Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WABASH -ÊManchester's football team finished the regular season above .500 with an 18-0 win over Northfield Friday.
Defense carried the Squires as they intercepted four passes and held Northfield to 86 yards. Kyle Powers, John Sommer and John MacFarlane intercepted passes, and Klint Rupley had two quarterback sacks.
"Our defense was put in a spot several times, and it always responded," Manchester coach Al Bailey said. "It seemed like the whole third quarter we were bottled up near the end zone. We had three stands near the goal line and came up with interceptions on two of them. The other time we took over on downs."
Manchester's Josh Peden rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns. Anthony Sorg carried the ball 17 times for 83 yards and scored the other touchdown. Manchester rushed the ball 51 times for 238 yards.
When Northfield freshman Nathan Culver wasn't throwing four interceptions, the Squires were clamping down on the running game. The Norsemen rushed 29 times for 30 yards. Senior Shawn Smith, who entered eighth in the Three Rivers Conference with 469 yards on 117 carries, finished with 15 yards on 11 carries.
Manchester ends the regular season 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the Three Rivers Conference, while Northfield finishes 1-8 overall and 0-7 in the TRC.
The Squires travel to No. 1 undefeated Bishop Luers Friday for the first game of their 2A sectional.
MANCHESTER 18
NORTHFIELD 0
Manchester 0 12 0 6 - 18
Northfield 0 0 0 0 - 0
M N
First downs 15 6
Rushes/yards 51-238 29-30
Passing yards 6 56
Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-7-1 5-17-4
Total offense 244 86
Fumbles/lost 0-0 1-0
Punts/avg. 5-28.2 4-34.3
Penalties/yards 6-58 6-41
Second Quarter
M -ÊJosh Peden 6 run (kick failed) 6-0 M, 10:32
M -ÊAnthony Sorg 23 run (run failed) 12-0 M, 3:04
Fourth Quarter
M - Peden 2 run (kick blocked) 18-0 M, 7:00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Manchester: Peden 25-102, A. Sorg 17-83. Northfield: Chad McWhirt 13-30, Shawn Smith 11-15.
Passing - Manchester: Michael Sorg 1-7-1 6. Northfield: Nathan Culver 5-17-4 56.
Receiving - Manchester: Ferron Gaerte 1-6. Northfield: Brad Lacanfora 2-43.
Defense -ÊManchester: Kyle Powers 13 tackles, 1 interception; John Sommer 6 tackles, 1 interception; John MacFarlane 7 tackles, 1 interception; Klint Rupley 9 tackles (3 for loss of 17 yards, 2 sacks), 1 pass defensed; Jarred Kopkey 8 tackles (1 sack).
