking Manchester seriously.
"Last year's game was a dogfight most of the first half," said Lindsay, who boasts a record of 209-96 in 24 years at Luers. "We need to prepare the same way we do for any opponent."
Through 10 games, Manchester averages nearly 23 points per game, while giving up nearly 30 points per contest.
Luers, on the other hand, scores an average of 38 points per game and gives up just under 16.
"They can put so many athletes on the field," Baker said of Luers. "They're not huge, they're just so quick and fast. Defensively, I'm not sure we can stop them. We're going to have to at some point, but they've just got so many people that can hurt you."
Luers has seven players who have scored at least four touchdowns this season, led by Kenny Mullen's 10.
Mullen, who will play at Indiana University on a full-ride scholarship, leads the Knights in rushing with 59 carries for 439 yards.
Steve Kiermaier has carried the ball 48 times for 418 yards, while DeAngelo Fincher has racked up 365 yards on 49 carries and Jaylon Smith has 257 yards on 42 carries.
Each of those four backs average at least six yards per carry.
As a team, Luers has rushed the ball 310 times for 2,006 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per attempt.
"We know they're going to get big plays," said Baker. "They're a very good football team. But we have to keep plugging along and keep fighting if we're going to have a chance to win. The main thing is getting the kids to believe we can step on the field with them. We have to believe that we can win."
Preston Penrod leads Manchester's running game with 159 carries for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Logan Brunn has scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 266 yards on 85 carries.
Austin Flack has carried the ball 43 times for 271 yards and a pair of scores.
Brunn has completed 48 of 143 pass attempts for 696 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Seth Brubaker leads the Squires in receiving with 11 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns, while Anthony Saunders has caught 10 passes for 147 yards and two scores and Flack has 10 receptions for 111 yards.
Manchester is in search of its fourth sectional championship and first since 1991.
The Knights are looking for their third sectional title in four years.
Overall, Luers has won 18 sectionals, 14 regionals, 12 semistates and eight state championships.
The Knights have won two of the last three Class 2A state championships.
"Experience," Matt Lindsay said when asked what his team's biggest strength is. "We have talented athletes and tremendous speed. The most pleasant surprise has been the consistent performance of our offensive line this season."
The winner of Friday's semifinal game will play either Bluffton (4-6) or Madison-Grant (8-2) the following week.
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