Squires Score First Win Of Season Over WhitkoNORTH MANCHESTER — Execution was a buzz word at Squire Field Friday night. For the home-standing Manchester Squires, head coach Brandon Baker found the intangible he and his staff had been looking for during the first three weeks of the season. “(The game-winning drive) was something we knew these kids could do,” he said after the Squires drove 54 yards late in the final frame to topple perennial Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko 13-10. “We knew it would come down to execution. “I am so proud of our guys,” he added. “We battled all night and got a win. I know if we can continue to do things like we did on the final drive, we can do well down the stretch.” The Squires’ game-winning drive was capped by senior quarterback Jim Sainsbury’s 5-yard dive into the end zone. Whitko had two chances to tie or take the lead down the stretch, but Manchester’s defense held on both occasions, closing the game with a resounding sack. Leading up to the frenetic final moments, the two teams combined for nine fumbles on a rain-soaked evening in which the Squires and Wildcats ran the ball a total of 80 times. Manchester pounded the ball at the Whitko defense 50 times for 171 yards, while the Wildcats returned the favor 30 times for 108 yards. The two rushing attacks produced early scoring drives. Late in the first quarter, sophomore running back Jacob Casper bowled in from three yards out to give Manchester a 7-0 lead. Whitko opened a 10-point second quarter when senior quarterback Alex Stoddard bounced outside and raced 38 yards for a touchdown. Senior place-kicker Jake Nissley, who was undaunted by the less-than-ideal conditions, added a 38-yard field goal to give Whitko a 10-7 halftime lead. Head coach Wayne Swender, who saw his Wildcats fall to 1-3, talked about execution in differing terms than his counterpart. “This was a good rivalry game,” he said. “Both teams went out and gave it all they had. We just had some times where we didn’t execute in big situations that cost us. “You’ve got to give credit to Manchester,” he added. “They played a great game.” Casper’s 18-carry, 96-yard night topped the Squires’ offensive attack. Sainsbury proved to be a workhorse on offense too, with 17 rushes for 31 yards to go along with 42 yards passing. Whitko was led by sophomore running back Tanner Hughes’ 11 rushes for 31 yards, while Stoddard ran for 41 yards and threw for 25. Nissley’s leg almost added six more points to the Wildcats’ total as he narrowly missed from 44 and 49 yards, despite the sloppy conditions. “We have a lot of confidence (in Nissley),” Swender said. “I know he feels bad right now, but he gave those long kicks good attempts.” Manchester takes its 1-3 record to North Miami next weekend, while Whitko hosts Wabash.
MANCHESTER 13, WHITKO 10 W 0 10 0 0 — 10 M 7 0 0 6 — 13
W M First downs 4 17 Rushing yds 108 171 Passing yds 25 42 Att-Comp-Int 2-7-0 3-10-0 Total offense 133 213 Fumbles/lost 5/1 4/2 Punts/avg 3/27 4/30 Penalties/yds 4/30 3/35 First Quarter M — Jacob Casper three run (Braydon Sewell kick), 7-0 Second Quarter W — Alex Stoddard 38 run (Jake Nissley kick), 7-7 W — Nissley 38 kick, 10-7 Fourth Quarter M — Jim Sainsbury five run (kick failed), 13-10
